How to sign up for Instacart to earn extra money as a full-service or in-store shopper

• You can sign up to be an Instacart shopper by creating an account and downloading the app for a background check.
• Instacart hires full-service and in-store shoppers, who are independent contractors and W-2 employees respectively.
• Here's everything you need to know about the requirements and application process for Instacart.

Demand for grocery home delivery has skyrocketed in the last year, and Instacart has ridden that wave of popularity.

In much the same style as Uber, Lyft, Postmates, and a slew of other app-based services, Instacart allows people to shop from home using a mobile app and then Instacart shoppers complete those orders.

You can become an Instacart shopper as a part-time gig or as a primary job.

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The two kinds of Instacart shoppers

Instacart has two different shopper roles you can apply for:

Full-service shoppers. Full-service shoppers are treated as independent contractors - they are not employees of Instacart and payment is documented on a Form 1099 in the US. As independent contractors, full-service shoppers get to accept or decline orders through the mobile app. They fulfill accepted orders in batches and deliver them to the customers. Shoppers are paid a base rate along with possible incentives, mileage reimbursements, and any tips added by the customer.

In-store shoppers. In-store shoppers are not contractors - they are W-2 employees of Instacart. In-store shoppers work specifically assigned shifts in a store (up to 29 hours a week), fulfilling orders they receive on the mobile app. These orders are handed off to delivery drivers, so shoppers don't need to drive or interact with customers. In-store shoppers are compensated according to minimum wage laws and do not earn additional incentives or tips like full-service shoppers.

Requirements for becoming an Instacart shopper

The requirements depend upon which shopper role you are applying for. To apply for the role of a full-service shopper or in-store shopping, you need to meet the following criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• Eligible to work in the US or Canada
• Own a working smartphone that runs Android 5.0 or iOS 9 (or later)
• Can lift at least 30 pounds
• Pass a background check
• Able and willing to follow Instacart's food safety policies

Important: Full-service shoppers, unlike in-store shoppers, must also have access to a working and legally registered vehicle and have valid vehicle insurance.

How to apply to become an Instacart shopper

Applying to become an Instacart shopper is very straightforward - just complete the application at shoppers.instacart.com in the US or shoppers.instacart.ca in Canada. You don't even need to complete the application in a single sitting; the site will remember where you left off and let you return and complete it later.

Alternatively, you can apply to be a shopper using the Instacart app for iOS or Android.

Regardless of which way you apply, you'll need to enter basic personal information such as your name, address, and phone number, along with information about your vehicle (if applying to become a full-service shopper). Instacart will then perform a background check, which can take up to 10 days.

If you apply to be a full-service shopper, the entire process is handled online, though if you apply for an in-store shopper role, Instacart will follow up with you via email for next steps, which includes in-person on-boarding. You'll need to select a session that works for you.