Is Newspaper Delivery Still a Good Side Hustle?

A long time ago newspaper delivery was a child’s first job. They’d get on their bikes and deliver papers door to door. In more recent years, the job shifted to an adult’s side hustle. You would usually drive from place to place delivering newspapers to individuals as well as to businesses. But are enough people still getting print newspapers to make a newspaper delivery side hustle worthwhile?

Is Newspaper Delivery Still a Side Hustle?

This job does still exist. Even though people increasingly read news online, there are still plenty of people who get paper newspapers. As a result, you should be able to find a job delivering newspapers in your area. If that’s something that interests you then a newspaper delivery side hustle is still possible.

How Much Money Can You Make?

Here’s where a newspaper delivery side hustle starts to disappoint people. You won’t make a lot of money off of this job. However, you do earn something. According to Mary Dowd of Chron, newspaper delivery persons typically earn between $6.95​ and ​$17.70 per hour. On average, you’ll make $10 – $12 per hour delivering newspapers. In some places, that’s an okay bit of money for a side job. If you’re in need of extra cash, it can certainly help out.

The Downsides of Newspaper Delivery Side Hustle

Okay, so maybe you can earn $10 per hour. But there are some drawbacks that may make you think twice about this hustle. For one thing, you often end up working full-time hours even though you only wanted a part-time job. That’s due in large part to the fact that this is often a seven-days-a-week job. Therefore, you don’t get any days off, which can wear on you over time.

Mary Dowd lists the following additional downsides of newspaper delivery:

• You have to start this job REALLY early in the morning.
• It’s usually your job to fold or roll the newspapers, not just deliver them.
• Obstacles along your route may include traffic, growling dogs, and uncomfortable temperatures.
• You’re responsible for your gas costs and the wear and tear on your car over time.
• You might be responsible for other costs ranging from buying your own rubber bands to dealing with accidental damages you make on your route.

Out of Your Rut says a newspaper delivery side hustle isn’t worth it because:

• The mornings are earlier than you think. Expect to be up at 1 or 2 am each day.
• You might also have to work evenings inserting mailers, rolling the papers, etc.
• The work was hard on their car’s tires, brakes, and other parts.
• You often have to deliver extra things, such as product samples, that can be a heavy hassle.

The main thing they say is that the combination of sleep deprivation and wear and tear on the car meant that the job was a financial wash if not even a loss.

Similarly, a Reddit user says not to ever take this type of job because:

• If you miss deliveries for any reason, including illness, you might have to pay a huge fee.
• People steal papers, which can lead to those same fees.
• Many customers complain about service which can lead to problems with the employer.
• Technically you’re allowed to accept tips but people generally don’t give them.
• Overall the wages don’t outweigh the costs.

In summary, you can probably find a newspaper delivery side hustle. If you’re just looking for some short-term cash, then you might find that it’s worth it. However, the long-term wear and tear on your vehicle, combined with sleep disruption because of the hours, means its not worth it for most people as a long-term job.

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