18 December 2024

Make Money with Instacart: How Much Can You Earn?

By Ronald Smith

If you’re someone who enjoys grocery shopping, the Instacart Shopper app might just be the perfect way for you to earn some extra cash. With Instacart, you can make money by buying groceries and delivering them to customers, all while following your own schedule.

Now, you might be wondering, how much money can you actually make with Instacart? And what expenses should you keep in mind? Don’t worry, I’ve got all the answers for you. Plus, I’ll share some tips to help you increase your earnings with Instacart. So keep on reading!

What Exactly is Instacart?

Instacart is a convenient service that offers both grocery delivery and pick-up. Customers can easily order their favorite products and have them delivered right to their homes, all for a small fee. And if they prefer, they can also choose to pick up their items from select retail locations.

So, guess what? Instacart is this awesome platform that lets you buy from over 500 million products. And get this, these products are available to you from more than 40,000 grocery stores in over 5,500 cities across the US and Canada. How cool is that? And the best part is, you can do all your shopping on Instacart using either the app or the website. It’s super convenient, I tell you!

Did you know that Instacart also gives you the chance to make some money? Yeah, that’s right! If you love grocery shopping, then Instacart is the perfect gig for you. They have something called Instacart shoppers, who basically pick up and deliver groceries or even prepare them for curbside pickup. And the best part? Instacart actually pays these shoppers for their services. Can you believe it?

Now, becoming an Instacart shopper is pretty simple. Let me break it down for you:

  • You can become a full-service shopper. What that means is that you shop for groceries and then deliver them right to the customers’ doorsteps. It’s like being their personal grocery hero!
  • Or you can become an in-store Instacart shopper. Instead of delivering, you hand-pick the customers’ orders and get them ready for pickup. It’s like playing personal shopper for all those peeps out there.

Deciding Between Being a Full-Service Shopper or an In-Store Instacart Shopper

Are you trying to figure out if you should become a full-service shopper or an in-store shopper?

Let’s take a closer look at both options:

Full-Service Shoppers

As a full-service Instacart shopper, I work for myself. Once customers order their groceries, I receive the orders on my phone. When I accept a job, my task is to shop for the items and then deliver them to the customers’ homes.

If you want to be a full-service Instacart shopper, you need to have a vehicle that you can use regularly. And remember, you earn money for each delivery you make.

In-Store Shoppers

For in-store shoppers like me, our job is to shop for groceries, but we don’t have to worry about delivering them. When customers place an order for pick-up, I go to the store, gather all the items, and prepare them for the customers to pick up.

When I work at the store with Instacart, I get paid by the hour. The number of hours I work is based on when I’m available, and I can work up to 29 hours per week.

In the letter they give me when I start, it mentions how much I’ll be paid per hour on average.

How much do I get paid for each delivery with Instacart?

When I first start working as a full-service shopper, I’m considered an independent contractor. That means I’m not an employee of Instacart. So, it’s natural to wonder how much I get paid for each delivery I make with Instacart. Knowing this ahead of time can help me figure out how many deliveries I need to complete to earn a certain amount of money.

However, the pay structure for a full-service shopper with Instacart is a little complicated. The amount I earn for each batch of deliveries depends on a few different things, like how many groceries I’m delivering, what kinds of items they are, how far I have to drive, and how much effort it takes to shop for and deliver the items.

Let me break it down for you. As an Instacart shopper, you can earn around $7 to $10 per batch delivery. Pretty cool, right? But hold up, because the amount you make can really vary depending on a bunch of different things.

So here’s the deal: when you get tips from customers, you get to keep all of it. That’s a nice little bonus. But there’s something you need to watch out for. Some customers are using a sneaky trick called Instacart tip baiting. They lure shoppers in with big tips, but then take them away later. Not cool, right?

Now, here’s some good news if you’re in California. Instacart has introduced guaranteed minimum wage earnings for delivery. That means they promise you’ll make at least 120% of the minimum wage and they’ll give you an extra $0.30 for every mile you travel while shopping and delivering. That’s a nice guarantee!

So, how much money can you make in a week with Instacart?

When you start working with Instacart to make some extra cash, I bet you’re curious about how much other shoppers make in a week. Am I right? Well, I’m here to spill the beans and give you the info you’re looking for.

When it comes to making money as an Instacart full-service delivery driver, there are a few things that can influence your weekly earnings. Factors like the number of batches you complete, the distance you travel, and the difficulty of the deliveries all play a role.

As a full-service shopper, you have the potential to earn $700-$1000 or more by working just 20-25 hours per week. That’s a great way to make some extra cash!

Getting paid is easy too – you can choose to receive your earnings via weekly direct deposit to your bank account. And now, Instacart even offers instant pay, so you can get paid right away!

How to Maximize Your Earnings with Instacart Grocery Delivery

If you’re looking to make money quickly with Instacart, here are some tips to help you out:

1. Be Quick

The more orders you complete, the more money you’ll make. It’s as simple as that. So, if you want to maximize your earnings, be fast and efficient with your deliveries.

If you want to save time and get ahead of the competition, there are a few simple tricks you can try. First, try to choose stores that have shorter lines and are easy to navigate. Don’t spend too much time thinking about replacement products – just grab the closest thing and move on. When you’re checking out, look for the fastest lane to minimize waiting time. And when you park your car, try to find a spot near the exit so you can get in and out quickly.

While you’re working on improving your efficiency, it’s also worth considering becoming an Instacart shopper. This can give you an advantage and help you stay ahead of the competition.

2. Find the Busy Spots

The Instacart app can guide you in choosing areas with high demand. By going to the busiest spots, you increase your chances of getting batches with higher payments. It’s a smart move that can boost your earnings.

3. Embrace Mobile Payments

Instacart has introduced a convenient feature – mobile checkout. Instead of using your Instacart payment card, you can simply pay at the register with a tap of your phone. This speeds up the checkout process, allowing you to complete more deliveries in a week and earn a few hundred dollars extra each month.

4. Get More Money During Busy Times

When it’s really busy, Instacart pays me more for each delivery. If I want to earn a lot of money every week, I need to make sure I never miss out on the extra pay during peak hours.

5. Boost My Rating

If I want to see and accept delivery orders faster, it’s important for me to improve my rating from customers. The better my rating, the more priority I have in getting first dibs on the batches.

Expenses Instacart Shoppers Should Keep in Mind

  • Costs Related to My Vehicle
  • Tax Payments

As an Instacart driver, I have to pay state and federal income taxes on the money I earn. So, I need to remember this when I’m calculating my earnings. The good news is that I can deduct the miles I drive for deliveries when I file my taxes.

I might also need to spend money on health and safety kits and insulated bags for the deliveries.

Final Thoughts

If you enjoy going to the store, then Instacart is a great way to make some extra money on the side and have control over your schedule. It’s one of the most popular apps for delivering groceries, so you shouldn’t have any trouble using it or finding orders to fulfill.

If you love going to the store, then Instacart is a good way to make extra money and have control over your schedule. It’s a popular app for delivering groceries, so you won’t have trouble using it or finding orders to deliver.