Become a Yodel Self-Employed Driver

Working as a courier is a great side hustle for a lot of people. However, the market is becoming too saturated nowadays. The top delivery companies already have too many drivers, resulting in lower earnings for the latter.

Consider Yodel, one of the established courier companies in the UK. It may not hold the same market share value as Royal Mail or DHL, but this company is still a force to be reckoned with.

Plus, it may offer more delivery opportunities depending on the type of self-employed driver you choose. We’ve shared a guide on how to become a Yodel self-employed driver to help you get started. Keep reading to learn more!

Yodel is a home-grown courier service that has been around since 2008. It’s based in Liverpool, but the company operates throughout the country and even in some international territories.

The company picks up and delivers parcels through their couriers, most of whom work as self-employed workers. As of writing, Yodel brings in around $500 million in revenue every year, which is around £400 million.

This value means Yodel is still among the top 10 courier companies in the United States. Currently, it owns around 8% of the market share. Since it’s a relatively stable company, working under them can provide some level of job security.

As a courier, you will need to have a minimum set of skills and equipment to ensure that you can carry out your role. Here are the minimum requirements to become a Yodel self-employed driver.

First, you need an insured van or car. Yodel will ask you to have access to a car or van with the appropriate registration and insurance documents. You don’t need to own the vehicle, but you should have permission to use it for delivery work. Unfortunately, Yodel doesn’t do deliveries with motorcycles or bikes.

Additionally, you’ll need to have a phone with an updated operating system. This is the equipment you’ll use to manage your delivery routes.You will also need to have the following:

Full UK Driving License
Proof of Right To Work Self-Employed in the UK
Proof of Own Bank Account
Proof of National Insurance
Attitude for Customer Service

There are three ways you can register as a self-employed driver with Yodel. These are Self Employed Core Delivery Driver, Self Employed LifeStyle Delivery Driver, and Service Delivery Partner.

Self Employed Core Delivery Driver

As a Core delivery driver, you will work six days a week. While you are self-employed, being a Core driver entitles you to support and benefits afforded to the wider Yodel team. Best of all, you won’t need to have prior experience to start.

As a Core driver, you can expect to earn £18 to £20 an hour.

Self Employed LifeStyle Delivery Driver

If you want a more flexible option, you can try being a Lifestyle delivery driver. Under this classification, you’ll only need to work for up to five days a week.

You’ll have more freedom and flexibility, with plenty of opportunities to top-up your earnings.

Similar to a Core courier, Lifestyle drivers can earn up to £18 to £20 hourly.

Service Delivery Partner

As a Service Delivery Partner, you will work like a franchisee for Yodel’s brand. You will manage your own team and vans, and you will work on your own dedicated routes.

As a delivery partner, you could earn starting from £58,000 annually.

As mentioned above, you could earn up to £20 an hour, whether you’re a Core or Lifestyle delivery driver. This is way above the current UK minimum wage, which is £10.

In theory, being a Yodel self-employed driver is an ideal primary job. Many people can achieve an amount close to this, making this career path sustainable in the long run.

Outside of what Yodel claims, let’s check what past drivers have to say on websites like Indeed. According to the website, the average salary for a Yodel courier is £16.70. This amount can go higher or lower depending on the number of deliveries, weather, and other factors. However, the average salary is already a respectable amount.

Before you begin working for Yodel, you may need to shell out a few pounds for start-up costs.

These include the following:

Petrol: Yodel does offer fuel cards, but this is only for those who qualify for it. Otherwise, you will handle your own fuel costs.
Insurance: Aside from car insurance, you may need professional indemnity insurance to protect yourself from mishandling accusations.
Data plan: You will need an internet connection while on the road, so make sure you have mobile data on your phone.

When you start driving with Yodel, it's key to remember you're effectively setting up your own small business. This means you'll be taking on the role of managing your own taxes, since, as a self-employed individual, you won't have tax automatically deducted as you would in regular employment.

Keep a good record of what you earn and what you spend. When the time comes, you'll need to fill in a Self Assessment tax return for HMRC, and pay your due Income Tax and National Insurance. It's all part of making your Yodel venture a proper, tax-compliant business.

It's advisable to set aside a percentage of your earnings to cover these tax obligations.

Consulting a Chartered Accountant can provide you with personalised advice and help you understand the tax implications more thoroughly.

Become a Yodel Self-Employed Driver

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Minimum Requirements To Become a Yodel Driver