Uber hacks for partners: Tips for maximising your partner income

No matter how much we love to hate Uber, there’s no denying the fact that the company has been instrumental in providing a source of income to millions of people around the world who could have been otherwise unemployed. Uber’s key offering – matching people who need taxis to people who want to taxi – is a big deal. This simple innovation has changed the way we book taxis from both parties standing in the street, calling out  “Drop?” to just pushing a button on your phone and having a taxi come to you. So what’s the problem? Why is there so much bad press with Uber, and is it still possible to make money on the platform?




Uber’s problems began with its global expansion as the company struggled to adapt to the local conditions in each market. French taxis protested Uber’s non-participation in the French social system. In South Africa, Uber was branded as operating illegal services, and hundreds more similar protests have cropped up in cities around the world. If Uber is still in business, what does this mean for their driving partners? Is it still possible to make money on the platform or is Uber dead?
Well, here are a few recent earnings from drivers on the platform for you to decide yourself.
Even with the increased competition, drivers who understand the system and know how to use it to their advantage can still make a decent living on the platform. As a partner, I’ve decided to share some of the tips I use to ensure that my investment on the platform pays, and that I can still turn a small profit. If you are not yet an Uber partner, start the process here by selecting whether you own a car and want to drive, own a car but will give it to someone to drive, or don’t own a car and want to drive.
    1. Preparation. Before you even start this business, put yourself in a position to make and not lose money. Your car could be your greatest money maker, or your greatest headache. You want the cheapest, compliant, and most fuel-efficient vehicle possible. If you can get a sound electric car (like a Toyota Prius), go for it. Once you have decided on a good car, you need to map out your strategy – after all, you came to make money. You need to find out when your best chances are of making money are, so study the app for a week to find any surge patterns in your area. Working in a surge means that you can double, triple or even quadruple your earnings for the same amount of petrol burnt. Some people I know understand the surge patterns so well that they only drive during surge periods, and earn the same as (or even more than) drivers who are out all day.
    2. Treat it like a business. Like any business, you will want to calculate your break-even analysis to help you calculate how much you need to be earning each week in order to pay for the cost of your car by X months. You also want a cost analysis to figure out how much you’re investing upfront, and how much you should expect to earn back after removing the cost of maintenance, petrol etc. There’s an excellent kit I use for this called Uberkit. The kit contains a pre-populated spreadsheet which you just enter your figures into, and it automatically calculates this all for you. The kit also comes with driving tips, a driver log, drivers agreement (if you are going to hire someone) and it only costs $47 – less than the cost of hiring someone to do all the work! You can get it by going to www.uberkit.net and there’s 20% off for my blog readers if you use the code: MRPEPEUBERX
    3. Structure your work day around surges. Use your destination trip to get there, and pick up any passengers on your way towards the surge. In Lagos, there’s a surge from around 4am to noon everyday around the Island/Lekki. Even if you get jobs that take you away from the surge, use the destination trip to take you back if you don’t get any trips in that direction.
    4. Don’t be an eagle, be a crocodile. Don’t drive around aimlessly looking for jobs. Instead, set your destination to the target surge area and just wait for it. You might want to switch your app off and monitor the map. Once it lights up, you know it’s time to go online.  One trick you can employ is to log out of the driver app and log into the passenger app until you reach the surge area. Once you arrive, log out of the passenger app and back into the driver one. Uber calculates surge fares based on the ratio of people with the passenger app open to the driver app in an area at any given time. This lets the company think that you are a passenger looking for a ride instead of a driver ready to offer one (and works in your favour).
    5. Cancel. If you’re in a surge area and for some reason, you receive a non-surge job, cancel.
    6. Work nights, weekends and whenever it rains. You will almost always get a surge when it rains.  If you did your research in step 1 properly and you understand your market, you would know what areas are hot (clubs, venues, hotels etc) and not waste your time waiting for low-paying jobs.
    7. Save. Save 2.5% of your weekly earnings for vehicle maintenance and servicing.
    8. Offline customers. If your rider is going to an area where Uber does not operate, politely ask that they book the trip offline.
    9. Monitor your competition using the passenger app. The passenger app helps you take advantage of some features not available on the driver app, such as seeing where other drivers are. If you are at a popular venue for example with two entrances, the passenger app can tell you which entrance has the most drivers waiting so that you can head for the entrance with the least competition.
    10. Communicate with your riders. Call after requests to check where your rider is going before you invest your time and petrol. Be careful though, as high cancellation rates might affect the number of rides you are matched to. If your rider wants you to stop somewhere along the way, politely ask them to try not to stay longer than 5 minutes, as you do not get paid for waiting. Most people are reasonable and will offer you a tip to say thanks.
    11. Look out for Uber promos and take advantage of them. Also read the small print, so that you fulfil the exact conditions required to earn bonuses. For example, when Uber slashed prices in Lagos, they offered a far guarantee of N1,500 per hour to drivers who accepted 90% of requests. This meant that as long as you accepted 90% of your requests, if you worked for 3 hours and only made N1,000, Uber would offer you a bonus of N3,500 to ensure that you do not earn anything less than N1,500 an hour.
    12. Be nice so you can earn tips

Go forth and make that money!




299 Comments

  1. Abiodun Olowoporoku August 10, 2017
  2. Daniel Ekenedilichukwu Ngidi August 10, 2017
  3. VICTOR MOMAH August 14, 2017
  4. Raji Ayuba August 16, 2017
  5. azeez September 15, 2017
  6. Nkemakolam Egu March 13, 2018
    • Ethan March 13, 2018
  7. Nkemakolam Egu March 13, 2018
  8. Johnson March 22, 2018
    • Ethan March 22, 2018
  9. Neyola March 30, 2018
  10. Fjrvhb May 4, 2023
  11. Qszrmd May 8, 2023
  12. Daqqgw May 9, 2023
  13. Whckoe May 10, 2023
  14. Hucozg May 11, 2023
  15. Jwemug May 12, 2023
  16. Gtljdg May 12, 2023
  17. Mhwnyo May 15, 2023
  18. Mtxfrh May 16, 2023
  19. Mrtpkc May 18, 2023
  20. Rtklmy May 18, 2023
  21. Sftksv May 19, 2023
  22. Qqsoze May 20, 2023
  23. Tjswrq May 20, 2023
  24. Utouqc May 22, 2023
  25. Zzpbun May 22, 2023
  26. Arzkkc May 23, 2023
  27. Nukhzv May 24, 2023
  28. Irtrsv May 26, 2023
  29. Zxtuuk May 26, 2023
  30. Gqhucw May 27, 2023
  31. Kdvqun May 29, 2023
  32. Isqykm May 30, 2023
  33. Sydisb May 31, 2023
  34. Aztdry June 1, 2023
  35. Qgvtcj June 3, 2023
  36. Hgolxh June 3, 2023
  37. Lbsuja June 4, 2023
  38. Xxbdge June 6, 2023
  39. Qbnsbt June 6, 2023
  40. Voikpi June 7, 2023
  41. Doaccg June 9, 2023
  42. Jyfuli June 9, 2023
  43. Anhuqx June 11, 2023
  44. Gzvunj June 11, 2023
  45. Yqoxfs June 13, 2023
  46. Kpbkxy June 13, 2023
  47. Luotmu June 15, 2023
  48. Xnubvk June 16, 2023
  49. Bfpfol June 17, 2023
  50. Zgrwwd June 17, 2023
  51. Walkks June 18, 2023
  52. Zwalue June 19, 2023
  53. Vawcyk June 20, 2023
  54. Lpeztl June 21, 2023
  55. Lrmgbi June 22, 2023
  56. Awgecj June 23, 2023
  57. Iodmjt June 23, 2023
  58. Fqigwc June 25, 2023
  59. Mtqxdv June 25, 2023
  60. Bkibxd June 26, 2023
  61. Xthyjh June 27, 2023
  62. Vuyscw June 28, 2023
  63. Cspqeb June 29, 2023
  64. Ivjbci June 30, 2023
  65. Fyrzmk July 1, 2023
  66. Ogidte July 1, 2023
  67. Njuqwv July 3, 2023
  68. Zcrnek July 4, 2023
  69. Kxiitq July 5, 2023
  70. Lsxknk July 5, 2023
  71. Pzdsep July 6, 2023
  72. Rhyfdv July 7, 2023
  73. Klrtwx July 8, 2023
  74. Llfmnc July 9, 2023
  75. Uwijho July 9, 2023
  76. Cnyjej July 11, 2023
  77. Pwslfp July 11, 2023
  78. Rzqapf July 12, 2023
  79. Gierns July 13, 2023
  80. Atxweu July 14, 2023
  81. Iaoqbw July 16, 2023
  82. Nduujb July 17, 2023
  83. kic July 17, 2023
  84. Pjujkd July 18, 2023
  85. Fsoeza July 19, 2023
  86. Whazfh July 19, 2023
  87. Gnqaqo July 21, 2023
  88. Otjtqp July 21, 2023
  89. Ylcbvp July 23, 2023
  90. Mnvzjp July 24, 2023
  91. Mfjnov July 25, 2023
  92. Anqplu July 27, 2023
  93. Efcgzn July 27, 2023
  94. Baudbq July 29, 2023
  95. Cmnmah July 29, 2023
  96. Sjgykt July 30, 2023
  97. Hbncqt July 30, 2023
  98. Mxmyml July 31, 2023
  99. Iphoqr August 2, 2023
  100. Mhawzm August 3, 2023
  101. Lukqiz August 5, 2023
  102. Mkbtwb August 6, 2023
  103. Derekduh August 7, 2023
  104. Hcapps August 7, 2023
  105. Gyncna August 8, 2023
  106. Jimmymen August 8, 2023
  107. Jzzvll August 10, 2023
  108. Larrybrops August 10, 2023
  109. Samuelgab August 10, 2023
  110. Brentpielo August 10, 2023
  111. ScottWeF August 11, 2023
  112. ClaudeInins August 11, 2023
  113. DarylFig August 11, 2023
  114. Charlespuh August 11, 2023
  115. Larrybrops August 11, 2023
  116. Jamesfrism August 11, 2023
  117. ClaudeInins August 12, 2023
  118. ScottWeF August 12, 2023
  119. Samuelgab August 12, 2023
  120. Larrybrops August 12, 2023
  121. DarylFig August 12, 2023
  122. Brentpielo August 12, 2023
  123. Charlesgof August 12, 2023
  124. ScottWeF August 12, 2023
  125. ClaudeInins August 12, 2023
  126. Charlespuh August 13, 2023
  127. Yxlnnj August 13, 2023
  128. Larrybrops August 13, 2023
  129. Jamesfrism August 13, 2023
  130. ScottWeF August 13, 2023
  131. Mocdlp August 13, 2023
  132. ClaudeInins August 13, 2023
  133. DarylFig August 13, 2023
  134. Samuelgab August 14, 2023
  135. FreddyVek August 14, 2023
  136. AlbertRon August 14, 2023
  137. AllanblinG August 15, 2023
  138. JoshuaFak August 15, 2023
  139. FreddyVek August 15, 2023
  140. Toiauv August 15, 2023
  141. Edwarddrymn August 15, 2023
  142. LorenEnert August 15, 2023
  143. AlbertRon August 15, 2023
  144. Nselov August 16, 2023
  145. FreddyVek August 16, 2023
  146. Edwarddrymn August 16, 2023
  147. AlbertRon August 16, 2023
  148. Robertenade August 16, 2023
  149. AllanblinG August 16, 2023
  150. JoshuaFak August 17, 2023
  151. FreddyVek August 17, 2023
  152. Edwarddrymn August 17, 2023
  153. LorenEnert August 17, 2023
  154. AlbertRon August 17, 2023
  155. Robertenade August 18, 2023
  156. Upvdnu August 18, 2023
  157. FreddyVek August 18, 2023
  158. Edwarddrymn August 18, 2023
  159. AlbertRon August 18, 2023
  160. Georgefralt August 18, 2023
  161. Kwcglp August 18, 2023
  162. AllanblinG August 18, 2023
  163. LorenEnert August 19, 2023
  164. JoshuaFak August 19, 2023
  165. FreddyVek August 19, 2023
  166. AlbertRon August 19, 2023
  167. Robertenade August 19, 2023
  168. BarryTex August 20, 2023
  169. JeffreyNup August 20, 2023
  170. MichaelExifs August 20, 2023
  171. Vhaqpg August 21, 2023
  172. Donaldenupt August 21, 2023
  173. Michaelstect August 21, 2023
  174. BarryTex August 21, 2023
  175. Mxggtk August 21, 2023
  176. RobertBiash August 21, 2023
  177. JeffreyNup August 22, 2023
  178. LucasCed August 22, 2023
  179. BarryTex August 22, 2023
  180. Keithric August 22, 2023
  181. Michaelstect August 22, 2023
  182. MichaelExifs August 22, 2023
  183. JeffreyNup August 22, 2023
  184. LucasCed August 22, 2023
  185. Donaldenupt August 22, 2023
  186. Williamheinc August 23, 2023
  187. Robertshesk August 23, 2023
  188. DavidPieva August 23, 2023
  189. Vjvirz August 24, 2023
  190. Albertatope August 24, 2023
  191. LoganMow August 24, 2023
  192. Williamheinc August 24, 2023
  193. Michaelevalf August 24, 2023
  194. RonaldHed August 24, 2023
  195. GeorgeGepek August 25, 2023
  196. WillieHyday August 25, 2023
  197. Michaelevalf August 25, 2023
  198. NelsonCet August 25, 2023
  199. Georgehok August 25, 2023
  200. AntonioFaulp August 25, 2023
  201. Wqosas August 25, 2023
  202. RonaldHed August 26, 2023
  203. GeorgeGepek August 26, 2023
  204. Michaelevalf August 26, 2023
  205. Robertclick August 26, 2023
  206. AntonioFaulp August 27, 2023
  207. WillieHyday August 27, 2023
  208. Xvbqtq August 27, 2023
  209. GeorgeGepek August 27, 2023
  210. Michaelevalf August 27, 2023
  211. NelsonCet August 27, 2023
  212. AntonioFaulp August 28, 2023
  213. GeorgeGepek August 28, 2023
  214. Michaelevalf August 28, 2023
  215. RonaldHed August 28, 2023
  216. WillieHyday August 28, 2023
  217. Mzhoiv August 29, 2023
  218. Uaducp August 29, 2023
  219. Zacharyjelry August 30, 2023
  220. Joshuamat August 30, 2023
  221. Lloydexits August 30, 2023
  222. Zacharyjelry August 30, 2023
  223. Geraldecock August 30, 2023
  224. Charlesovaft September 1, 2023
  225. WilliamRhype September 2, 2023
  226. Zercgd September 2, 2023
  227. Raykdi September 2, 2023
  228. Earnestomish September 2, 2023
  229. Dug September 8, 2023
  230. vew September 12, 2023
  231. ThomasLow September 13, 2023
  232. Sxcyuk September 13, 2023
  233. AlfredVemia September 13, 2023
  234. VictorHit September 13, 2023
  235. Iwvbee September 14, 2023
  236. GeraldAbete September 14, 2023
  237. Ynwzya September 15, 2023
  238. GarlandDiula September 16, 2023
  239. JesseRorry September 16, 2023
  240. Oobhyv September 16, 2023
  241. Mdirqi September 16, 2023
  242. Kennethpon September 16, 2023
  243. Michaelgriet September 17, 2023
  244. Rogerfop September 18, 2023
  245. Dennisval September 18, 2023
  246. JasonAmoxy September 18, 2023
  247. Dennisval September 19, 2023
  248. Manuelniply September 19, 2023
  249. Ntwfdh September 19, 2023
  250. Mbrbtl September 20, 2023
  251. CurtisAwalm September 20, 2023
  252. Danielfag September 22, 2023
  253. CurtisAwalm September 22, 2023
  254. Nxaqse September 22, 2023
  255. DavidSog September 23, 2023
  256. Wxmyen September 23, 2023
  257. Danielfag September 23, 2023
  258. ArchieAffer September 24, 2023
  259. Sjdrre September 24, 2023
  260. Robertoffem September 25, 2023
  261. TommyPelom September 25, 2023
  262. ArchieAffer September 25, 2023
  263. DwayneGem September 26, 2023
  264. ArchieAffer September 26, 2023
  265. Jjfbah September 27, 2023
  266. Szubmz September 27, 2023
  267. RickeyTwecy September 28, 2023
  268. Maxwellped September 28, 2023
  269. Raymondspoge September 28, 2023
  270. Roberthal September 28, 2023
  271. BillyWhago September 28, 2023
  272. Ricardoduaps September 28, 2023
  273. Fmnbmi September 29, 2023
  274. RickeyTwecy September 29, 2023
  275. BillyWhago September 29, 2023
  276. RickeyTwecy September 30, 2023
  277. Omorza September 30, 2023
  278. Vohtxv September 30, 2023
  279. MarvinNow October 1, 2023
  280. ArchieFuh October 1, 2023
  281. Robertdug October 1, 2023
  282. RogerTricy October 1, 2023
  283. MichaelLem October 1, 2023
  284. FelixLow October 2, 2023
  285. Bsrene October 2, 2023
  286. Georgerer October 2, 2023
  287. RogerTricy October 2, 2023
  288. MarvinNow October 3, 2023
  289. FelixLow October 3, 2023
  290. Xylrye October 3, 2023

Leave a Reply