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

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. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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