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A Comprehensive Guide to Waitr

Who doesn’t love eating out?

Not only does it allow you to try new restaurants, but it also saves time and eliminates the mess of cooking.

Thanks to the gig economy, it’s easier than ever to get food delivered without having to do much more than pick up your phone.

With apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and Caviar, all you have to do is press a few buttons to have dinner delivered directly to your door.

However, a disadvantage of these apps is that sometimes it’s hard to know what you’re ordering.

Written descriptions give you an idea, but sometimes it helps to see things a bit more clearly.

This is where Waitr comes into play.

Waitr is a food delivery app that enables restaurants to present high-quality photographs of their menu items.

The images allow customers to know precisely what they’re ordering.

It also helps restaurants to market their food better.

And, it’s a great side hustle for people who want to make some extra money.

If you’re interested in learning more about Waitr, then read on for our complete and comprehensive guide to this exciting new service.

What is Waitr?

Waitr is a food delivery company based in Lake Charles, LA that operates through a desktop browser and a mobile app.

It was Founded by Chris Meaux back in 2015, it focuses on food delivery.

And while it’s similar in function to Uber Eats and GrubHub, it differs in a few ways:

  1. It makes use of a professional photography team so that each restaurant can present its menu items in the best light possible.
  2. It uses unique hardware and software that are designed to expedite the ordering and payment processes.
Professional photo of food as seen on Waitr.


The company’s primary focus is to help restaurants grow.

Of course, they are also concerned with delivering a quality customer experience.

But, there does seem to be a special commitment to encouraging restaurant growth.

Where Does Waitr Operate?

Waitr began by servicing local restaurants in cities around Louisiana.

After growing their business in cities like Lafayette and Baton Rouge, they expanded throughout the rest of the southeast U.S.

Just last year, the company’s acquisition of Bite Squad allowed them to expand their footprint to more than 500 cities in 20 states, including:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Iowa
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
  • North and South Carolina
  • North and South Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin

If you live in one of these states and want to know if Waitr is available in your city, enter your address here and begin browsing restaurants.

Waitr not available in your area? Here are 11 more delivery jobs you can get right now!

How Does Waitr Work?

Screenshot of the Waitr homepage

Waitr works similarly to other online food delivery apps.

You can access it by downloading the mobile app or heading to their website, WaitrApp.com.

To start, you’ll need to make a profile.

Provide your name, email, address (where you want the food delivered), phone number, and credit/debit card info when prompted.

After you’ve completed this step, restaurant options in your area will appear.

Start browsing, find one you like, and add items to your cart.

From here, you’ll notice that the checkout process is similar to every other app.

You can provide any additional order instructions (deliver to the backdoor, extra sauce, etc.) before you confirm the order.

You’ll receive a confirmation when your order is received, and you’ll be notified when it’s on the way.

When the driver is near, they may call you.

You can tip a driver in cash or do it through the app.

That’s it!

Waitr prides itself on being simple and easy to use.

And it most certainly is.

Sign up to Work for Waitr

Like most gig economy businesses, Waitr is just as beneficial for workers as it is for customers.

The company offers a flexible way for people to make money delivering food.

If you’re looking for an easy way to earn some extra cash, you might consider signing up to become a Waitr driver.

To start, make sure you meet the company’s driver requirements:

  • Have a valid driver’s license
  • Have a valid Auto Insurance
  • Own a smartphone (Android or iPhone 4S or newer)
  • Posses A Reliable Vehicle
  • To be able to work at least one weekend shift (Fri- Sun) each week
  • To consent to, and pass, a full background and motor vehicle check

If you meet the requirements, see if there are any job postings in your city.

Fill out an application.

If the company thinks that you’re a good fit, someone will contact you to finalize your application and get you started.

Since Waitr drivers are independent contractors, you will be able to work as much or as little as you want.

However, you’ll have to commit to one weekend shift as this is when restaurant demand is at its highest.

How Much Do Waitr Drivers Make?

If you live in a city where Waitr operates, driving for them is an excellent opportunity.

While it’s not one of those side jobs that allows you to sit at home and earn money in your PJs, it’s still a relatively easy way to make some extra cash in your free time.

But, you’re probably wondering:
How much can you make if you work for Waitr?

Well, here’s the breakdown:
Waitr drivers make a percentage from each delivery.

This percentage varies from city to city.

So your actual earnings vary slightly.

If you work full-time (every day), you’ll make more money.

But, if you only take on a few shifts per week, you’re not going to earn as much.

In this way, the pay rate is similar to that of other online delivery companies like Instacart, Postmates, DoorDash, and GrubHub.

According to the company’s job postings, some drivers earn as much as $20 per hour.

However, Glassdoor reviews show that some drivers make as little as $5 during the same amount of time.

Waitr Tips

The pay window is so broad because drivers make most of their income from tips.

While the company pays a minimum wage of $5 per hour, the rest of your earnings come in the form of gratuity.

In other words, if you work in a busy market and make lots of deliveries, you’ll likely earn more than in quieter areas.

If customers are feeling particularly generous, you could make a lot more.

However, if you bump into a slow day or run into some less-than-generous clients, you could end up with as little as $40 (before taxes) for an 8-hour shift.

Remember, as an independent contractor, you are responsible for your own gas and vehicle maintenance.

Car washes, oil changes, and repairs are paid for out of your pocket.

Freelancer taxes work differently than payroll taxes.

Companies like Waitr don’t take your taxes out of each paycheck for you.

When you work as an independent contractor, that’s your responsibility.

So, if you make $100 in a night, make sure to put at least $25-35 aside so that you can pay Uncle Sam when taxes are due at the end of the year.

When tax time comes around, you can write off your vehicle repairs and gas mileage as deductions to get some of that money back.

What Is It Like to Work for Waitr?

A waitr delivery driver handing a meal to a customer.


Working as a Waitr driver is similar to working for other food delivery services.

Once hired, you’ll get access to the driver app.

Then, you can use the app to sign up for shifts and check in at the beginning of each shift.

Each time you start a shift, you’ll wait for your first order to come in.

The company provides the restaurant address, customer details, and any other information you need to complete the request.

The app also notifies you of how much you’ll earn from the order.

Once you complete it, the money is deposited in your account.

It takes a few days for the payment to process and become available for withdrawal.

Interestingly enough, Waitr treats its drivers as entry-level employees at the company.

The drivers who perform well are considered for promotions within the organization.

So, if you’re interested in building a career at a high-growth company, this is a great way to get started.

Delivery Vs. Tech Drivers

One difference between Waitr and other food ordering apps is that it uses its own hardware.

So, they employ technicians to travel to restaurants and make repairs or upgrades.

Tech drivers work part-time as food delivery drivers.

But when they’re not delivering food, they go to different stores to maintain the equipment.

To get this job, you’ll need to demonstrate specific technical skills.

There are also far fewer positions than regular driving roles.

So, not every driver becomes a tech driver.

But, it’s still an option to consider if you’re interested in working for Waitr.

Related: The Best Online Food Delivery Apps in the World

Partnering With Waitr (for Restaurants)

If you own and operate a restaurant, you can partner with Waitr to market your business.

Interested?

Here’s how it works:

  1. Check that Waitr operates in your area. If it does, fill out this form.
  2. A sales representative will contact you shortly afterward. They’ll talk to you about pricing, policies, contract terms, etc.
  3. If you opt into a partnership, Waitr will ship you their hardware. This technology is designed specifically for their software. It will make the service work better, and it will also help optimize your entire business.
  4. Using their online dashboard, you can upload your menu, add descriptions, and change things as you change what you offer.
  5. Shortly after your contract begins, Waitr will send out a professional photography team to take high-quality pictures of each item on your menu.
Waitr restaurant contact form.


Some of the benefits of partnering with Waitr include:

  • Broader exposure to potential customers via the mobile app
  • Visually appealing images of your products
  • Social media promotion and possible features on the Waitr website/app

In general, business owners who partner with Watir have seen a significant boost in orders and revenue.

If you are interested in upping the ante with your restaurant business, consider a partnership with Waitr.

How to Contact Waitr Customer Support

Although the Waitr app was designed with ease-of-use in mind, you may encounter issues at some point.

If this happens, there are a few ways you can get help:

Customer Support Page

The first step you should take to resolve your problem is to check the support page.

There, you’ll find articles about the most common troubleshooting issues.

It’s likely that you will be able to resolve your problem right then and there.

Email Support

If the website support page doesn’t help you solve your problems, you can email the company directly.

Use this form to send an email to the customer support team.

A member of their team will reach out to you shortly with a solution.

Phone Support

Customers can reach the company at (877)263-1494.

The company asks that you only call this number if you receive false credit card charges.

Otherwise, you should consult their support team via email.

If you are a restaurant partner, your Waitr representative will provide you with an exclusive phone number.

You’ll use this number to contact the company in case you need technical help.

Waitr is a convenient service that you can use to have food delivered right to your door.

And, it’s an excellent opportunity for people with a car to make some extra cash on the side.

Furthermore, it’s a great tool that helps restaurateurs to grow their businesses.

So, if you live in one of the cities where Waitr operates, download the app and give it a try today.

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