Deliver on Your Business

Just Eat Takeaway, who purchased Grubhub less than a year ago for $7.3 billion, has announced that they may consider selling off part or all of the Grubhub.What happened here?Did Jitse Groen (CEO of Just Eat Takeaway) buy a lemon? This is an expensive case of buyer's remorse for the Dutch delivery giant.Within just months of closing the deal, investors were pushing for the company to bail out on Grubhub. Apparently, they finally decided to listen.While it doesn't mean it's a done deal, I can't help but think they have to be pretty serious about the idea (more than just “exploring” the thought of a sale) if they're going so far as to make it public. One has to wonder if they're already in talks.We address this topic in the latest episode of Deliver on Your Business. Even more, we dive into just what happened with Grubhub. A few years ago, Grubhub was Doordash. They were the dominant king of the delivery industry with no real rival.How did this happen???Related linksEpisode page on EntreCourier websiteWant to see it on Youtube?Discussion with UDM about the changes with GrubhubDiscussion on EntreCourier about the Grubhub Just Eat mergerDiscussion on EntreCourier about Grubhub (and others) response to pandemicTopics:Grubhub used to be the king 2:50The root cause of Grubhub's demise: Arrogance 3:49My story of delivering for Grubhub and what I liked about it 4:30When things started to change: 7:22Fast food, Taco Hell and the explosion of Cherry Picking 9:19Grubhub begins cracking down on drivers 11:46Driver loyalty to Grubhub erodes and erodes FAST 13:34Grubhub's relationship to restaurants erodes 18:53Adding restaurants to platform without permission 19:13Fake websites and marketing charges 21:44Grubhub botches restaurant relations during the pandemic 23:00Grubhub's relationship with customers goes south as well 27:10What happens next for Grubhub? 35:19Who would possibly buy Grubhub? 39:10The case for (and against) an Uber sale 39:27The case for a sale to Amazon 43:43The impact of Just Eat Takeaway moving to an employee model in Europe 45:05Could the same fate happen to Doordash in the near future? 45:45

Dustin Walsey, co-founder and President of Buckle Insurance, joins us to talk about all things insurance. If Buckle is in your state, you can sign up here. If they aren't in your state, you can still sign up and get notified of when they are available. During the interview I misspoke their URL as GetBuckle.com (instead of BuckleUp.com). Dustin said he thought that probably would get you there as well, and it turns out he's right.If you are a gig economy driver (Doordash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Instacart, Shipt, Uber, Lyft and many others) this is an incredibly important topic that you MUST pay attention to. A shockingly high number of gig economy drivers are uninsured when out working the apps, especially in the delivery industry.Buckle Insurance is the first insurance company I'm aware of that was created specifically for the gig economy. They work closely with many of the gig platforms. As of the posting of this episode, they're only in a handful of states but they cover about 30% of the U.S. population.We cover questions such as:What is Buckle Insurance and how did they get started?What are the challenges for a new insurance company trying to get approved to provide coverage in every state?What kind of coverage does Buckle provide?Why is delivery considered high risk to insurance if we aren't carrying passengers?How the explosion of delivery during the pandemic impacts our society and the need to protect contractors who are out in the fieldLooking at different types of insurance and how Buckle compares, such as personal policies, rideshare endorsements, commercial policies, and hybrid commercial policies.When should a person consider full coverage instead of liability only, even if their car is paid off?How do state insurance regulations and different kinds of risk impact insurance premiums?What states are served now by Buckle?What can someone do to make sure they're covered in states Buckle isn't yet serving?How do credit ratings impact typical premiums and how is it different with Buckle?What kind of relationship does Buckle have with different gig economy platforms?What kind of coverage does Buckle provide if you're driving for a platform that Buckle does not have a relationship with?Buckle is available at GetBuckle.com.  Some products on the website and podcast are ones I have an affiliate relationship with, and if so, I may receive compensation for products purchased.Comments or questions? Shoot me an email.More about the EntreCourierVisit Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Many Dashers are convinced that Doordash gives their Top Dashers better delivery offers. However, Doordash themselves don't even promise that. I decided to test the theory. I started out in February not having Top Dasher status. I accepted 100 straight deliveries in February so that I could not onlly make Top Dasher for March, but also have a record of every delivery. Then in March, I took another 100 straight delvieries. I kept track of everything: Offer details, how long deliveries took, how far I drove, all of it. Then I could compare.I talk about my experience taking 200 straight deliveries on Doordash and the comparison of deliveries as a non-Top Dasher and as a Top Dasher. 

This will be the last episode of the Deliver On Your Business Podcast.At least as a somewhat regular weekly podcast. There may be further episodes, possibly one off topics of interest here and there. Today, I'm just telling my story. We talk about how I got started with all of this, and how that story is leading me to this point where it's time to put the podcast (as we know it) to rest.The point of the story though is it's a good thing. There are two things here:For me, it's part of a bigger picture. That's what the story is about - how all of this was always part of something bigger. Making this step means I am able to do what I've always wanted to do.For you, I hope it's a good thing as well.  More than anything, that it's something that encourages you to think about your own bigger picture.How does the delivery life fit into your why? How does the day by day of what you do help you accomplish the bigger picture? Have you developed a bigger picture? Gig economy work should always have a purpose. Any work or job or anything should have a purpose. It's more than just making money. It's making money so you can....  what?That's what I hope today's episode can help you think through. More about the EntreCourierVisit Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Outside the big three on demand delivery companies, I'm not sure anyone else has reached into as many markets as catering specialist DeliverThat.Aaron Hoffman joins us today to talk about DeliverThat and the opportunities available to delivery drivers. How he started DeliverThat from his dorm room in collegeChallenges of starting his first deliveries in a world dominated by large tech companiesPhilosophy of being a company for drivers made by driversHow DeliverThat can provide unmatched personal support for driversHow was their delivery model impacted by COVID?How Aaron sees the place DeliverThat can have for independent contractors who deliver for other platformsDescribing the delivery opportunities on catering ordersThe type of markets DeliverThat is in and how they launch new marketsWhat does he see as the biggest challenge when using independent contractors?What are the challenges to fulfilling all of their orders?Thoughts on independent contractor status and where the country is going with that.At the end, I share some thoughts on my takes as a DeliverThat catering contractor. Overall my experience has been positive. There are a couple of things about how they do things that may not be popular. Overall, I think DeliverThat is a true gig economy opportunity. As contractors in the delivery space, we work delivery by delivery. Because they do catering orders, there can be some very attractive deliveries. Other times, options from other platforms may be better. You can sign up for DeliverThat here. If asked if you were referred, just let them know Ron Walter sent you!More about the EntreCourierVisit Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

In this week's episode, we talk about what may be the best way to learn how to make more on Doordash, Uber Eats, Grubhub and other gig economy platforms.The answer isn't me giving you all the answers, because let's be honest: I don't have all the answers. I think the answer may be to bring all of us together into a community where we can share what we have learned with one another. We talk about that more today.What do you think would be a good feature in a community? Email me and let me know your thoughts!More about the EntreCourierVisit Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) $300 per week payments ended September 4. People will order less, and more may turn to deliver for apps like Doordash, Uber Eats, Grubhub and others, further saturating the market with drivers. At the same time, these apps seem to be racing to see who can pay us less. What do we do when it's harder to make a profit? Is it time to hang it up and move on to more profitable things?We discuss a strategy that might help keep profitability up. Or even increase it. Multi-apping.And I don't mean just switching between the three main apps. Start looking at other types of platforms. We look at a few of them:Lesser known food delivery platformsCatering platformsLast mile delivery platformsOn demand package delivery platformsShopping platforms.You can find the dedicated page for this episode here on our website.What do you think? What delivery platforms do you have in your market? What's your experience with them? I'd love to hear what options are out there, as I want to build a directory, so please  email your commentsMore about the EntreCourierVisit Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

I want to give a shout out to Chad at GigTube (Twitter @Gig_Tube and  GigTube on Youtube) for posting the article that inspired today's title. Mike Bebernes at Yahoo News put up an article with a title worth discussing: The gig economy: Opportunity or exploitation?"That's a great question. In light of last week's Prop 22 decision in California and the fact they're still trying to get PRO Act pushed through the Senate, it's worth discussing. Are app-based gig economy workers (especially in Delivery and Rideshare) exploited? Or is it an opportunity for people?Yes. I think both are happening. But I believe we have the power to decide which one it is.What we talk about:1:38    Introductions, the importance of multi-apping5:00    Talking about other platforms besides the major 3 or 4 delivery apps6:09    With PUA ending in September, things can change a lot for delivery. It's more important than ever to look into multiple apps15:00  Finally diving into the topic - Gig Economy: Opportunity or Exploitation?17:55  I believe that it's both exploitation and opportunity19:44  Gig economy apps are trying to get employees but only pay for contractors22:07  Gig companies bank on gig workers thinking like employees25:45  Not being up front with what Gig work actually entails29:30  The opportunity is in independence.32:27  Delivery has been a life saver for many during the Pandemic42:00  The best way to avoid exploitation.You can find the dedicated page for this episode here on our website.What do you think? Is it exploitation or opportunity? Leave a comment at the episode page linked above or email your commentsMore about the EntreCourierVisit Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

We've been talking about strikes, about how Doordash is behaving badly, lower pay, hiding tips, all that good stuff. Or bad stuff.It can feel like we're out of control. But being in control is a matter of choice. This week we talk about 11 rules where you can take control of your app based gig economy business.What rules would you add? You can comment on the episode page at EntreCourier.com The rule that makes the other rules:You are running a business.Whether you deliver for Doordash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, Instacart or any of the others, or if you do ride share or some other app based gig contracting, you agreed that you were performing a service AS A BUSINESS. The IRS taxes you like you are running a business.The best way to succeed at running that business is to embrace the fact that you are indeed running a business. Treat it like a business.These following rules will help you develop that business mindset.1. Everything is your fault.While it sounds negative, it's the most positive thing there could be. Because that means you're in control. You're not at anyone's mercy. You get to make the decisions, you get to operate your business in a way that makes sense.2. Know your Why.Understand your reason for getting into the gig economy and let that guide you.3. Know the relationship with the gig companies.They aren't our employers. They're not our bosses. They are our customers.4. Running a business means your customer will try to screw you.It happens everywhere. And businesses thrive. Remember that you're the one in control of the relationships you get into.5. Think profit.The money you make is NOT the money that gets paid to you by Uber Eats, Doordash, Lyft, Grubhub, Instacart or others. What you earn is what's left over after expenses.6. Give Yourself a Paycheck.Get a bank account just for your business. You can try Novo (affiliate link).  Save money for expenses, taxes and paid time off (Hurdlr has a great calculator for figuring taxes). Then pay yourself the difference.7. Give your time a value.Time is money! But how much money? Decide what your time is worth.8. Set your priceBased on your why and the value of your time, set a standard for when gigs are worth accepting.9. Make Business Decisions.You decided your why. You set your price and value for your time. Make decisions based on how it impacts your business, not on emotion and definitely not based on anyone's ideas of how you should make decisions.10. Be Awesome.A key to success for any business is how great they are. Gig work is no different.11. Have an exit planLaws could change. Your preferences could change. Start planning for the great "What's Next?"A couple other rules came to mind:No one owes you anythingNever rely on just one customer.What rules would you add? Contact us at one of the links below to let us know:Visit Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

The government has been busy lately trying to get things pushed through. We've seen in the past few days the Infrastructure bill and Budget Reconciliation stuff go through the Senate. One of the things that's been a priority for Democrats has been the PRO Act. Protecting the Right to Organize. One of the things the act does is implement the ABC test that was the heart of California's AB5, and the ABC test would then determine classification of employee verses independent contractor for purposes of labor laws.  If it's passed and stands up to court challenges, PRO Act could force Doordash, Uber, Grubhub, Lyft and other gig companies to hire employees rather than employees. Steve Johnson of UberLyftDrivers.com joins us to talk about employment, being an independent contractor, the repercussions of being an employee, and whether Pro Act has a chance of passing. Steve has had several guests on his Rideshare Rodeo podcast and shares insights he's gained from his many conversations on the topic. Additional reading on PRO ActAB5 and Prop 22: A listing of articles about California's AB5 which implemented the ABC Test, and about Prop 22, the ballot initiative that exempted gig platforms from AB5.What is PRO Act? Driver App London is a blog by Mourad, a frequent guest on Steve's podcast. Later in the episode Steve talks about how some places in Europe are a step ahead of where they are in the US including an app worker designation. What we talk about in today's episode:The following was the general outline we attempted to follow. Things may have gone a little out of order here and there.Introductions: Steve talks about his gig economy background, how his website and podcast got started, and then talks about the different guests he's had on his podcast to talk about PRO Act (guests both in favor of and against the legislation).Employment verses Independent ContractorsWhy is this even important? What is there to lose if we are employees? What is PRO Act and how does that impact things?What is the ABC test from California's AB5 and that is now part of PRO Act? How does that compare to the current IRS testDoordash, Uber, Lyft, Grubhub and others as bad actorsPart of the problem does lie in the way gig companies treat their contractors. Is there exploitation of the independent contractor model by these companies? How do their actions contribute to how some want to force a change?Can PRO Act be passed into law?PRO Act is stalled right now. Does that mean that it's safe? What kind of things can lead to it passing?Is there a better alternative?Is forcing gig companies to hire employees the only answer? Is there a better way to handle the bad acting of gig companies?   More about the EntreCourierVisit Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

You may have seen the notices on social media encouraging Dashers to join a strike on July 31.Should Dashers strike? Obviously that's up to individuals to decide for themselves. But we'll talk about whether the strike can accomplish anything, and we'll get into what I think WOULD make a difference with Doordash. You can visit the Episode page at Entrecourier.com/s2-e2 What we Talk AboutThe Strike.Dashers are pissed. Some started a movement by sharing a post on social media encouraging drivers to boycott delivering for Doordash for one day on July 31.Two major issues:Doordash hiding part of the tip on larger orders, not showing full payoutDoordash lowering the minimum pay while gas prices increaseThe bigger issue to me seems to be a lack of respect from Doordash of their contractors. Lying, spinning and being sleazy in how they deal with Dashers.Why I don't think the strike will work.One, it's poorly organized. A strike that's only made up of a few people who started spreading ideas on Facebook has no real chance of making a dent.A bigger issue is that there's no real commitment in the strike. If people are only taking one day off and then willing to go back to all the things they're protesting, how is Doordash going to take that seriously?Two, we are not employees.  In fact, Doordash isn't our boss, they're our customers. Businesses striking against their customers...   just doesn't make a lot of sense.What's the best way to respond to Doordash?Treat this like you're running a business. It's as simple as that.Understand that being an independent contractor has its drawbacks:No guaranteesNo protectionNo fairnessThe nature of the beast when running a business is that the customer will try to screw you. Doordash fits that narrative well.Decide whether you want to be an employee or an independent contractor.As an independent contractor it's all on you. The good news is, you have more control over your success. You don't have to rely on Doordash being fair, there are other options out there.The bad news is that when running a business, there are no guarantees. Sometimes, the business model doesn't quite work out. If you don't like the bad that goes with being an independent contractor, don't be one.If every person who wants the employee protection and guarantees takes that to heart and refuses to be an independent contractor, that will be the most effective way to change how Doordash operates. They won't have enough drivers. But if you want to be a contractor, take control, and quit relying on Doordash or any other gig to be fair. Visit Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

We are back finally for season 2!Today we have David Pickerell back again to talk about Para, the little app that forced a giant to change their programming. You may have heard of Para, especially if you deliver Doordash. Doordash has been notorious for hiding part of the tip on delivery offers. David's team at Para was able to figure out a way to identify what the actual pay amount would be for Doordash offers and show it as a notification to Dashers. It worked great until it didn't. Doordash showed they were pot committed to keeping Dashers in the dark on delivery offers, updating their app so that the total payout information is no longer available. Today's Guest:David Pickerell is cofounder and CEO of Para. an app designed for delivery drivers and independent contractors. David was a guest on Episode 102 and joins us again to talk to us about what happened with Para and tip transparency, what does the end of Tip Transparency mean, and what happens next?What we Talk AboutThe elephant in the room.Before we dive into the interview, I talk about the seven month gap between our last episode and today. What happened? What's up with the new season? I talk about transitioning into more work on EntreCourier and better identifying the purposes of both the website and the podcast. Setting up the interviewIt starts with Para. David introduced Para to us 7 months ago with his vision for an app to help drivers. Since then, Para has introduced some features here and there.But the big thing in the news was Para's Tip Transparency feature. If you deliver for Doordash, you're aware they like to hide part of the delivery pay when offering a trip. Para was able to identify the total pay amount and display that to drivers via an app notification.Doordash figured it out and changed their programming so that it was no longer possible to identify the full pay. This of course shut down Para's Tip Transparency feature. Is this the end for Para?The interviewDavid shares what happened with Para. He shares how they knew something was changing, what Doordash did to disable Tip Transparency, and how Para responded. He identifies some of the features Para is working on next as well as where they are going next with their app development.My thoughts.I think there are two important questions that come out of this:What does it mean for Para?What does it mean for us?We talk about the importance of identity and the big picture, and how it's that concept of the big picture that means that this is NOT the end for Para. I also share why I think that the big picture needs to become a point of focus for Para if they do want to grow from this.Then I talk about what we do when Doordash or any other app doesn't provide the information we want, or when an important app quits working. The important takeaway from this?Take control. More about the EntreCourierDavid's previous appearance on Episode 102Show notes on EntreCourier for this episodeArticle on Para Tip TransparencyArticle on Is Para Dead?Visit Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

2020 has been a year, hasn't it?The beautiful thing about it though is, we can choose what to do with it. We can let the challenges defeat us, or we can embrace the opportunities.This week, we look back at the year that was.But more importantly, we look ahead at what lies ahead. You can read the associated post on the EntreCourier website.Being the last episode of 2020, it's also a good spot for a season finale. Season 1 of the Deliver on Your Business podcast went a good 104 episodes, 18 months. We're going to give it a break in January, launch season 2 in February sometime. Part of that new launch will be a more defined focus. The EntreCourier website is at it's strongest providing information and education. The podcast has been more about applying that all into delivery life. I see those as being very distinct things but I've tried to keep both the website and podcast as some kind of merger of the two. In 2021 we're going to let the podcast have a bit more of a life of its own. It's going to be more a part of trying to build community for drivers. In the past we had an email newsletter that went out each week, and it was really more like three different types of content that was just tough to keep up with. The newsletter and podcast really serve some of the same content, so those two things will be more closely tied. Stay tuned for more on how that will work - and we talk about that a bit more today on the podcast.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

This week's episode is a sort of mix of two posts I put up. https://entrecourier.com/2020/12/22/do-gig-economy-contractors-qualify-paycheck-protection-program-round-two/ talks about the new stimulus package, and what parts of it will impact drivers in the gig economy.https://entrecourier.com/2020/12/22/do-gig-economy-contractors-qualify-paycheck-protection-program-round-two/ gets into detail about the new round of Paycheck Protection Program loans - whether independent contractors qualify, how do they qualify, how much can they borrow, and are the loans forgivable?Other articles from the past about the pandemic relief efforts and their impact on drivers:https://entrecourier.com/2020/06/26/eidl-ppp-pua-grubhub-uber-eats-doordash-contractors/https://entrecourier.com/2020/04/30/paycheck-protection-program-ppp-grubhub-doordash-uber-eats-lyft/https://entrecourier.com/2020/05/04/grubhub-doordash-uber-eats-covid-19-relief-application/https://entrecourier.com/2020/05/18/ppp-loan-forgiveness-self-employed-independent-contractors/https://entrecourier.com/2020/04/11/unemployment-grubhub-doordash-postmates-uber-eats/https://entrecourier.com/2020/06/26/eidl-ppp-pua-grubhub-uber-eats-doordash-contractors/More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

David Pickerell of Para joins us to talk about the tools his team is developing to help delivery drivers and contractors be more profitable.Para would love to partner with you. Some of the tools already developed or being developed include:Analytics of your earningsMileage tracking (both past and future)One Click signup for various delivery appsPersonal dispatching to assist working multiple apps.If you are interested in talking with David, especially as an early adopter, give him a shout. David@Withpara.com.To read this in article format, you can visit the associated blog post for this episode.03:25 Introduction of Para06:02 Some of the tools Para is developing for contractors07:03 One Click Apply07:30 Personal Dispatch09:47 Mileage logs14:56 The value of assembling trip data from drivers17:26 How drivers can help gather data for Para18:31 How can that data make a difference for contractors?22:55 How data levels the playing feeld between apps and contractors30:22 Dealing with the inefficiency and incompetence of delivery platforms33:18 David's thoughts on the Doordash IPO36:29 Are there repercussions for using an app like Para to multi-app?37:15 The opportunities with up and coming delivery companies43:51 The relationship between gig companies and independent contractors47:41 Can any newcomers shake up the delivery industry?51:28 What about Lyft entering the market?52:54 What's in the future for Para?More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Doordash just launched their IPO with shares selling about double what was anticipated. What does this mean for those of us who deliver for Doordash? How will this impact us?We talk about:What does it mean to go public?How did the IPO go for Doordash?Why it's a miracle Doordash even got to an IPODoes this mean Doordash can be profitable?Why Doordash may struggle more than previous tech companies that went public before any signs of profitabilityHow the economy and recovery from the pandemic probably mean more to Dashers than the IPOArticles referenced:My article from November 2019 questioning if Doordash would ever get to go public.CNN Business article on how food delivery might be in for a reality check after the pandemicLast week's episode discussing how the market is ripe for an alternative to the major delivery companiesMarket Insiders article: Doordash is the most ridiculous IPO of 2020Episode 7: Have an Exit Plan. More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

As we get to the end of the year, we've got all our favorite delivery apps facing drama.What's the deal with Uber Eats buying Postmates? The deal is done. It has been completed and it's official. Earlier than scheduled. What's that going to mean for all of us?Ultimately it looks like Postmates will continue to operate as a brand. Eventually (this will take time) Uber Eats is going to merge all the back end.That means accounting, the tech, and the delivery fleets. In other words plan on everyone moving over to Uber Eats, and one fleet will deliver orders for both brands. It's a lot like happens with Grubhub and Seamless. Articles referenced:"How would a possible Uber Eats Takeover of Postmates impact us?" on the Entrecourier.Grubhub timeline of their purchases of Seamless and Eat24Doordash's transitioning of Caviar drivers to the Dasher fleetWhat's the deal with Grubhub tanking?Grubhub has been in a freefall this year. Once the dominant player in delivery, they've plummeted far below Doordash and Uber Eats. The Business of Apps website had some interesting data on Grubhub's performance.Grubhub's announcement that the deal to sell to Just Eat Takeaway was being pushed backSeeking Alpha commentary that Just Eat bet on the wrong horse.Business Insider article on Just Eat moving to employee model in Europe.And what's going to happen with Doordash's IPO?Doordash has been wanting to go public for awhile. They've been putting it off. With this huge surge in sales thanks to Covid, it's kind of a now or never moment. What happens after that?2021 is going to be interesting.For the delivery world, I think it will be more interesting than this year was. That says a lot.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Lyft is making plans to get into restaurant deliveryLast week we talked to Bob McNulty from a new upstart in delivery called TripDelivers, who launched their first market a couple weeks ago, with plans to go nationwide.Lyft is talking about a different approach that charges restaurants less and that doesn't interfere with the relationship between the restaurant and the customer.TripDelivers has created a model where essentially the customer ends up paying the restaurant and the courier directly and that has a significant driver, restaurant and customer referral program.Are either of these game changers? Could they be?The associated blog post for this week's episode talks about if Lyft or TripDelivers could disrupt delivery.You can read the transcript for episode 98 where Bob McNulty shares what Trip Delivers is doing and how they are different.Lyft addresses the concerns about overcharging for deliveries by other delivery companies. However, do restaurants really want a delivery company that doesn't also bring in customers?TripDelivers looks intriguing to me on paper. Some compare them to Multi Level Marketing organizations and there are criticisms. I do believe that if they do things the way they say they will and they do them well, they could make an impact. The question is, can either of them not suck as bad at delivery as Doordash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Postmates or any of the others? That's the big problem I see: None of them do it well.I'm not sure they can using an independent contractor model.Speaking of which, I wrap up with a little bit of a rant about what I think would be disruptive. If someone comes in with a pure logistics focus, figuring out a more efficient model for food delivery, they could make a difference.I ranted a lot more about that back in Episode 51 last December.Episode 99.... can you believe it???More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

TripDelivers is a new delivery company that is ramping up with a completely new model. TripDelivers has launched their first market in Nashville and are looking to grow. This is a completely different model, for retaurants and for drivers. For the restaurant, the restaurant doesn't pay a huge comission. They pay a flat fee. The restaurant receives their money immediately, there are incentives for involving their existing customer base, and even for recruiting other restaurants.The driver is paid directly and immediately. Drivers receive the entire delivery fee from the customer and the entire fee. They can receive additional income for engaging new drivers, restaurants and customers.If this goes well, it could really disrupt the industry.Bob McNulty joins us to talk about TripDelivers and what they're doing.Thursday night, November 19, 6 Pacific 9 Eastern, Bob will be updating some of the programming. You can find out more here at their YouTube channel. For the transcript for today's article, visit the Associated blog page for Episode 98 with our interview with Bob from TripDelivers.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Okay, here's what we know so far:Prop 22 in California passed.Joe Biden looks like he'll be president.The Senate is going to be close - maybe slight control for the Republicans.******************Sponsored SectionThe big deal in these elections boils down to whether we can continue to be independent contractors - both in California and nationwide.But what if something non-political took away your ability to deliver? What kind of safety net do you have? Check out Kover - they provide income protection benefits for independent contractors in the Gig Economy.Use my referral link here and get the first month free of whatever plan you choose.******************So the elections are done (okay, some of the counting isn't)What does that mean for us? Gig companies can continue to use contractors in California, but I believe that provisions in Prop 22 could put them at risk for a misclassification ruling under the IRS or Department of Labor. Joe Biden is pro AB5 type legislation nationally, but balance of power in the Senate will probably keep that from happening.Biden will probably appoint more labor friendly leadership at Department of Labor which could have an impact.As long as you can be in charge, be in charge. If things are on their way to changing, use this time to get ready for that change.Articles referenced:Episode 97 associated blog post.A list of articles on our site when AB5 was passedBloomberg article stating California contractors can still sue under AB5Link to IRS Publication 1779Entrecourier Article pointing out extra controls allowed in Prop22Payup article on extra controls allowed under Prop 22Article in the Hill about Gig Companies wanting to take Prop 22 nationalMore about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Deactivations seem to be happening like crazy for Independent Contractors with gig delivery companies like Doordash, Uber Eats, Grubhub and others. What do you do if you rely heavily on your food delivery business income? How do you avoid having that taken away from you, especially for something you didn't do?We walk through three different categories of reasons people get deactivated. And then we talk about seven steps you can take to protect yourself from deactivation. These are not a guarantee. But if you follow these steps you eliminate most of the chances of such a deactivation happening.You can visit the blog page related to this episode at the EntreCourier site.We played a couple of clips from interviews from Episode 94 with Bryant Greenling of LegalRideshare, and from Episode 95 with Leah Chasser of Kover.ai. I mentioned this article from Gridwise about reasons people get deactivated.I also talk about Doordash's deactivation policy, where you can see more information here.We mention Episode 7 that talks about having an exit plan. Affiliate links of note: As an affiliate, I may earn money when items are purchased from the following links.We talked about the Rexing V2 Pro, the dash cam that I use personally. You can add GPS to it. Movable cameras allow you to point the camera out the side window and document your deliveries at the doorstep.One of the most important steps you can take to get protected in the event of a wrongful deactivation is to sign up with Kover.ai. Kover provides income protection if you are deactivated and has a legal service that can write a deactivation appeal letter on your behalf. Use this affiliate link and you can get the first month at no cost.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramAnd now we're on Pinterest

What happens if you are unable to earn because of a deactivation, car accident or hospitalization when you deliver for Grubhub, Doordash, Uber Eats, Instacart or any of these other platforms?As an independent contractor, you are on your own. There's no backup.Unless you've created a backup.Our guest today is Leah Chasser from Kover.AI. Kover is a benefits company for gig economy workers that specializes in income protection. Leah talks to us about the services that Kover offers for delivery contractors and other gig workers.Leah is also offering a special offer for listeners of the Deliver on Your Business podcast. If you sign up through our affiliate link here at Kover.ai you can get the first month at no cost to you. This gives you a risk free way to check out their services.In last week's episode, Bryant from LegalRideshare gave a glowing endorsement of Kover. In fact, Kover and LegalRideshare work together to provide attorneys letters to gig companies requesting reinstatement if a driver is deactivated by Grubhub, Doordash, Uber Eats or any of these other gig delivery apps (or rideshare apps). If you are an independent contractor who relies much at all on your delivery income, you should be providing some form of protection. Kover is one option. There are other things you can look at. One of the most effective things you can do is create your own emergency fund. If you've established a large enough emergency fund, you may not need a service like this.Personally, I have an emergency fund but also subscribe to Kover. My emergency fund makes me feel comfortable with the mid level package that Kover offers. Either way, what ever your method is, protect your delivery business.You can visit the associated blog page for this episode at Entrecourier.com/95This week's sponsorWe didn't exactly have a sponsored portion of the episode today. I mentioned above that my link to Kover is an affiliate link. That's a form of sponsored link, in that I can receive commission if their service is purchased, and that helps me keep this website and podcast operating.If you visit Kover off my affiliate link, Kover will provide the first month of membership to you at no cost to you. It's a great way to check out their services.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramAnd now we're on Pinterest

We're excited to have Bryant Greening from LegalRideshare.com on as a guest this week.As an attorney, Bryant found that there were so many things that were different enough involving working with clients in the gig economy such as rideshare and delivery. Six years ago he made the decision to focus exclusively on gig related cases. In that time he's established himself as one of the recognized experts on the legal aspects of rideshare and delivery. Bryant talks with us today about protecting yourself, putting yourself in a better position to not need help from someone like him, what to do when the unexpected happens. We discuss insurance, dashcams, deactivations and even AB5.If you are involved in an accident, you can contact LegalRideshare at their website or by calling 312-767-7950.Bryant also talks about working with Kover AI. Kover provides income protection services for delivery and rideshare contractors. If a contractor is deactivated for something they did not do, subscribers of Kover's service can get a letter sent on their behalf by LegalRideshare. You can learn more about Kover's services here.You can see a transcript of the interview here.This week's sponsor:Our sponsor this week fits in very well with today's topic. Bryant stresses the importance of getting a dashcam. We are affiliates of Rexing USA who provide a variety of dashcams. You can check out Rexing here. or you can find them on Amazon here.Note that some products and services are sponsored or affiliate links, meaning that I may receive compensation, which helps keep the Entrecourier website and this podcast up and running.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramAnd now we're on Pinterest

In starting out the episode, I mention that I just ordered a Rexing dash cam. I ordered a VP2 Pro with a GPS attachment. I am an affiliate, so I do get some commission for sales. You can order at Rexing.com. If you order during Prime Days (October 13 and 14) use the coupon code RexingPD30 for 30% off.How do you feel about going out and delivering? I always thought I was a bit of a nutcase for enjoying it so much, however I've run into several who feel the same way. I play a couple clips from previous podcast episodes - Kevin Ha from FinancialPanther.com was on Episode 84 and Mike Bisceglia from the Mike Delivers podcast was on Episode 78.A lot of the stressors with traditional jobs are gone. That can make it easier to enjoy the work. There's still a lot of garbage out there we deal with. But we can choose how we let that impact us.We offer six suggestions for how to better enjoy your work in your delivery business.1. Remember your why (See episode 3)2. Balance your work with your why3. Create a great work environment4. Dwell on the good stuff5. Gamify it.6. Take advantage of your time out on the road.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramAnd now we're on Pinterest

How many of us are not tracking our expenses because it's just too complicated?Bookkeeping has a high intimidation factor. It doesn't have to be that complicated. Keep it simple. Here's seven rules to help make it easier for you.1. If you think it's related to your business, track it.2. If the expense is reasonable and necessary for the operation of your business, it's an allowable expense.3. Track your miles.4. Keep a record of the money your delivery business earned.5. Organize your expenses and income into transaction types.6. Find a tool for organizing your transactions that makes it easiest and most likely for YOU to keep tracking.7. Have someone who understands taxes take your records and do your taxes for you.You can see images, and an associated video on the related blog post at EntreCoureir.This is about bookkeeping - tracking expenses, not taxes. You can read more about taxes on our tax guide. It includes several articles on tracking miles, expense categories, and how taxes work.We talked about some tools you can use. Check out my review on Quickbooks Self Employed.If interested, you can use my affiliate link for Quickbooks Self Employed for Android or on IOS in the App StoreCheck out our recent overview of GoDaddy Bookkeeping for delivery independent contractors. You can use my affiliate link to get that program here.Hurdler is another cost effective but feature rich option that I'm beginning to really like. This too is an affiliate linkYou can also check out affiliate links for Quickbooks Online and for FreshbooksMore about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramAnd now we're on Pinterest

I didn't expect to get back to Uber Eats so quickly after we talked in Episode 83 about how Uber Eats is now including the expected tip in the offer amount. The feedback on that has been surprising. A lot of people commented on the associated blog page that they are making a lot less money under the new system.Is Uber Eats paying less or is tipping lower under this new system? The issue caught me off guard because my results have been the opposite. I've made more money than ever on Uber Eats now that I know the total tip amount. We dive into what has changed about tipping on Uber Eats (nothing) and what may be causing some to do better while others do worse.Some articles of interest:In January 2019 Uber Eats began allowing customers to tip when placing the order. This feature has been in place for a year and a half. This aspect of things did not change with the new update.In November of last year we talked about the new Uber Eats pay model. When Doordash came out with their new pay model last year, we talked about the Desirability factor. It's something similar to Uber Eats's Trip Supplement.What has changed with Uber Eats? What remains the same? Is it better or worse now that you know how much you're earning? We talk about those questions and then get into three secrets of how to better evaluate Uber Eats delivery offers with this new change.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramAnd now we're on Pinterest

What is it like delivering on an e-Bike for Doordash, Grubhub, Uber Eats?I share my experience shifting into using an e-Bike for food delivery on Doordash, Uber Eats and Grubhub. Can you earn good money on bike deliveries? I'm pleasantly surprised.You can see pictures referenced at the associated blog page.I referenced Grant Peterson's book "Just Ride." Here's the Amazon affiliate link. You can check out Episode 84 and my interview with Kevin Ha who was making $40 plus per hour on e-Bike deliveries.Episode 32 was one of my first times addressing using your bike for delivery. In August 2019, Doordash rolled out a bicycle mode on their app. I wrote about my experience here. More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

All of these gig apps seem intent on thinning the herd of drivers by way of mass deactivations.Doordash is tracking late deliveries as contract violations. Grubhub and Uber Eats are calling late deliveries "fraudulent. It's getting crazy out there.What do you do and how do you weather all these contract terminations?In August there was another such wave at Doordash, that time due to a glitch that terminated people for multiple accounts when they had none. Another glitch this year terminated people for violating the referral policy when they hadn't referred any new drivers. In episode 73 we talked about another wave of deactivations. You can see the screenshots of some of the examples on the associated blog post for today's episode. We mention in the episode that Grubhub has a form you can submit for account issues. You can get to that form here.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

What's the best way to evaluate delivery offers?I'm going to tell you that the best way is what works for you. If you are happy with the results from a certain method, then stick with them. I have issues with certain groups who will tell you their way is the only way. Some get almost militant about it. My beef isn't their philosophy, it's their tactics.We look at a few approaches: As we do we stress the best way to evaluate is profit per hour which we talked about in Episode 8You can read the associated blog post here: #DeclineNow vs #TopDasher vs 50 cent ruleTop Dasher / Grubhub Premier / Take Everything.There are people that this approach can work for. There are markets where this approach may be more necessary. Program levels offer benefits in exchange for taking more offers, but you have to evaluate if the cost is worth the benefit?Cherry Pickers / DeclineNow / Minimum Dollar AmountIt was among Grubhub drivers that the term cherry pickers came to be popular. Referring to people who reject offers until they find the one that fits. I'm a cherry picker in a loose sense of the definition as I am extremely selective.A more recent movement has been the #DeclineNow Facebook group. Essentially their approach is to reject anything less than $7. They also stress a theory that Doordash adjusts offer amounts upwards as they are rejected by drivers - a theory put out on this site before the current pay model was fully introduced. There was an interesting article referenced in the episode about the DeclineNow group.Dollar per mile clubPopular among Doordash drivers is the approach that says it has to pay a dollar per mile or more to take. It's a great way to weed out some bad offers but leaves too many bad offers on the table. In my opinion.Fifty Cent RuleA delivery has to pay 50 cents a minute to be worth taking. (Or 40 cents or whatever rule you wish to implement).Originally introduced here as the 40 cent rule I've since given myself a raise. The bottom line isYou do you. I emphasize the 50 cent rule because I think it works. But note the words: "I think."If you choose a different way of deciding or choose not to decide, that's your business decision. I'm not getting emotional over your choice.When I begin to form a negative opinion is when a philosophy becomes something that its followers insiste I (or anyone else) have to follow. More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Today we launch the 31 Day Courier MBA course. I won't link to it since it's been started already, however, in celebration of that I want to talk about this idea of being a business owner.MBA in the course stands for Master your Business Attitude. Whether you feel like it or not, whether you want to be or not, as an independent contractor you ARE a business owner. Today we talk about seven characteristics of business owners and how they can help you take control.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

It's not uncommon for someone to discover while delivering part time that delivering for Doordash, Grubhub, Uber Eats and others feels like it's earning more than their day job. Does it make sense to quit and just deliver full time?******We interrupt these show notes to put in a shameless plug for the 31 Day Courier MBA email course. There are still spaces open. Sign up before the deadline. You can follow along on the associated blog post here.There's no one right answer. It can be the perfect decision for some, a terrible decision for someone else. It depends on outlook, temperament, location, so many things.Episode 44 got into this full time question. It was more of a pro's and con's of full time delivery where this approach was more methodical. Maybe check out both. This week we walk through 7 Steps:Step 1: Build a Business mindset. You are running a business. Think like a business owner. Sign up for the 31 Day Courier MBA email course, or check out Episodes 1-31.Step 2: Understand the Bigger Picture. Check out Episode 3. It's all about getting to know your why. Ask yourself how fulltime delivery fits in with the bigger picture of who you are and what you want to do with your life. We reference interviews with Mike Bisceglia and Kevin Ha.Step 3: Is it Sustainable? Know what you need. Start with a budget (this info from Dave Ramsey might help). Episode 18 digs into understanding what your car actually costs. The Financial Panther blog digs into pros and cons of contractor vs employee.Step 4: Do some Market Research. What's happening in your market to help or hurt independent contractor status? New York had a ruling stating a Postmates contractor driver was an employee. What other things can change in your area to impact earnings potential?Step 5: Get ready. Do the things you need to do to be ready. You can check out our affiliate Amazon link to the book we mentioned in the episode: Quitter by Jon Acuff. See our article on giving yourself a paycheck. Here's our article on deciding what to save for taxes. Step 6: Develop an exit plan. What is your ultimate goal? How do you want to get there? If you haven't started thinking through this, at least get the process rolling. Step 7: Decide and Execute. What are you going to do? Set a plan, decide when it makes sense, and then do whatever you decide. More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

The AB5 is hitting the fan.California has won an injunction forcing Uber and Lyft to use employees as of August 21. As it stands right now, they state they intend to shut down there temporarily.What does this mean for delivery contractors with Grubhub Doordash Uber Eats Postmates Instacart and others? ********************************BUT BEFORE WE DIVE IN:Are you signed up yet for the 31 Day Courier MBA email course? Starting September 1, we'll send out 31 daily emails helping you Master your Business Attitude (MBA - See what I did there?). We're limiting the number of participants to make it manageable.And oh yeah: I'm not charging for the course. **********************************Sign up now for the 31 Day Courier MBA: 31 Days to a more profitable delivery business.You can read up on the topic for today on the associated blog post for Episode 85. We look back at some things I said in Episode 52 and Episode 51.Here are links to articles we referenceTechCrunch article announcing the state's preliminary injunction against Uber and Lyft. (Note, in the podcast I mentioned that nothing was decided on the actual case. I should clarify - there was a state court decision that Uber and Lyft had misclassified employees. However, the companies are appealing - the preliminary injunction is meant to enforce that ruling rather than have the companies drag it out in court.Instacart and Doordash are probably next, having been sued by local governments.This Marketwatch article explains why Uber Eats is not included in the injunctionCalifornia may themselves be in violation of AB5 - hiring contractors at the EDDThe New York Times reports that Uber and Lyft are looking into a franchise model.Here's our article from March about the New York court of appeals ruling on Postmates.ProAct includes language making the ABC test a national law. Joe Biden has pledged to sign it.Our article on what AB5 means nationwide and on why the gig economy might come to an end.The importance of having an exit planMore about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

We're excited to have Kevin Ha from Financial Panther join us today to talk about delivery.Kevin paid off over $80,000 in debt in just over two years by diving into side hustles, including delivery. His Financial Panther blog provides a lot of great advice about money, saving, side hustles and taking control of your life. And oh, by the way, he's been knocking out 5 to 6 deliveries per hour, on his e-Bike, averaging about $40 bucks an hour in the process.So we had to pick his brain about how he's doing that.You can read the transcript on the associated blog post on EntreCourier.comBIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!We're doing something new here. Launching a course.And it's free. Our podcast audience is getting the first shot at the course. The 31 Day Courier MBA Course: 31 Days to a More Profitable Delivery Business.Class begins September 1, 2020. For the inaugural class, we're capping the number of signups at 50 participants.Unfortunately, there's no diploma. No degree. It's not that kind of MBA.MBA stands for Master your Business Attitude. This is an email course. Each day for 31 days you will receive an email helping walk through different business concepts, and how can we apply those to our business. And for everyone that completes all the homework (yes, there will be homework) a special thank you gift to our podcast audience is a free Independent Delivery Pro polo shirt. Sign up here and grab your spot in the 31 Day Courier MBA Course.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramNeed an inexpensive delivery bag to get started with delivery? You can purchase this oneFor a professional looking polo or shirt for deliveries, check out the Independent Delivery Pro Gear Shop

For the associated blog post with screenshots and links you can go to the website page for Episode 83UDM broke the story on his Youtube channel that Uber Eats is rolling out a change in the delivery offer display in some markets. "Starting today, you'll see an upfront price that includes the expected customer tip. This is based on what your customer adds upon checkout. The exact tip amount may change as customers have 1 hour after delivery to edit or change their tip."Early last year Uber Eats rolled out a change where customers could tip when placing the order. But they still allow you to edit or change the tip. That's a good thing but it's also something that could make this change a disaster. We talk about why in this episode.Some other relevant links mentioned in today's episode:My article on reverse cherry picking.An earlier article referring to accusations that Doordash was stealing tips.Earlier this week we posted about Grubhub's minimum pay during the pandemicOne concern with the new practice is customers could begin tip baiting - a practice that has been a problem with Instacart customers.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramNeed an inexpensive delivery bag to get started with delivery? You can purchase this oneFor a professional looking polo or shirt for deliveries, check out the Independent Delivery Pro Gear Shop

What is the experience like delivering for Doordash?I go through my own thoughts and observations on what it's like. With a heavy dose of opinion thrown in.If you are thinking of signing up to deliver for Doordash, either as a brand new courier or to add to your arsenal of delivery partners, you might be able to get a bonus if you use my referral link. If you deliver so many deliveries within so much time and you used my link, you may qualify for a bonus. The bonus varies based on how badly Doordash needs couriers in your market.In the fall we did a series on whether the different platforms were good delivery partners. That series took a bigger picture look at each app. Episode 38 of the podcast talked about Doordash (and to date has been my most downloaded episode - by a long shot!)You can see some of the screenshots that I refer to on this week's episode by going to the associated blog post for Episode 82.This is the third of a 3 part series.Episode 80 talked about what it's like to deliver for Uber Eats.Episode 81 talked about what it's like to deliver for Grubhub.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramNeed an inexpensive delivery bag to get started with delivery? You can purchase this oneFor a professional looking polo or shirt for deliveries, check out the Independent Delivery Pro Gear Shop

What is it like to deliver with Grubhub?We get into some of the great things about them. We also delve into some of the challenges that I see. You can read the associated blog post for Episode 81 on EntreCourier.com.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramNeed an inexpensive delivery bag to get started with delivery? You can purchase this oneFor a professional looking polo or shirt for deliveries, check out the Independent Delivery Pro Gear Shop

Before we get into the show notes: If you're able to at all, this is a good one to follow on the blog post. We have screen shots of things from the Uber Eats app that, seeing the shots (and viewing the video about verifying you have a mask on) really help add to this episode.Okay, on to the shown notes:Three things I talk about prior to today's topic:Check out Mike Delivers podcast. Mike was our guest in Episode 79, and he's got a special guest this week.If you haven't applied for the Paycheck Protection Program Loan, there's still time - it's open until August 8 (Plan on applications shutting down a few days earlier). This is a referral link.Tomorrow, July 15, is the tax deadline. You can still get some help figuring out taxes at https://entrecourier.com/tax-guide.What's it like to deliver Uber Eats?In the fall we did a series on whether delivery apps were good ones to deliver for. That one focused on a lot of things about the apps themselves, but I wanted to dig into what the experience itself is like. Episode 45 is when we looked at Uber Eats.I mention getting a delivery bag: Episode 55 dives into why that's a good idea. You can get an inexpensive entry level bag hereCheck out the associated blog post for a video, a screen recording of the process of verifying COVID-19 precautionsWe also have screen shots of offer screens and the progression of improvements Uber Eats has been making.You can read about the reverse cherry picking approach to offers on Uber Eats here.I talk about the 40 cent rule that I use for other platforms - not having tip information does make it harder to use that on Uber Eats.Uber Eats made some improvements to information they provided but at the same time moved to a less transparent pay model in Episode 46.Another improvement Uber Eats has made is in doing better encouraging tips.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramNeed an inexpensive delivery bag to get started with delivery? You can purchase this oneFor a professional looking polo or shirt for deliveries, check out the Independent Delivery Pro Gear Shop

The story came out about Sam Lyon, who decided to put in 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, delviering Uber Eats for the month of June. In the end, he made $8,357, which is a $100,000 per year pace.Before we go further into that, a few notes:First, the associated blog post for today's episode is here.In the introduction to today's episode, we talk about a few things:You can get a list of articles related to the Covid-19 pandemic here. This lists articles about driving safely as well as about the aid opportunities available to the independent contractor business owner.We also talked briefly about the recent agreement for Uber Eats to take over Postmates. We had a couple of articles about thisThoughts on what a potential take over would mean to independent contractors.Reactions to the news from a driver's perspectiveOkay, on to Sam's story and what it says about the ability to make six figures as a delivery driver.Is this achievable? Is it sustainable?We talk about his.You can see the CNBC video about Sam's accomplishment here.Quick note - if you read the blog post, there are slightly different numbers than what we break down in the podcast episode, when we get into what the effective hourly earnings are. When figuring numbers during the recording, I misfigured the tax differences between being an independent contractor and an employee. In the end though, the difference in figures is not very substantial.We talk about what your car actually costs to operate. You can learn more about figuring out actual costs in Episode 18 of the podcast.The bottom line is, Same worked a LOT in June and made a LOT of money. The important thing here isn't how much he made an hour or any of that - it was that he was able to CHOOSE to put those hours in. Whether we would choose to work that much is irrelevant. Sam did it. And that's the beauty of being an independent contractor. We get to make those choices.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramNeed an inexpensive delivery bag to get started with delivery? You can purchase this oneFor a professional looking polo or shirt for deliveries, check out the Independent Delivery Pro Gear Shop

This is more or less the 1 year anniversary of the launch of this podcast. We went live with regular episodes on July 1 2019.Today's episode is a kind of celebration of all that. It was a blast having Mike Bisceglia from the Mike Delivers Podcast join us, share stories, and just talk about enjoying the time we spend out there in delivery.Check out Mike's Podcast on Apple. Of course, Mike can be found on all the other places podcasts are foundFollow Mike on Twitter. You can also join his Patreon community and get bonus content. I finally let Mike speak at the 7:36 markHow Mike got started with delivery and podcasting: 8:48On if he'd ever try any delivery platform other than Uber Eats 11:30Mike on taking orders for the sake of the experience, not just the money 12:44On building relationships with restaurant personnel 16:53What Mike enjoys most about doing delivery work 19:48What drives him crazy the most about delivery 22:51One of his most memorable deliveries: 28:40On delivering during the pandemic 32:17Mike's best advice: Smile! 40:47.... even with a mask 42:24The associated page on the website can be found here with more or less a full trascript (minus my stuttering)More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramNeed an inexpensive delivery bag to get started with delivery? You can purchase this oneFor a professional looking polo or shirt for deliveries, check out the Independent Delivery Pro Gear Shop

A few weeks ago gas prices were ridiculously low. As people are getting back to work we're seeing gas prices start to move up in price. With gas getting more expensive and as much as we have to drive to deliver for gig economy apps, how do we make sure that we're not paying too much for gas?Before diving into that topic, a couple things we touched on to start the episode:Last week the government added funds to the EIDL relief loans. Stay tuned to the EntreCourier website, we'll dive into that soon. Also, June 30 is the deadline for the Paycheck Protection Program. Here are some PPP relevant links:How the PPP program works for independent contractorsMy process applying for the PPP loansHow PPP loan forgiveness works for independent contractorsWhere to apply for PPP LoansDoordash has been said to be dangling 'bonuses' for completing so many deliveries. They were promising "you'll earn at least $1750" for 300 deliveries. That's not a bonus, that's not money on top. It's just a minimum earnings of less than $6 each.Go check out Mike Delivers. Another delivery based podcast that's well done.Okay, on to this week's episodeYou can follow along on the blog post associated with today's episode and see links and screenshots there.The most important tip for cutting down on gas costs? Drive lessI drive around in a 20-mpg Chevy Equinox and spend less on gas than a lot of people who drive a Prius. Why? Because I keep my miles down. Too many drivers are driving way too many miles. Don't be that guy (or gal).Don't drive extra miles to save on taxes. I learned on Uber Eats that distance was a better factor for evaluating deliveries than the offered price.Use the available cost saving tools.Use my GetUpside referral link to receive a bonus 15¢ per gallon cash back on your first fill up.Check out GasBuddy for info on gas prices and save money on gas purchases with their debit card. (not an affiliate link.Get the GoBank card from Uber Eats for up to 6.5% cash back on gas. Don't deliver for Uber Eats yet? Sign up here.Use gas savings at warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's ClubKeep the big picture in mindThink about what the cost is for whatever savings you pursue. Driving 6 miles out of your way costs you more in time and vehicle cost than what you save. More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramNeed an inexpensive delivery bag to get started with delivery? You can purchase this oneFor a professional looking polo or shirt for deliveries, check out the Independent Delivery Pro Gear Shop

Now the question here is NOT which is the best delivery app to deliver on.It's which is the best to START with. Which is the best for being someone's FIRST delivery experience. Grubhub? Uber Eats? Doordash? Postmates? Here's the thing about getting started with delivery: You might find out you hate it. You're wanting to get a feel for how you like delivery as a whole, without having to make too great a commitment or investment up front. Then, if you like it, you can dive in more fully.We talk about all four major apps, Postmates, Grubhub, Uber Eats and Doordash, and their pro's and con's as first time delivery apps. None of them is perfect, but in my opinion there is one app that stands far apart from the others because it fits that criteria I just mentioned.You can follow along with the associated blog post on the EntreCourier website here.Some other articles and links relevant to today's discussion:Six Things I Love about delivering for Uber Eats, Grubhub, Doordash, and Postmates (and why you might love it too).Seven Reasons you may not want to be a delivery contractorDelivery App Throwdown: Comparing Grubhub Uber Eats Doordash and PostmatesUnderstand the risks that you may not be insured while deliveringA Three Step Process to make sure you are insuredHere are my referral links for Uber Eats and Doordash. Depending on the need for drivers, delivery companies may add signup bonuses when you use a referral link. I may receive compensation if you sign on through my link and complete enough deliveries.Deliver for Uber EatsDeliver for DoordashIf you do get started and need an inexpensive delivery bag to get off the ground, you can purchase this one here.If you want a professional looking polo or shirt for deliveries, check out the Independent Delivery Professional Gear Shop here.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

I'm sure you've seen it - the clip from Jim Mora when he was a coach with the Colts:Playoffs? You kidding me?Taxes? You talking about taxes? Taxes? You kidding me???That's how a lot of us feel. I had something I was thinking of that might be more fun to talk about, and I could have waited on this topic to be honest. Originally June 15 would have been the deadline for 2nd quarter quarterly estimated tax payments. So it made sense to bring this up.Due to the pandemic the government saw fit to push that back to July 15, but if you haven't been thinking about it, maybe going ahead with this topic gets you thinking so you can start sending in those quarterly payments.I try not to spend too much time on taxes themselves with this episode. You can find more about how taxes guide in the Tax Guide for Independent Contractors on our site: a series of articles on tax topics for contractors.There are a couple of screenshots of some forms, if you want to view them you can check out the blog post associated with this episode.A couple of times we reference the last article in the series on how to save for taxes.When filing your quarterly tax estimate you will use IRS Form 1040-ES. It's actually quite simple. It's "tell us who you are and how much you are giving us." That's it. The instructions can be intimidating. You can view the form and its instructions here.One resource I mention for figuring out estimated taxes is Quickbooks Self Employed. Note that this link is an affiliate link, I may receive compensation when items are purchased.One last article that was published about making a fourth quarter payment.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramGet a non-app branded Independent Delivery Professional delivery bag for less than $10, shipped.Get a variety of shirt styles and colors (and hats) with the Independent Delivery Pro logo at https://entrecourier.com/gearshop

Let's talk a bit about hotspots. Those places the apps tell us are the best places to look for delivery offers? Are they where we should go?If not, where SHOULD we go?I'm not going to tell you where to go. I've been told where to go enough, but that's a different matter. Different markets and different personalities and different approaches mean different things work for you than might work for me or vice versa. Instead, I'll walk through how I got a feel for where to go deliver, and maybe that process can help you decide.A couple of episodes in the beginning of this podcast help with some topics:Episode 8 Talked about how to measure your performance (particularly profit per hour). Understanding what makes a good delivery is crucial in figuring out WHERE to deliver.Episode 9 gets into the 40 cent rule. Evaluating what you do based on how at $24 per hour you are making 40 cents per minute. This is a good way to evaluate delivery offers. What area of town will give you the best chance at 40 cent (or whatever your rule is) per minute deliveries?Episode 11 went into more traditional advice about where to deliver. In this episode I tried to walk through a process for you, but there might be some good tidbits in Episode 11.And then there's Episode 74 (THIS episode - the associated blog post can be found here.A couple of other good resources mentioned in the article:Elijah from the App Lifestyle (once upon a time the Uber Eats Lifestyle) had a great video that helped me when I got started on creating Money SpotsThe Master Dasher is a newer blog that's getting off the ground, giving advice on different practical aspects of delivering with Doordash. He had an article on creating your own hotspots that might be helpful for you.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on InstagramGet a non-app branded Independent Delivery Professional delivery bag for less than $10, shipped.Get a variety of shirt styles and colors (and hats) with the Independent Delivery Pro logo at https://entrecourier.com/gearshop

Doordash is cracking down.But before we get into that...*************** SPONSORED **************************Check out the Independent Delivery Professional Gear! We just launched the gear store. You can get the Independent Delivery Professional branded logo on a variety of shirts, hats etc at the EntreCourier Gear Store.***********************************************************(Is it really sponsored if I'm the sponsor? I don't know but it sounds cool to say it)Anyway, where were we?Frankly, Doordash is following Grubhub's lead and trying to bully their Dashers into submission. At least that's how it feels.It's not that there aren't issues that need to be addressed. Doordash is having some real problems with their deliveries and that's why they're cracking down. They're ramping up their deactivations rhetoric and have made some changes to their deactivation policy.You can see all the screenshots referenced by viewing the associated blog post here.Doordash made two big changes to their deactivation policy. One they didn't even announce - it's funny they're cracking down on not meeting the terms of the agreement when they don't follow the terms of the agreement.... You can see the old version of the policy here.You can see the current policy hereThey also changed the minimum completion rate from 70% to 80%The things they're cracking down on:Not delivering the foodBeing extremely late to the restaurant or to the customerUn-assigning too many deliveries.So, let's talk about this. What's up with this? Why are they doing it? What can we do?More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Check out our “sponsor.” The EntreCourier store. Right now it just has one product, but check it out all the same! Entrecourier.com/BasicBagAs we slowly crawl out into re-opening our society, I think we’re going to see a slow down in the delivery economy.· People may be tiring of delivery· People are running out of money· People are starting to go out more· We’re getting into summer now which is normally slow· There was such a glut of drivers who just signed on that we’re looking at a saturation of drivers to available ordersWhether it’s slower delivery business, or things like app crashes and glitches, the common denominator I see by people impacted most by these things seems to be they rely on only one app.As things slow down, what can we do to prepare for the changes? Remember that you’re running a business. These apps are your customers. Don’t get so dependent on just one customer that if something changes with that relationship, you’re screwed. Keep your options open.We talk about three stages of moving into working multiple applications. You may decide to stop at stage 1, stage 2 or go through all 3. I highly recommend at least going to stage 1.We also talk about how well the different apps work in a multiple platform environment.Links that might help you:View the related post on EntreCourier.comHow to evaluate offers (individually or multi-apping)Seven Questions to ask before accepting multiple deliveriesMore about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.com Our Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.com Sign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation email Get in touch with us Follow us on Facebook Folow us on Twitter Connect with us on Linkedin Follow us on Instagram

News broke recently that Uber Eats is in talks with Grubhub to take them over. An agreement could happen by the end of the month.We don’t know any more than that at this point.What would that mean? What will happen if that happens?I discuss what I’ve seen happen when one tech company takes over another. Based on what I’ve seen, I don’t think we’ll see immediate changes the day the deal is finalized. This kind of thing takes time.What are your thoughts? What do you think?You can read a written version of my thoughts on the associated blog post here. Some other articles referenced in today's episode:Business Insider article breaking the news of the talks between Uber and Grubhub.CNBC report on increased stock prices after news of talks brokeBusiness Insider article about failed merger talks between Doordash and UberFour Week MBA discussion of the Grubhub business modelArticle I wrote earlier on how delivery companies have handled the pandemic and the bad PR that Grubhub has been getting.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.com Our Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.com Sign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation email Get in touch with us Follow us on Facebook Folow us on Twitter Connect with us on Linkedin Follow us on Instagram

How have the main delivery companies responded to the Pandemic? Where did they improve? Where have they failed?We talk about the responses by each company. For links to related articles, please see the related blog post.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Thanks in part to COVID-19 a lot more new drivers are just starting deliveries for InstaCart, Doordash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Postmates etc. Many are looking for tips and tricks. I have a lot of links today to other episodes and articles on EntreCourier.com, as an attempt to keep the tips brief but give you links you can look up for more information.You can visit the associated blog post and click on the links directly, or you can follow links from these show notes.You can also pick up a lot more information for getting started and developing a business owner attitude on our 31 Day Courier MBA series.1. Embrace not being an employee (5:00)Understand that you are not an employee but you are entering the relationship as a business owner. You are the boss.2. Think in terms of profit, not what you get from these platforms. (7:55)Episode 18 Understanding what your car really costs to operate.Episode 30: The importance of giving yourself a paycheck.3. Pay attention to taxes. (11:20)You can go to our Tax Guide for more detail on taxes.Go here to learn more about how much to save for taxesThis article helps you understand how to track miles on your car.4. Accept and reject orders (16:50)You have the right as an independent contractor to accept and reject offers at your discretion. Companies cannot legally control contractors.Episode 8 talks about how to measure profit per hour.Episode 12 discusses using the 40 cent rule to accept and reject offers.5. Check your insurance (21:35)Episode 19 goes into more detail on why insurance doesn't usually cover you.This article details 3 steps you can take to make sure you are insured.Here I talk about my own experience through the 3 step process for getting the right insurance. You can get directed to a commercial insurance through CommercialInsurance.net (affiliate link)6. Don't rely on just one customer. (24:45)You can sign up with Uber Eats here, and with Doordash here. These are referral links, meaning I may receive some compensation as a referral fee.Episode 14 talks about using multiple apps at the same time.Think like a business owner. (28:15)Don't think like or act like an employee. Take control. Be the boss.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Programming note: I've made the decision to move the podcast to earlier in the week rather than towards the end of the week. That falls in line with when we send out our weekly newsletter (see the link below if you want to sign up)There are signs that we're on the downward side of this pandemic. The number of new cases are dropping, states and cities are preparing to relax stay at home standards.What will this mean for us as delivery contractors?One thing that has been good about this time has been it has offered an opportunity to reflect and examine where we want to go with our lives, our careers, and our business. Have you had the chance to start thinking about where you would like to go from here?This week, I talk about what kind of questions come up as we start thinking about what things will be like as we come out of this pandemic. I don't try to answer the questions, but encourage you to think about those questions and how can you prepare for the possible answers?I then shift to talk about how some of that reflection personally has had me thinking about where I want to go with the podcast and website. I would love to get your insights, feedback and thoughts on some of these ideas.You can take the survey at the end of this post to give your feedback.The associated articles for this post are as follows:Going forward for delivery contractors (part 1)Going forward for the EntreCourier and the podcast (part 2)Other articles referenced in this articleGrubhub coming under fire for predatory "assistance" to restaurantsNew York high court rules that Postmates courier is an employeeArticle and Episode 7 on crafting an exit plan.More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram

Do we qualify for unemployment benefits as gig workers delivering for Grubhub, Doordash, Postmates, Uber Eats? If we have to stay home during this pandemic, or we choose to stay home for safety reasons, or we stay home because we can’t earn enough, how does that impact our ability to recover those benefits?Normally we wouldn’t qualify, however the recent stimulus package included provisions to help self employed individuals. We talk about that in today’s episode.Some articles that we reference in the episode.The Department of Labor’s guidelines on unemployment eligibility. New York Times article on Uber being fined by the state of New Jersey My recent article on New York’s high court determining a Postmates Courier was an employee. New York Times article expressing concerns about eligibility of gig workers for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Department of Labor guidelines on self employment and uninsurance. Associated Builders and Contractors document of the status of various states for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. https://bit.ly/2XvUtGO. More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.com Our Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.com Sign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation email Get in touch with us Follow us on Facebook Folow us on Twitter Connect with us on Linkedin Follow us on Instagram

How are you holding up, delivering for Grubhub, Doordash, Postmates, Uber Eats or any other gig companies during this COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic?That's an important question. I fear that the mental health toll from this could be as bad if not worse than the physical health. How can we respond to this challenge and keep encouraged and manage stress?A couple of articles here talk about stress, how it impacts us, and how we can manage it. I really encourage checking them out. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-when-your-immune-system-gets-stressed-out/https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-managementI reference a couple of articles in this episode from the EntreCourier site:Using gloves when delivering for Doordash, Grubhub etc.Responding to COVID-19 Coronavirus as a driver (where I said the virus doesn't scare me)Steven Covey's book 7 habits of Highly Effective People taught me to focus mainly on things I can control, not dwell on what I can't. (The Amazon link is an affiliate link)The old preacher in me came out - I talk about Philippians 4:6-9 that talks to people in another stressful situation - people wondering when soldiers might come in and drag them off because of their beliefs. A couple of lessons from that passage are:Let go of the things we cannot controlReplace those concerns by focusing on the positive and what we CAN do (Whatever is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these).More about the EntreCourierYou can get more tips and ideas at our website, Entrecourier.comOur Podcast page is at DeliverOnYourBusiness.comSign up for our weekly Courier Nation Motivation emailGet in touch with usFollow us on FacebookFolow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedinFollow us on Instagram