We get it. We know that starting your own business can be tough. During that first year it can be hard to have a steady cash flow, hard to pay yourself, and hard to make ends meet. Given those circumstances it’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to turn to the gig economy for some short-term supplemental income.
So here’s 4 entrepreneurial tricks to help you make the most out of driving for App-a-Cab, Uber, Lyft, or any other ridesharing company.
Perfect That Presentation.
Customer service and hospitality is key to getting those great reviews and getting that extra tip. So what’s an easy way to boost that presentation? The thrift store is going to be your best friend. Stop by there and get yourself that discount shirt and tie, because even though people don’t expect it, wearing that formal attire conveys the high class and professional feeling that let people know you’re willing to go the extra mile to provide the best experience possible. One Uber driver we saw even found a small red carpet at the thrift store and would roll it out for each of his customers. 
Expect the Unexpected.
Driving and riding in ridesharing services is generally pretty safe. These companies run background checks and have insurance coverage for every car using their service. But these systems aren’t perfect. You can use a webcam on your dashboard to record what’s happening on the road, which could be a big cost saver if you do happen to get into an accident. When you’ve got a video account of what happened on the road, there’s little room to debate who’s at fault, you’ve got an automatic record of license plates if it’s a hit and run, maybe you’ll catch some YouTube worthy footage. A little webcam can record a lot more than what happens on the road though. This gives you an avenue to discreetly record audio from inside the car. As a driver, you never know who’s going to get in the car, and you have no idea what they’re going to do. It’s surely a rare occurrence that something bad might happen but just like with the video, you’ll have an account in case something bad does go down.
Work Smarter, Not Harder.
Save shortcuts in your phone for those typical texts you send to the customer, like “I’m right outside” or “Be there in 2 minutes”. Instead of typing out the same texts all night, try saving B2 as “Be there in two minutes.” This way you raise your efficiency and avoid texting while driving.
Don’t limit yourself.
Keep that entrepreneur mindset of seizing opportunities. Sign up for multiple sharing services. Often Uber, Lyft and Postmates see peek business at different hours of the day. Remember that you don’t work for the app, you make the app work for you. By utilizing more than one of these services, you can go where the best money is and you have more freedom to work when you want.
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