Make Money

3 Great Ways to Make Extra Money on the Side as a Courier

Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Becoming a courier can be a full time career choice, but it’s also easier to get into this scene as more of a side hustle right now.

Let’s look at how you can go about becoming a courier, and also give you some tips to optimize your earning potential when you’ve taken the plunge and gone pro.

Should you work for a delivery service or start your own courier business?

When it comes to making money as a courier, you’ve got two main options. You can either work for an established delivery service, or start from scratch with your own standalone operation.

If you’re just intending to top up your salary from your main job, then the first route is the easiest and most instantly rewarding.

If you’ve got ambitions to become a full-blown logistics entrepreneur, establishing a courier business could be your foot in the door, so it’s really about getting your priorities straight as soon as possible.

Deciding on the courier jobs to take

There are a whole host of different courier services out there which are built to take advantage of the gig economy.

In order to make money from them, you’ll need to look at the resources you’ve already got at your disposal, and also consider your preferences and any restrictions that might steer you towards one service above the others.

For example, some services are geared towards short distance urban delivery, and could suit you if all you’ve got is a bicycle and a messenger bag to hand. Others will require that you own a vehicle that’s at or above a given size bracket to haul larger loads over longer distances.

Obviously this means that you can only make extra money on the side as a courier if you’re equipped with what you need already. If not, you’ll have startup expenses to encompass before you can even begin earning.



Aiming for optimization

Another aspect that will mean the difference between raking in the cash and barely breaking even as a courier is how optimally you operate when you’re out on a job.

Many services have quotas for you to meet in a given shift, and there may even be penalties attached for any delayed drop-offs which don’t fall within a determined window.

Using a route planner to give you real time updates on congestion, and also being aware of how even small inefficiencies in your driving style can impact fuel costs, will count in this context.

Picking shifts that suit your lifestyle

The only way to reliably turn a casual courier job into a steady salary-boosting side hustle is to ensure that you are working shifts that make sense in the broader context of your schedule.

There’s no point picking up courier work in the early hours of the morning if you’re then going to have to go into the office and plug away at a computer for the next eight hours, because your productivity will invariably suffer if you are overtired, and you could jeopardize your main source of income in service of your second job.

Working with a delivery service provider that offers couriers flexibility about when and how they work is a good idea for this reason, and will make this side-hustle sustainable and viable.

Wrapping up

If you’ve ever thought about becoming a courier in addition to working your main career, then now is a great time to test the waters without making too much of a commitment.

You never know, you could find that this really clicks with you, and it might even lead to you running your own courier business!


Reviewed and edited by Albert Fang.

See a typo or want to suggest an edit/revision to the content? Use the comment form below for feedback.

At FangWallet, we value editorial integrity and open collaboration in curating quality content for readers to enjoy. Much appreciated for the assist.


Did you like our article and find it insightful? We encourage sharing the article link with family and friends to benefit as well - better yet, sharing on social media. Thank you for the support! 🍉

Article Title: 3 Great Ways to Make Extra Money on the Side as a Courier

https://fangwallet.com/2022/07/02/great-ways-make-extra-money-on-side-as-courier/


The FangWallet Promise

FangWallet is an editorially independent resource - founded on breaking down challenging financial concepts for anyone to understand since 2014. While we adhere to editorial integrity, note that this post may contain references to products from our partners.

The FangWallet promise is always to have your best interest in mind and be transparent and honest about the financial picture.



Become an Insider

budget planner template printable

Subscribe to get a free daily budget planner printable to help get your money on track!

Make passive money the right way. No spam.





Editorial Disclaimer: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned. The opinions expressed here are the author's alone.

The content of this website is for informational purposes only and does not represent investment advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security, investment, or product. Investors are encouraged to do their own due diligence, and, if necessary, consult professional advising before making any investment decisions. Investing involves a high degree of risk, and financial losses may occur including the potential loss of principal.


Write for Us


FangWallet was created in 2014 to make financial knowledge easy to read and accessible to the masses to empower individuals to truly understand finances and make sound life decisions. No personal finance question should go unanswered. Personal finance. Understood.

Write A Comment

Pin It