Playbook

Food & parcel delivery

Delivering for app-based platforms on your own schedule.

Reviewed 2026-09-25 · what a review checks

At 5h a week: €150–€350/mo
At 10h a week: €300–€700/mo
Start-up cost: €0–€600
First money: 1–3 weeks (onboarding)
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly
Risk: Medium
Customer contact: Little
Where: Local

Start tonight

0/5 done · about an hour

Five small actions. No money, no website. Tick them as you go — your progress is saved on this device.

1.Check which platforms operate in your town and what they require for onboarding.
2.Check the platform rules: minimum age, PPS number, right to work, bike or vehicle requirements.
3.Apply on two platforms tonight — approval can take days, so start it now.
4.Check your insurance covers delivery work (most standard motor policies do not).
5.Pick your first shift at peak times (Friday or Saturday evening) and log hours and costs from day one.

Who it suits

People who want flexible hours now, with no customers to find. Pay is per job.

What you need · how much it costs

To start: €0–€600 — bike/e-bike or car costs, delivery bag, phone mount.

Monthly: €30–€200 — fuel or charging, maintenance, insurance for business use.

Right to work in Ireland.
Motor insurance must cover business/delivery use.

How to get your first customer

Check the platforms operating in your area
Confirm your insurance covers delivery use
Complete onboarding and try the busiest two evenings

How to price it

Assumed market range €10–€18 an hour (assumed gross per hour, before vehicle costs; varies by city and time). Start around €13 for your first three customers, then raise it for new customers once you have reviews. Check three local or platform listings before you publish a price.

Realistic earnings

€10–€18/hour × 5h a week × 4.33 weeks × 70–90% of hours actually paid ≈ €150–€350 a month, before costs and tax.

€10–€18/hour × 10h a week × 4.33 weeks × 70–90% of hours actually paid ≈ €300–€700 a month, before costs and tax.

The rate range is an assumption (assumed gross per hour, before vehicle costs; varies by city and time); the share of hours paid reflects the first few months, when most time goes on finding customers. Actual income depends on demand, pricing and how consistently you find customers. Capped at 25h a week.

What can go wrong

Pay per job can fall without notice.
Road safety, especially at night and in rain.
Up to €600 spent before you know it works.

Irish tax (2026)

Couriers on these platforms are self-employed; vehicle running costs for work are deductible.

Declaring side income as a PAYE worker. Side income is taxable from the first euro. If your net non-PAYE income is under €5,000 (and gross under €30,000) you can declare it on Form 12 through myAccount. At €5,000 net or more you are a “chargeable person” and must register for self-assessment and file Form 11 by 31 October. Source · checked 2026-09-25

Business expenses. Costs incurred “wholly and exclusively” for the side business (tools, software, platform fees, a share of home costs) are deductible from the income before tax. Keep receipts for six years. Source · checked 2026-09-25

Educational information about Irish tax rules, not tax, legal or financial advice. Your position depends on your circumstances — check with Revenue or a qualified adviser.

Hustler · execution plan

What to do this week, and how to scale food & parcel delivery

Free gets you started tonight. Hustler gives you the day-by-day plan for your first week and what to do at your first customer, first €100, first €500 and when to scale — €9.99/month, 14-day free trial, cancel any time.

Checking your account…

Sources

Revenue — self-assessment and self-employment

Want something that keeps earning without your hours? That is CashCow, our sister site for building income assets.

🚲 Food & parcel delivery