If you’ve been thinking about working for Instacart to help make both ends meet, then, you are in the right place. That is because we are going to provide you with all the essential information you need to get into this kind of job.
We all know what we are facing now. With the pandemic, a lot of industries were affected, which led to an increasing number of people losing their jobs.
In fact, according to a report published online by The Washington Post, there are more than 38 million people who have filed for unemployment.
While some of these laid-off people rely on finding work from home jobs, others especially those who do not have the capacity to work from home rushed into finding jobs from delivery apps like Instacart.
Delivery apps are, by the way, have a growing demand with a lot of people preferring to have items delivered into their homes these days rather than going out and being at risk of getting infected.
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According to the same report, “the massive influx of new gig workers could become a more permanent fixture of the economy if consumer demand for home delivery stays strong after the pandemic or if tech companies normalize replacing employees with gig jobs.”
That being said, it won’t be a surprise if one there will be more gigs available in the delivery apps industry, and two, more and more laid-off people will opt to work for these delivery apps.
Now, if you are one of them, as we mentioned earlier, you are in the right place. We are going to share with you some of the most important information you need to be able to start working for Instacart in particular.
To serve as your guide, we are going to particularly talk about the following:
- What is Instacart?
- How does Instacart work?
- What jobs does Instacart offer?
- Who qualifies to work for Instacart?
- Where can you work as an Instacart shopper?
- How to start working as an Instacart shopper?
- How long do Instacart shoppers work?
- How quickly does Instacart hire people?
- How much does one make from working for Instacart?
- How do Instacart shoppers get paid?
- What are the pros and cons of working for Instacart?
Now, allow us to give clarity and answers to these questions –
WHAT IS INSTACART?
First of all, let’s get to know the company. As we always say, before you even hit the apply button or send an application through email, make sure to do your research about the company first. This will give you an idea about the company itself, its history and all, as well as how things go in there. After all, we bet you wouldn’t want to work for a stranger, right?
Moving on, if you are living in the United States, most likely you have already heard of or have used the services provided by Instacart. But what is Instacart, really?
Well, just so you know (if you haven’t known yet), Instacart is one of the biggest, most widely available same-day delivery grocery delivery services in the United States as well as in Canada.
It is a mobile app widely used by consumers to get what they need from their favorite supermarkets, pharmacies, specialty stores, and many more.
Basically, the app is linked to most popular establishments in the country such as (as mentioned) pharmacies, supermarkets, specialty stores, as well as membership stores like BJs Wholesale and Costco.
Before moving on, we wanted to share with you the video below by Alexis Gular wherein tried working for Instacart. If you want to know about how her experience went, click the play button below:
HOW DOES INSTACART WORK?
As mentioned, Instacart is a mobile app that offers same-day delivery services.
Basically, by using the Instacart app, you get to shop from local grocery stores online through a “personal shopper“.
The personal shopper fulfills and delivers your order on the same day. Contrary to other grocery delivery services, Instacart does not stockpile fresh produce in a warehouse. Rather, the personal shoppers shop at major grocery stores, pharmacies, specialty stores, as well as membership stores, and then deliver the customer’s order right at his or her doorsteps.
The app helps make life easier and more convenient for consumers. Well, these days, it helps keep most people inside their homes – helping consumers not just to stay away from the hassle of going to grocery stores, but at the same time, it helps ensure their health and safety.
WHAT JOBS DOES INSTACART OFFER?
If you are looking at working for Instacart, it is important that you know that there actually two different shopper roles that you can apply for. First is as a full-service shopper, and the second one is as an in-store shopper. Both roles have different benefits as well as requirements.
As a full-service Instacart shopper, you technically are considered as a self-employed independent contractor. You basically just use the platform to shop and deliver orders from consumers without limitations when it comes to how many batches you get to fulfill. Just to be clear, when we say batches, these consist of up to three customers’ orders from one store. The full-service shopper role is available wherever Instacart operates.
Meanwhile, as an in-store shopper, you are employed as a part-time employee by Instacart. Your job is to fulfill the order once you receive it, and then hand them to an Instacart delivery driver. Unlike the other role, as an in-store shopper, you technically are based at a store, which means you do not have to have a car to be able to fulfill deliveries.
Since you are considered as an Instacart employee, you are required to work for at least 15 to 20 hours a week, form Sundays until Mondays. Also, what differentiates it from a full-service shopper is that you get benefits like 401(k).
Apart from the part-time post, you can also work as a temporary in-store shopper in various areas where Instacart operates to help meet the increasing demand especially these days (or during holidays back when the times were still normal). Temporary positions usually last for up to 90 days only.
WHO QUALIFIES TO WORK FOR INSTACART?
In the last section, we talked about the two roles or job opportunities that Instacart offers. This time around, in this section, we are going to provide you with the requirements for the job.
So, if you are looking at working for Instacart, you better check the information below and assess yourself if you got what it takes to be one.
As posted on the website of Instacart here’s what they are looking for:
Full-Service Instacart Shopper Requirements:
- At least 18 years old
- Eligible to work in the United States
- Consistent access to a vehicle
- Consistent access to and be able to effectively use a recent smartphone (iPhone 5 / Android 4.4 or newer)
- Ability to lift 50 lbs with or without accommodation
In addition, since the job requires you to deliver the order through your vehicle, that means you have to have a valid driver’s license with insurance coverage that meets the state requirements.
Also, you must invest in thermal-insulated bags that are capable to hold four standard-sized paper grocery bags. It has to be working really well and is safe for food contact. In the absence of thermal-insulated bags, you may use coolers in transporting grocery items instead.
In-Store Instacart Shopper Requirements:
- At least 18 years old
- Eligible to work in the United States
- Consistent access to and be able to effectively use a recent smartphone (iPhone 5 / Android 4.4 or newer)
- Ability to lift 50 lbs with or without accommodation
Furthermore, for both roles, the shopper has to pass a background check, which usually takes less than 10 days. You must also have an existing checking or savings account where payments for the services you rendered are directly deposited.
WHERE CAN YOU WORK AS AN INSTACART SHOPPER?
So, you already know what Instacart is all about, who they are looking for, and the job opportunities you can take advantage of.
By this time, you are probably wondering already where Instacart operates.
Well, guess what? Instacart is present in more than 5,500 cities across the United States and Canada, which means, there is a huge possibility that where you currently live, there is Instacart.
The locations where the company operates range from large urban areas such as New York and San Francisco to smaller communities like Lanon, Wisconsin as well as Spring Creek, Nevada.
To be sure that there is Instacart in your area, though, we recommend you download the Shopper app and enter your ZIP code.
HOW TO START WORKING AS AN INSTACART SHOPPER?
At this point, we are going to provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to start working for Instacart. The process is pretty simple, and this is how it goes:
STEP 1: Download the Instacart Shopper App
By downloading, you will be asked to provide basic information about yourself. This includes your name and location. You will also be asked to give the company permission to do a background check. Once hired as either a full-service or in-store shopper, you will use the app to set your availability, pick up gigs, as well as in tracking your earnings, and in communicating with the company’s help team should there be any issues encountered.
STEP 2: Attend an In-Person Orientation (For In-Store Shoppers Only)
Using the app, you will have to choose a session. Please take note that it is important that you attend the orientation as this is part of the onboarding process.
STEP 3: Fill Out Forms
For independent contractors or full-service shoppers, you will be asked to sign a contractor agreement as well as a W-9 tax form. Meanwhile, for in-store shoppers, you will have to sign an offer letter, as well as fill out a W-4 tax form.
STEP 4: Register Your Instacart Payment Card
As an Instacart shopper, you are provided with a preloaded payment card, which you will use when checking out a customer’s order. Normally, new Instacart shoppers receive their card within 5 to 7 business days. But, shoppers do also have the option to pick up the card depending on their location. So, if your location does allow picking up the card, you can absolutely opt for that to have the card sooner and so you can start working and earning.
HOW LONG DO INSTACART SHOPPERS WORK?
How long you work in a week basically depends on your role.
If you are a full-service shopper, you get to decide how long you want to work in a week. You can work as often as you want or otherwise. All you need to do is to look for orders up for grabs using the app, or you can set it to notify you when an order is available within your area.
Meanwhile, in-store shoppers are assigned specific shifts every week. You can manage your shifts using the Shopper app as well. Depending on the requirement, you can expect to work in as long as 29 hours a week.
Please note that whether you are a full-service shopper or an in-store shopper, you are required to update your progress. You have to note any changes or refunded items using the app. This helps customers track their orders.
HOW QUICKLY DOES INSTACART HIRE PEOPLE?
With bills to pay and family to feed, one of the most important questions an aspiring Instacart shopper would probably how long does the application process takes?
While it is not fully stated on their company website, based on a forum discussion at Indeed.com, how long it takes for Instacart to hire a shopper can be as little as a few days to as long as a month or so.
According to the discussions, how long the background check takes is the primary reason behind how soon or how long you get a go signal to start working for Instacart.
But with technology, and given the current demand, we bet the timeline has already been addressed.
HOW MUCH DOES ONE MAKE FROM WORKING FOR INSTACART?
How much you earn as an Instacart shopper will be based on the work you do or the role you take.
If you work as an in-store Instacart shopper, you are paid on a fixed, hourly rate that also depends on location.
Meanwhile, if you are working as a full-service Instacart shopper, how much money you make will depend on the number of the order you take in a day. The company, though, provides an approximate potential earning for every order and guarantees full-service shoppers will get to earn at least $5 for every delivery-only batch, while $7 to $10 for every full-service batch.
Just so you know, according to the Instacart Shopper’s app, what you are paid for for a specific batch of orders will be based on the following:
- Number of items
- Type of items
- Driving distance
- The effort involved in shopping and/or delivering
Basically, if you get a large order, which tends to be heavier, you will most likely get more compensation as compared to a small shopping job. Your earning potential will also be affected depending on the customer demand, which means, working on weekends and during popular holidays or events means making more money.
In addition, a full-service shopper can also earn from tips given by customers when making deliveries.
HOW DO INSTACART SHOPPERS GET PAID?
In this section, we are going to provide you information on how Instacart shoppers are paid.
For both in-store and full-service shoppers, they are paid on a weekly basis, and payments are deposited directly to their checking or savings account.
However, for full-service shoppers, they also have an option to use Instant Cashout, which is an immediate transfer to a debit card so they can access their earnings faster than usual. This option is available only, though, after completing five batches. After that, you can already cash out any time you want — in as often as five times a day for as long as you have at least $5 in earnings. Please take note, though, that there is a $3,000 daily limit. Anything more than that can be cashed out the next day.
A gentle reminder for full-service shoppers, since Instacart does not withhold taxes, it would be best to make an estimated quarterly tax payment to be sure. As for in-store shoppers, they do not have to worry about it because as mentioned earlier, they are considered an employee of the company, which means the company will take charge of the tax requirements.
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF WORKING FOR INSTACART?
At this point, we are going to provide you with some of the pros and cons of working for Instacart both as a full-service and an in-store shopper. This hopefully guides you through as you make a decision whether to give it a try or not.
For In-Store Shoppers
Pro: You are hired as an employee, which means you are entitled to certain benefits like 401(k). Needless to say, you are entitled to receive a guaranteed minimum wage.
Con: Your work hours are only limited for up to 29 hours a week, which means you are not entitled to health insurance benefits.
For Full-Service Shoppers
Pro: You have the freedom to decide how long or little you want to work, which means if you also determine how much you want to earn in a day. In addition, you also could potentially earn more because of tips and mileage reimbursements.
Con: You do not have access to benefits, and you handle your own income tax obligations. Also, you cover all your expenses like vehicle maintenance, repairs, as well as fuel for your day-to-day operations.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON WORKING FRO INSTACART
So, there you have it. We hope we were able to provide you with all the information you need about Instacart and the work they offer.
How do you find it? Do you see yourself working as an in-store shopper or a full-service shopper?
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