🚲 Food & parcel delivery
Delivering for app-based platforms on your own schedule. Suits: People who want flexible hours now, with no customers to find. Pay is per job.
Reviewed 2026-09-25 · what a review checks
Earnings are modelled, not measured: €10–€18 an hour (assumed gross per hour, before vehicle costs; varies by city and time) × your hours × 70–90% of those hours paid in the first months. Check local prices before you set yours.
Check which platforms operate in your town and what they require for onboarding.
- Check the platforms operating in your area
- Confirm your insurance covers delivery use
- Complete onboarding and try the busiest two evenings
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.
- Pay per job can fall without notice.
- Road safety, especially at night and in rain.
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.
Day-by-day actions for your first week, and what to do at your first customer, first €100, first €500 and when to scale. Included with Hustler (€9.99/month, 14-day free trial, cancel any time).