You decide: Independent contractor or employee?
In case you haven't been following the legal battles in a few courts across the United States, here's some of the background on the "independent contractor vs employee" debate. Read the background below and fill out the form below
Background: Independent contractor vs employee debate One California legal example, from Alis Moon, Kring & Chung Attorneys
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On March 11, 2015, a California District Court held that whether or not Lyft drivers are legally employees rather than independent contractors will be decided by the jury. Cotter v. Lyft, Inc., CV13-04065 (N.D. Cal.)
- Whether a worker is classified as an employee or an independent contractor has great consequences. California law gives many benefits and protections to employees; while independent contractors get virtually none. In this case, Lyft drivers argue that they are in fact employees of the company and should be entitled to minimum wage and overtime compensation, meal and rest periods, reimbursement for necessary business expenses and workers’ compensation.
- Lyft argues that its drivers are clearly independent contractors because the drivers can work as little or as much as they want, and can schedule their driving around other activities, including other jobs. An individual might treat driving for Lyft as a side activity, to be fit into his or her schedule when time permits and when he or she could use the extra income. According to Lyft, these facts weigh of favor of finding that its drivers are independent contractors, not employees.
- Generally, an independent contractor is thought of as an individual that has a special skill that gives him or her superior bargaining power, who serves multiple clients, performing discrete tasks for limited periods, while exercising an immense amount of discretion over the way the work is performed. With regard to Lyft drivers, they use no special skill when they give rides to the public, Lyft exercises a significant amount of control over the way Lyft drivers perform their jobs, and although Lyft drivers provide their own vehicles, such vehicles are required to comply with Lyft’s requirements. Thus, it is clear that there are also factors that weigh in favor of finding that Lyft drivers are employees, not independent contractors.
- The court casted doubt on this heated debate and stated that the test the California courts have developed over the 20th Century for classifying workers is not very helpful in addressing this 21st Century problem. As the court explained, the fact that some factors point in one direction, some point in the other, and some are ambiguous is precisely the reason why this case will be up to the jury to decide.
- The decision, which will be left in the fate of the jury’s hands, will have an impact on not only the drivers and the protections, if any, they are entitled to received under California law, but it will also effect the business model of Lyft (and similar companies like Uber) going forward.
Survey: Independent contractor vs employeeThank you for filling out and sharing with other "drivers". We'll publish our results to the public.
independent contractor, employee, lawsuit, rideshare, uber, lyft, sidecar,
Increase your referral income!
It's far from being a secret that New Driver Referral Bonuses can be a substantial income stream for drivers. In fact, you've probably heard of drivers who've switched to just doing referrals.
We're going to start making it easier for you to go out and hustle your referral codes to make extra money. By popular demand, we're introducing 3-in-1 Referral Cards. Now three chances to make money on each card you pass out.
Here's how to increase your referral income:
1. Download the Referral PDF below
2. Open PDF and replace with your codes
3. Print online (Vistaprint, etc) or at a local shop
4. Go to where drivers hang out or hand them out next time you're a passenger!
Here's the direct PDF link
Tips: 1. Think Uber/Lyft are saturated and know other good promos? Let us know, we'll help make it. 2. Want to find your SherpaShare referral code? Go to the top of your Dashboard. For a limited time, when 5 drivers download and activate with your SherpaShare referral code, you'll get $20.
uber, lyft, sidecar, postmates, referral cards, driver bonus
Want more insight into your mileage tracking?
Big news! We've partnered with the company Automatic to give drivers a more advanced way to track mileage and time on the road. Rather than tracking through GPS, you can track through a device that plugs into your car. In celebration of the partnership, we're giving away 5 Automatic devices to SherpaShare drivers! Each device is regularly $99.
Here's how to enter:
New to SherpaShare? Enter the giveaway by downloading the free iOS app. If you don't have an iPhone you can download the free web app in the meantime.
Existing SherpaShare user? Enter by sharing this blog post and the one pinned to our Facebook page. Good luck!
-Team SherpaShare
Contest details: Contest ends 5/25 at 5pm PT, winners randomly chosen from eligible entrants and announced on 5/27. Free shipping for the Automatic devices. Thanks for supporting smarter drivers + smarter cars!
Automatic, OBDII, Hardware, Mileage Tracking, iOS App
On-demand jobs: Who should I work for?
Uber, Lyft, Sidecar - and beyond
Most workers are familiar with the three major rideshare companies - Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar. But new services are becoming popular every day, for example the recent rush of delivery services such as Postmates and Instacart. Did you know that in addition to these, there are now dozens of other on-demand marketplaces?
It can be tricky to know who you should work for, and to estimate how much you can make on each service. On the SherpaShare web dashboard you can view the work pattern of the top drivers in your city - the days they drive, the services they work for, and how much they earn on average. This gives you insider knowledge, helping you drive smarter and maximize your earnings.
Mapping on-demand work options in 150+ US Cities
The map includes: Uber (145 cities), Lyft (58), Sidecar (9), Postmates (13), DoorDash (7), SpoonRocket (3), Sprig (2), Instacart (16). More being added soon, check back often. Tip: Zoom in on your city, and click city name to see services available.
Should I work for more than one company?
The quick answer: Yes! Almost 50% of the cities/towns with on demand services in the US have 2 or more app-based driving options. So, if you’re on one of those cities and you haven’t expanded to a 2nd or 3rd service, you may be missing out on some great opportunities.
In the life of the on-demand driver, all is wonderful when you’re getting consistent ride requests. It’s when things slow down when drivers start to question their strategy. The most common antidote to slow times we’ve heard is “run multiple apps”.
”When I start driving I’ll turn on Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar. Whoever I get the first request from, I’ll accept and turn off the other two. I often find that I may have close to back-to-back rides so I won’t need to turn back on the others. Until it starts to slow down (5-10 minute gaps). Then I turn them back on and just like that I tripled my change of getting a request. - Driver, Boston
Here’s our advice: Run as many apps as is safe to do so. Or at least, be prepared to open and run others in the background. The highest number of apps we’ve seen in one car? We’ve met a couple drivers with 6 devices running in their car at once, 4 car phone mounts, a built-in display, and an iPad!
In fact, many drivers have found that working for multiple services can be surprisingly convenient. Here’s an example:
”I’ll get up early and drive for Uber and Lyft during the morning commute. Around 11am, I often find there’s a bit of a lull. Rather than going home or taking an extended break until it picks up again, I’ll switch to Postmates or DoorDash. They usually starting picking up as early as 11:30am, and this gives me at least a few busy hours. And a break from passengers.” -Driver, Washington, DC.
The lesson is to familiarize yourself with the services offered in your area (hint: an easy way is to ask other drivers). If you’re sitting around idle only working for one platform - chances are there’s untapped demand that you can take advantage of.
Creating Work Security
You would never put all your money in one investment, so why would you do the same when it comes to your contractor work? Four years ago, app-based ridesharing did not exist. The industry is growing and maturing every week, and new on-demand companies are appearing every week. The downside is that high growth and change also means uncertainty.
Don’t leave your driving income to chance. If you hit the low rating cutoff you could be kicked off the driving app. It’s a good idea to have a few options in your back pocket. Plus, competition is the best thing for this industry. As it grows, having multiple driving options ensures that the companies treat drivers the best they can. You’re in demand.
What resonates with you and what did we forget? Tell us here, or on Facebook or Twitter.
uber, lyft, sidecar, postmates, doordash, spoonrocket, sprig, instacart, silk
Announcing our iPhone App
Available today in the App Store!
Today, we're thrilled to announce the very first version of our iPhone app, available in the App Store. The companion app will automatically track your working mileage, time, fuel cost, and tax savings and sync to your Dashboard.
Help us share the news with your online and offline driver communities!
Click to Tweet. Share on Facebook.
Plus, we're thrilled to share this big announcement the day after our New York Times feature as "An App That Helps Drivers Earn the Most from Their Trips". It's a must-read for any driver who's looking to optimize their work - and not just with us!
Thanks for being a awesome part of the SherpaShare community and helping us continue to grow in your city! - Team SherpaShare, San Francisco, California
iPhone app, SherpaShare, mileage tracking, rideshare drivers
Tips from the .1% of drivers
10 tips from our 10,000 drivers
Last month we grew to a community of over 10,000 drivers. Thank you for helping us get there!
The collective knowledge of our active drivers across on-demand services is just amazing! Beyond the insights you see on your Sherpa dashboard, there is so much you can learn from your fellow on-demand drivers. So, here's to the collective growth and shared knowledge and to making you an even smarter driver!
Here are 10 simple driving tips from 10 of our very active drivers. We hope you can connect with a fellow driver today in your city.
Download our iOS App or our Android App for free
uber, lyft, sidecar, tips, strategies
How to painlessly file your rideshare taxes in 30 minutes
Time is running out to file your independent contractor taxes, so we're here to help out.
Here are three easy steps you can use right now:
Step 1: Integrate all your earnings and mileage onto your SherpaShare dashboard.
Here's the instruction page on how to integrate, or if you're new to Sherpa, create an account.
Step 2: Watch the video.
The no-frills DIY video includes:
• Step-by-step instructions with Derek Davis, CPA and co-founder of Shared Economy CPA
• Guide on how to fill out your Schedule C, Schedule SE, and 1040
• What numbers to use from your 1099 forms from the companies
• What expense, mileage, and commission numbers to use from your SherpaShare dashboard
• What to do if you don't receive a 1099 from from the companies
Step 3: Use our resources list for more info.
IRS Independent Contractor vs Employee Guide
This is for informational purposes only and you should consult a CPA for actual tax advice. Also, it's up to you to ensure accuracy on your forms!
rideshare, lyft, uber, sidecar, taxes, 1099, independent contractor, postmates
My Trips
How many of the 2 million trips have you done?
Today, we've officially helped drivers track 2 million trips on Lyft, Sidecar, and Uber. How many have you done? Here's how to see your total trips:
Have a SherpaShare dashboard? (1) Go to the Advanced Analytics page, (2) under Customized Query select trips, (3) select the date range, and (4) scroll down to see the total trips number.
New to SherpaShare? You can quickly get set up by integrating your services. Sync your trips in a few minutes
Curious? Ask your friends for their trip count. Share this
lyft, uber, sidecar, 2 million trips, rideshare
Our first Southern California Meetups
With some of our favorite drivers in Los Angeles and San Diego!
This week, our co-founder Ryder visited drivers in Los Angeles and San Diego! Thanks to all the drivers that came out to learn more about SherpaShare, get some tax related info, and share general driving tips.
Monday's Los Angeles Driver Meetup
With drivers from Uber, Sidecar, Lyft, Postmates, WunWun, Washio, and more!
Do you drive in Los Angeles? More local info coming soon when you create your account!
Tuesday's San Diego Driver Dinner
With drivers from Uber, Sidecar, Lyft, Postmates and more!
Do you drive in San Diego? More local info coming soon when you create your account!
Thank you!
Share on FacebookSan Diego, Los Angeles, SherpaShare, Community
The percent of drivers that are female is...
Based on active Lyft, Sidecar, and Uber drivers using SherpaShare
Based on SherpaShare data, Lyft has nearly double the percent of female drivers compared to other rideshare companies, Sidecar and Uber. Both Uber and Sidecar have national percentages comparable or slightly higher than the national taxi & limo average. This is the preview to our in-depth look at women active in the rideshare space, stay tuned. What percentage of your drivers are female?
More SherpaShare info:
Tracking Rideshare Trips Across the US
2014 in review: The top 6 rideshare driver trends
Join our community:
Sign up for freefemale drivers, independent contractors, uber, lyft, sidecar