On-demand jobs: Who should I work for?

Uber, Lyft, Sidecar - and beyond

Most workers are familiar with the three major rideshare companies - Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar. But new services are becoming popular every day, for example the recent rush of delivery services such as Postmates and Instacart. Did you know that in addition to these, there are now dozens of other on-demand marketplaces?

It can be tricky to know who you should work for, and to estimate how much you can make on each service. On the SherpaShare web dashboard you can view the work pattern of the top drivers in your city - the days they drive, the services they work for, and how much they earn on average. This gives you insider knowledge, helping you drive smarter and maximize your earnings.

Mapping on-demand work options in 150+ US Cities

The map includes: Uber (145 cities), Lyft (58), Sidecar (9), Postmates (13), DoorDash (7), SpoonRocket (3), Sprig (2), Instacart (16). More being added soon, check back often. Tip: Zoom in on your city, and click city name to see services available.

Should I work for more than one company?

The quick answer: Yes! Almost 50% of the cities/towns with on demand services in the US have 2 or more app-based driving options. So, if you’re on one of those cities and you haven’t expanded to a 2nd or 3rd service, you may be missing out on some great opportunities.

In the life of the on-demand driver, all is wonderful when you’re getting consistent ride requests. It’s when things slow down when drivers start to question their strategy. The most common antidote to slow times we’ve heard is “run multiple apps”.

”When I start driving I’ll turn on Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar. Whoever I get the first request from, I’ll accept and turn off the other two. I often find that I may have close to back-to-back rides so I won’t need to turn back on the others. Until it starts to slow down (5-10 minute gaps). Then I turn them back on and just like that I tripled my change of getting a request. - Driver, Boston

Here’s our advice: Run as many apps as is safe to do so. Or at least, be prepared to open and run others in the background. The highest number of apps we’ve seen in one car? We’ve met a couple drivers with 6 devices running in their car at once, 4 car phone mounts, a built-in display, and an iPad!

In fact, many drivers have found that working for multiple services can be surprisingly convenient. Here’s an example:

”I’ll get up early and drive for Uber and Lyft during the morning commute. Around 11am, I often find there’s a bit of a lull. Rather than going home or taking an extended break until it picks up again, I’ll switch to Postmates or DoorDash. They usually starting picking up as early as 11:30am, and this gives me at least a few busy hours. And a break from passengers.” -Driver, Washington, DC.

The lesson is to familiarize yourself with the services offered in your area (hint: an easy way is to ask other drivers). If you’re sitting around idle only working for one platform - chances are there’s untapped demand that you can take advantage of.

Creating Work Security

You would never put all your money in one investment, so why would you do the same when it comes to your contractor work? Four years ago, app-based ridesharing did not exist. The industry is growing and maturing every week, and new on-demand companies are appearing every week. The downside is that high growth and change also means uncertainty.

Don’t leave your driving income to chance. If you hit the low rating cutoff you could be kicked off the driving app. It’s a good idea to have a few options in your back pocket. Plus, competition is the best thing for this industry. As it grows, having multiple driving options ensures that the companies treat drivers the best they can. You’re in demand.

What resonates with you and what did we forget? Tell us here, or on Facebook or Twitter.