According to Statista, by 2024, the U.S. market for online grocery shopping will be worth about $190 billion. It’s not hard to understand why, thinking about how helpful it is to have groceries delivered right to your door.
If you’re looking for a way to supplement your income, supermarket delivery is a great way to get started. If you’re interested in earning more than minimum wage while enjoying the flexibility of working for yourself, consider becoming a grocery store courier.
Furthermore, top grocery delivery firms are always hiring drivers, so you may get to work immediately.
When it comes to supermarket delivery apps, Shipt is among the best. Becoming a Shipt Shopper is a rewarding and flexible way to earn extra money each month by delivering goods to customers in your neighborhood.
How Do You Become a Shipt Shopper
Similar skill sets to those needed for gig economy occupations like DoorDash driving or Instacart shopping are required for Shipt shoppers.
Becoming a Shipt Shopper Requirements
See which cities Shipt serves before submitting an application. If Shipt is available in your area, the necessary steps will be straightforward. Buyers of Ships must:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- Have a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance in the United States.
- Have a dependable, recent automobile.
- To successfully make supermarket orders, you must be familiar with grocery store goods and items.
- Be able to lift 45 pounds.
- Have a recent iOS or Android smartphone
Interested in Becoming a Shipt Shopper?
In just a few short minutes, you may complete the Shipt application. You just provide them some background knowledge, like: The details of your web presence are as follows:
- Sensitive Data. Provide your full name, preferred city of operation, email address, and phone number.
- Age. Shipt customers must be at least 18 years old, and those who apply to the company’s alcohol delivery service must be 21 or older.
- Address. To get your Shipt shopper t-shirt and Shipt card, which shoppers use to pay for supermarket orders, throughout the onboarding process.
- Availability. They are asking whether you are available to work on Sundays and Mondays because those are the peak days for supermarket deliveries.
- Smoking. Shipt doesn’t allow any of its consumers to smoke while on the clock.
- Information for Drivers. How long you’ve been driving and how old your car are also factors.
Within one or two business days, Shipt will send a confirmation email. Even if you succeed at this first test, you still need to complete a few more before you can start looking for a job.
Shipt also uses a virtual interview process. The process includes responding in writing to questions regarding your work experience and how you would handle certain customer service and retail scenarios. Videos responding to the same questions are also required from applicants.
In addition, there is some documentation to complete. An applicant must sign a W-9 form, a background check consent form, and a Shipt shopper agreement.
The time it takes to become a verified Shipt Shopper is dependent on several factors, including the speed with which you submit your application materials, the length of time it takes to complete the background check, and the demand for Shipt shoppers in your region.
Unless demand is really great, you should expect a delay of several days, or even a week.
Once you’re cleared to work with Shipt, you may have to wait a while before you can start scheduling shifts. In this way, you can be sure that your community won’t ever have an oversaturation of Shipt shoppers. You should expect a shorter wait time when grocery delivery demand is strong, but it may be longer when demand is low.
What You Should Know Before Becoming a Shipt Shopper
The options available on Shipt are versatile, and the service’s entry criteria are low. However, before becoming a Shipt consumer, there are additional things to think about.
- Independent Contractors’ Tax Implications
Similar to other gig workers, Shipt shoppers operate as independent contractors. This adaptability implies that you may choose your own hours and work part-time with Shipt to supplement your income. However, there are a number of tax concerns associated with side gigs, and you may need to comply with new standards for recording work-related costs.
Direct payments from Shipt are not subject to federal income tax withholding. Therefore, independent contractors are responsible for keeping their own financial records and making quarterly anticipated tax payments to both the federal government and any states in which they may have a tax liability.
Independent contractors have to pay self-employment tax if their annual income is greater than $400. Self-employment income is subject to this tax at a rate of about 15.3 percent.
- Expenses are not covered by Shipt.
One of the most important skills for a freelancer is financial management. Shipt will reimburse you for groceries, but that’s it. Shipt does not reimburse drivers for the cost of gas, repairs, or the wear and tear on their vehicles. After a few journeys using Shipt, you may calculate your true hourly rate by adding in the costs of gas and car depreciation.
Customers of Shipt who catch coronavirus or are placed in forced quarantine by a public health authority can get financial support from the company for up to two weeks. Using data from the four weeks before to infection, our approach compensates consumers with their average weekly earnings (tips included) from Shipt.
However, aside from this short-term protection, you will not be compensated by Shipt for any work-related injuries or illnesses, nor will you be paid if you become temporarily unable to work.
- Your Shipt Rating Is Critical
Consistent sales can only be achieved with dedicated customer service and the cultivation of a high Shopper Rating.
The most effective buyers maintain open lines of communication with their membership, tailor their orders to their specific needs, and never miss a delivery date. This isn’t a job where you just go out and buy groceries and then deliver them. Working for Shipt professionally is essential if you want to make any money at all.
- Work Opportunities Vary
Depending on your rating, Shipt will send you a certain amount of orders. However, the amount of Shipt Shoppers in your region and your location both play a role in determining how many jobs you’ll be considered for.
If you’re in a hurry to be paid, a job with Shipt might be a great choice. However, you should give yourself some leeway to determine whether or not this side business is sustainable in your location. Too many Shipt Shoppers in a given area will cause Shipt to postpone the start of workers, and you’ll need some of that extra time to get up to speed.
Bottom Line
In terms of customer growth, Shipt has no rivals in the grocery delivery industry. Working as a Shipt shopper is a great way to make some extra money and get a job quickly if you match the hiring standards.
You must, however, fully grasp the repercussions of taking on the role of an independent contractor. Even while Shipt pays handsomely, you won’t get reimbursed for any of your costs. You must also file an appropriate tax return and pay any applicable income or self-employment taxes.
Finally, allow yourself a little bit of time to get familiar with the system and gauge the interest in Shipt in your area. Working as a Shipt Shopper may be a great way to earn some additional cash if you can commit to providing excellent customer service and hone your delivery abilities so that you can finish orders promptly and efficiently.
