Comparison of Owning vs. Renting a Motorcycle for Delivery Partners

Modern life allows people to receive necessary goods online in minutes, and couriers are responsible for this speed. These workers often perform hard labor, delivering orders even late at night. The story of one such rider shows how one can earn money even without owning their own vehicle.

One day, using the Rapido service, the article's author met a rider named Vicky. He mentioned that he works not only for Swiggy but also for Rapido, and the motorcycle he rides does not belong to him but is rented.

Previously, Vicky worked for a company in Noida where his salary was 25 thousand. However, after layoffs, he lost his job. He is from Western Uttar Pradesh, and although he did not specify the exact area, his home is near Noida, which takes 4-5 hours to reach. Despite actively looking for work, he could not find a suitable position, and he needed to send money home.

A friend suggested he take up courier work while he searches for permanent employment. Since he did not have his own bike, his friend advised him to contact agencies like Rapido or Swiggy, which provide motorcycles for rent. A prepayment of 500 rupees was required for the motorcycle use, and the daily rental fee was 290 rupees; however, through a broker, he had to pay an additional 4500 rupees for the rental.

Vicky initially viewed this job as a temporary solution until he found permanent employment. However, the income from this activity turned out to be higher than his previous salary for a 9-hour workday. He explained that for delivering orders within a 2-kilometer radius for Swiggy or Zepto, he can earn up to 50 rupees. If the delivery happens after 9:00 PM in the same radius, the payment doubles, reaching 90–100 rupees.

He noted that if he earns 500 rupees in 4 hours of daily work, this income can double to 1000 rupees at night. Therefore, he advises against limiting himself only to daytime trips, as night shifts provide higher profits.

Vicky sets his own schedule, working only in the morning and evening: from 6 AM to 10 AM and from 8 PM to 11 PM. During this time, he usually completes at least 20 deliveries, sometimes even more. Even after deducting the motorcycle rental fee, he retains between 1200 and 1400 rupees daily. This income allows him to avoid taking on small side jobs earning 20–25 thousand per week. Furthermore, he has the freedom to manage his time without needing vacations or permission from a boss.

He also compared the working conditions with other services. For Zepto or Swiggy, a one-time payment of 1500 or 1700 rupees is required for a T-shirt and bag, after which a commission is charged for each delivery. In the case of Uber or Rapido, an initial account top-up of 180 rupees is needed, which covers up to 2000 rupees worth of rides and is valid for three months.

In Vicky's opinion, working as a courier is similar to running one's own business: the person sets their own work schedule and is not obliged to seek permission from anyone. He emphasized that he is the master of his own will, and his earnings directly depend on the volume of work completed.

In large cities, people work as couriers or taxi drivers to earn supplementary or primary income. However, those starting such a job face an important question: should they use their own transport or rent it or lease it? Before starting this activity, it is necessary to carefully analyze both options, as this decision affects initial costs, daily expenses, required documents, and overall earnings.

If you already have a bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle, you will not have to make additional upfront payments. Whereas if you do not have your own transport, companies like Swiggy offer the option to rent a motorcycle, e-bike, or bicycle through their contractors. Although such a start may seem simple, the rental fee will directly affect your income.

The main advantage of using your own motorcycle is the absence of additional rental or daily leasing costs. In the long term, this option is considered more profitable and economical. Nevertheless, it means that you must cover the costs of gasoline, daily maintenance, and technical servicing yourself. Also, having valid vehicle documents is mandatory, including the registration number (RC), driver's license, insurance policy, and PUC certificate.

There is also a rental model applicable to e-bikes or e-scooters that allows you to start working even without personal transport. Under this model, you need to pay a fixed daily or weekly rental or leasing fee. In the case of some e-bikes and e-scooters, fuel costs are excluded, and maintenance or battery upkeep costs are covered by the rental company. However, the drawback is that the fixed monthly rental amount reduces your income, which can lower the overall net profit.

Depending on the rules of various platforms, starting work in delivery or ride-sharing requires a driver's license, identification, or proof of residence, such as a voter ID or PAN card, as well as a bank account. On platforms like Swiggy, the initial registration fee is about 1500 rupees, which may vary depending on the city and is deducted from earnings in installments.

Companies such as Zepto, Rapido, Uber, and Swiggy transfer earned funds to a bank account weekly. Adhering to all traffic rules is a mandatory condition, which includes always wearing a helmet, having a valid license and insurance, and abstaining from any narcotic substances. Overall, if you already have your own motorcycle, it is recommended to start with it. But if you do not have starting capital or transport, the best strategy may be to start working on an e-bike or a rented motorcycle and then purchase your own.

In places like Delhi-NCR, there are companies, such as Bounce Daily or Zypp Electric, that partner with quick retail companies and rent out electric scooters daily. Here, the daily rental fee starts at approximately 250 rupees per day.

Many have heard of couriers or drivers who work after office hours or on a part-time basis. Questions arise about the advantages of this work format and whether there are any rules requiring a fixed number of hours per day. These doubts can be dispelled.

Platforms that offer part-time courier work or gig work set their own rules in advance. The most important thing is that the worker determines when, how long, and where they want to work. Thus, there is no need to work seven days a week for 10-12 hours.

However, part-time work can affect earnings because on platforms such as Swiggy, Zepto, Uber, and Snabbit, income depends on the city, the established distance, time, number of orders, demand, traffic, weather, and customer rating. Additionally, information is provided regarding working hours, payment methods, insurance, commissions, and required documents.

There is no fixed amount that can be earned per month, but Swiggy offers the possibility of earning up to ₹30,000 per month when working both full-time and part-time. It is also mentioned that an expert on Snabbit can earn up to ₹45,000 per month. Companies like Swiggy, Zepto, and Uber usually pay earnings weekly directly to a bank account.

Consider an example: Rohit works for a company in Noida. His shift ends at 5:00 PM. If he wants to work extra hours after office on the Rapido/Zepto platform or similar, he can select a time slot in his mobile application, for example, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. During these three hours, he can receive orders, and after that, they will stop coming in. Weekly payment from the company is based on the number of completed orders during this period.