1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Food delivery riding: from your licence and documents to your first paid week on the app

Deliver food and groceries by motorbike or scooter through apps such as Uber Eats and Mr D. This guide covers the documents and gear apps ask for, published 2026 pay and bike-rental figures, the real costs that come off your earnings, road safety, and a worked rand example that shows what is left after rental, fuel and deductions.

  • 23 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 2 hours
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • You have, or can get, a Code A or A1 motorbike licence.
  • You can ride safely in traffic and in bad weather.
  • You can work busy lunch, dinner and weekend hours.

Think twice if

  • You can't afford a bike deposit and weekly rental, or don't have your own bike.
  • You need fixed pay and benefits.
  • You aren't comfortable riding at night.

Honest expectations

  • No app publishes a pay rate. Riders report about R25 to R65 a delivery, and weekly pay from about R2,700 to R5,000 on very long hours, before costs.
  • Riders report bike rental of about R450 to R650 a week, plus a deposit.
  • Rental, fuel, data and deductions can take a large share of what you earn.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How app food delivery worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Set up step by step: ready for your first delivery6 min (in the full guide)
    3. Pay and costs: published figures5 min (in the full guide)
    4. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Get your licence and documents ready3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Sort your bike and gear3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting more deliveries on the app5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Your 14-day playbook to your first paid week6 min (in the full guide)
    6. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Ride the busy hours and log every shift3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Check your weekly statement3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Common mistakes for new delivery riders4 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Work out your real hourly earnings3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Cut your biggest cost3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Free resources to fill your skill gaps4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Getting paid and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    6. Tax: what to put aside, with worked examples6 min (in the full guide)
    7. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

ItemCostNote
Bike rental deposit (published R1,500 to R3,000) (optional)R1 500 to R3 000East Point R1,500; Tebo R3,000. Skip if you own a bike.
Helmet, rain suit, gloves, phone mount, top box and licence costs (example figure)R0 to R12 000Example figure. Some rentals include a top box. Check what is included.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 26 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 26 April 2027.