Delivery Driver Start-Up Costs
What it costs to get started as a delivery rider or driver, and how long until it pays back.
Part of the 🛵 Delivery Drivers toolkit, with more tools made for the job.
🛵 Delivery driver or rider
What you buy once to get started
What it costs to run, per month
Try a cautious number first.
Rules on licences, insurance and who counts as self-employed on delivery apps differ by country, so check yours.
Type your start-up costs and running costs and the totals appear here. Add what you expect to bring in to see if it pays back.
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Fill in the lines that apply to you, whether you are starting on a bike, a scooter or in a car. This adds up what you buy once and what it costs to run every month, and shows when the start-up money comes back.
Starting to deliver can cost almost nothing if you already own a bike and a phone, or thousands if you need a scooter or a car with the right insurance. The costs people forget are the small ones: an insulated bag, a phone mount, wet-weather gear, a helmet, a licence or background check, and the first insurance payment. Then there are the monthly costs that follow you every week: fuel or charging, servicing and tyres, phone data and insurance.
How it’s worked out
- Start-up total is the one-off costs added together: vehicle costs, bag and phone mount, helmet and wet gear, first insurance payment, licence or checks, and anything else.
- Running costs are fuel or charging, servicing and tyres, insurance, phone data and other costs added together, per month.
- Profit per month is what you expect to bring in minus the running costs.
- Payback time is the start-up total divided by the monthly profit. If the profit is zero or below, it never pays back.
A bag, mount and rain gear costing 150, a helmet at 60 and 300 for a first insurance payment and a licence check make 510 to start. With 120 a month of running costs and 600 coming in, you make 480 a month and the start-up money is back in about a month.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting insurance. Cover for delivery work is often different from normal cover, and the first payment can be a large part of your start-up costs.
- Counting what the app pays as profit. Your costs come out of it, so use your running costs from this page.
- Leaving out wet-weather and safety gear. You will be out in bad weather, so a helmet, lights and waterproofs are real start-up costs.
- Assuming your own vehicle is free. Wear, servicing, tyres and the value it loses are costs, which the delivery vehicle cost calculator adds up.
Questions
What do I need to start as a delivery driver?
It depends on the country, the platform and the vehicle. Most need a phone, a bag, an approved vehicle, insurance that covers delivery work and sometimes a licence, background check or work permit. Check the platform and local rules before you spend.
Can I start on a bicycle?
In many places, yes. Pick the bicycle lines and leave empty what does not apply. An e-bike or scooter costs more to start but covers more distance.
What should I put for income at the start?
Try a cautious figure. First weeks are often slower while you learn where and when orders come. The real earnings calculator shows what you keep after costs.
Where should I go after this?
Work out your cost per km or mile, then check whether the orders you are offered are worth taking. The links under the result lead there.
Estimates only
These are estimates and general information, not financial, tax, legal or professional advice. Costs, pay, fees, tax and rules for delivery work differ by country, city and platform, so use your own figures and check the rules where you live.
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