Personal shopping in Indianapolis: plan and hire

Choose the scope before requesting offers

Describe the task through its outcome. For groceries, provide a list with quantities, preferred brands and acceptable substitutes. For clothing, explain the occasion, sizes, fit preferences and total spending limit. For gifts, include the recipient’s interests, delivery deadline and wrapping requirements. Ask the candidate to explain how they would handle your particular request.

Decide whether you want to attend the shopping trip. If you need fitting advice, ask for an accompanied appointment and agree on meeting and finishing locations. If you want someone to collect an order, specify collection and delivery as the scope. Ask the retailer how to authorize another person to collect your purchase.

Separate purchases from the service quote

Request a breakdown of the shopper’s fee, minimum booking, preparation time, travel, parking, delivery and return visits. Ask when billable time starts and ends. For an hourly offer, agree on a spending cap for the service and require your approval before extra work. For a fixed-price offer, list the included stores and tasks.

Indiana’s Department of Revenue lists a 7% sales tax rate on taxable retail transactions. Include applicable merchandise tax in your clothing or gift allowance, and ask the shopper to explain any tax shown on their service quote. The department’s general tax page does not establish the tax treatment of a particular personal-shopping fee. [5]

Use the original store receipts to reconcile purchases. Ask whether the shopper adds a merchandise markup or receives a retailer commission, and record the answer before hiring. Agree on how you will fund purchases, how the shopper will document spending and how they will return any unused advance.

Plan an accompanied trip around actual routes

IndyGo’s trip planner accepts a starting location, destination, date and time. Its route pages include schedules and rider alerts. Check each leg of a proposed shopping itinerary, including the trip home, before agreeing on the appointment length. Ask the shopper to quote any travel time they expect to bill. [2]

For trips on or after October 11, 2026, recheck your route: IndyGo announced service changes effective that day. If you plan to visit several stores, compare the proposed itinerary with a shorter trip or a collection-and-delivery arrangement. Tell the shopper about walking limits, carrying limits and any assistance you want. [2]

Agree on grocery substitutions and payment

Indiana FSSA says SNAP recipients may use Hoosier Works EBT cards to buy groceries online for pickup or delivery. SNAP cannot cover delivery fees. Consider placing the grocery order yourself and requesting help with collection or separate errands; confirm the retailer’s collection rules and arrange payment for delivery outside SNAP. [4]

Indiana’s Smart SNAP restrictions began January 1, 2026. FSSA says SNAP benefits cannot purchase sugary drinks or candy, and its guidance includes restrictions on both regular and diet soda. If your list includes these items, agree on separate payment or an approved alternative before shopping. Check uncertain products with the retailer rather than asking the shopper to guess. [3]

Write substitution instructions at item level: another brand, another size, a maximum price or no replacement. For allergy-related purchases, require your approval before a substitution. Agree on a contact method and tell the shopper what to do if you cannot respond before checkout.

Check suitability and close out the job

Ask candidates for examples of comparable work and a reference you can contact. For styling, ask how they select items within your budget and whether they work across retailers. For errands, ask how they handle missed collection windows, unavailable products and delivery handoff. Confirm who will perform the work.

Before clothing purchases, ask the shopper to check the retailer’s return deadline, refund method and final-sale status. Decide who will keep receipts and tags, who will perform returns and whether that work costs extra. At handoff, compare the purchases with your approved list, check receipts and record any unresolved return or refund task.

IndyGo full-fare amounts for shopping-trip planning

Choose the shopping arrangement

Your hiring checklist

1. Write the shopping goal, stores, quantities or sizes, and completion deadline.
2. Set separate limits for merchandise and the shopper’s work.
3. Request preparation, travel, parking, delivery and return charges in writing.
4. Approve substitutions, final-sale purchases and spending increases in advance.
5. Confirm purchase funding, receipts and repayment of unused funds.
6. Check the travel itinerary or retailer’s collection authorization requirements.
7. Agree on handoff, return responsibilities and cancellation terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for a personal shopper?

Request a quote for your actual task. The cited sources do not establish Indianapolis personal-shopper rates. Compare offers using the same stores, preparation, travel, delivery and return requirements, then add your merchandise allowance and applicable purchase tax. [5]

Can I order groceries online with Indiana SNAP benefits?

Yes. FSSA says Hoosier Works EBT users can purchase groceries online for pickup or delivery through participating retailers. You need another payment method for delivery fees. Confirm collection authorization before hiring someone to pick up the order. [4]

Should I pay for a shopper’s travel time?

Agree on that before booking. Ask whether the quote includes travel between stores, the journey to your home and transport expenses. Require approval before an additional store visit or return trip.

Who handles returns after clothing shopping?

Put that responsibility in the agreement. Ask the shopper to confirm each retailer’s terms before purchase, keep receipts and tags, and state any charge for returning items. Decide how refunds will reach you.