The DoorDash Dasher Playbook
Read 2 chapters free · How DoorDash pay works
Regular price $45 $12.99 71% off
2026 Field Edition · 16 chapters · 13 languages
Know which batches pay before you accept them.
The field playbook for Instacart and multi-app shoppers: faster picking, better batch filters, store drop timing, and the tax miles most people never claim.
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Playbooks & free guides for
- Instacart
- DoorDash
- Uber Eats
- Amazon Flex
- Grubhub
Start here, free
All 64 free guides
Answers to what shoppers ask most.
What's a good SPI?
How seconds-per-item works and how to bring yours down.
Which batches to take
A filter you can run in five seconds on any offer.
Best time to shop
Store drop windows and the hours worth working.
Which miles count
2026 IRS rates and what a clean mileage log looks like.
Prop 22 pay floor
The California guarantee formula and 2026 rates.
Deactivation appeal
What to send, in what order, with templates.
One shift, three stops
Every dollar is won or lost in three places.
The guide walks you through each one with exact routines you can run on your next shift.
-
01 — IN THE STOREPick faster, rank higher
Aisle routes and scanning habits that get you under 60 seconds per item. That's the speed that unlocks priority batches.
- SPI
- 42s
- Tier
- 1
-
02 — THE TRUNKCold chain & deductible miles
Pack so frozen items survive the drive, and log the return trip so those miles count as business miles at tax time.
- Frozen
- <0°C
- Tracked
- +$14.20
-
03 — THE DOORSTEPThe hinge-side rule
Small details, like placing bags so the door swings freely, protect your rating and lead to tip bumps after delivery.
- Tip bump
- +$10–30
- Rating
- 4.9
Same market, same apps
Why some shoppers make double.
Top earners don't work longer hours. They run a system.
| Area | Random shopperDriving around | Systematic shopperRunning a playbook |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Waits in parking lots with no idea when stores drop batches. | Positioned for the 9:45 AM wholesale and major store drops. |
| Batch choice | Accepts $7–$10 triple orders that pay below minimum wage. | Filters out low-pay offers and targets $35+/hr net. |
| Pick speed | 90s+ per item, so the $50+ priority batches go to someone else. | Store routing keeps SPI under 60s for priority dispatch. |
| Miles & taxes | Untracked miles, missed write-offs, more wear on the car. | Logs every return mile and deducts thousands each year. |
| Typical net / hr | $12–15 | $32–48+ |
Figures are illustrative targets, not guarantees. Earnings depend on your market, hours, vehicle costs and platform changes.
What's inside
Sixteen chapters. Zero fluff.
Written for shoppers who are already on the road and want the next level, not a beginner's welcome kit.
Read chapter 1 freeSpeed algorithm
How seconds-per-item shapes the batches you're offered, and how to bring it down.
Daily rhythm
The 9:45 drop, the 10:30 pivot, and which hours are worth working.
Rating shield
Keeping your rating above 4.7 when substitutions and customers go sideways.
Support defense
Protecting your cancellation rate and getting fair outcomes from support.
Prop 22 & Seattle
Pay guarantees and adjustment pay that many shoppers never check.
Taxes & mileage
Return-trip miles, write-offs, and a ready-to-use tracker spreadsheet.
Account security
Selfie checks, SMS phishing, and avoiding deactivation.
Multi-apping
Running Spark, Shipt, DoorDash and Uber alongside without burning out.
How we keep it accurate
Checked against the rules, not rumors.
Pay and tax rules change every year. Here is what the 2026 edition is checked against, and what it is not.
Primary sources
- IRS standard mileage rates, incl. Announcement 2026-11
- California Prop 22 pay-floor formula
- Seattle app-based worker minimum payment rules
Independence
Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or paid by Instacart, DoorDash, Uber, Amazon or Grubhub. No sponsored placements.
Read the disclaimer
Your purchase
Billing by Paddle.com as Merchant of Record. Full refund within 14 days if the guide isn't for you.
Refund policy
One price, everything included
Less than one tip on a good batch.
Pay once and keep it. Read in the browser right away, or download the PDF and EPUB for Kindle and Apple Books.
- Today$14.99One-time cost
- First 2 hours+$25–40First-shift payoff
- Month one+$600–1.2kMonthly lift
Figures are illustrative targets, not guarantees. Earnings depend on your market, hours, vehicle costs and platform changes.
2026 Complete Edition
Regular price $50 $14.99
70% off
One-time payment · no subscription
Launch price ends in
--d --h --m --s
- 16-chapter master guide
- PDF + EPUB downloads
- Interactive web reader
- Shopper cheat sheet
- Customer message kit
- Problem orders & safety guide
- Tax & mileage tracker
14-day money-back guarantee · processed by Paddle.com
Drive for other apps too?
A 12-chapter English playbook for each app. Same one-time payment, PDF + EPUB, 14-day money-back.
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What is a good Instacart SPI?
Below 75 seconds per item is good; top shoppers stay under 60. Shoppers report the app compares you with your own average over roughly your last 30 orders. How SPI works and how to lower it.
How does the Prop 22 guarantee work?
In California, Prop 22 guarantees 120% of local minimum wage for active shopping and delivery time, plus a per-mile payment for active miles. If batch pay comes in lower, the difference is topped up each pay period. Prop 22 formula and 2026 rates.
Can I deduct return-trip miles?
Miles between business stops (store to customer, customer to the next store) are generally deductible; your commute from home is not. Having the app on does not by itself make a drive deductible, and whether your first and last trip from home counts depends on your situation. The guide shows how to keep a mileage log. Check with a tax professional for your situation. Which miles count in 2026.
How do I get the guide after paying?
After checkout you get a license key and download links. The web reader unlocks on your device right away. You can download the complete PDF in 13 languages, plus the EPUB in English, Spanish or Turkish.
What if it isn't for me?
Ask for a refund within 14 days through Paddle and you get your money back. Refund policy.
Is this affiliated with Instacart?
No. This is an independent guide written for gig workers. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Maplebear Inc. (Instacart).
Read it in the parking lot
Your next shift could be your best one.
Open the guide on your phone before the next drop and start using it right away.