How to make money as a Mystery Shopper.
Many companies want feedback as to how their stores operate. This is what a mystery shopper does - they visit stores, restaurants, banks, websites, and countless other places and provide the company feedback on how the business is operating. Mystery Shopping offers you flexible opportunities to earn cash and rewards while helping businesses improve their service. Find how to make money shopping below as well as get the contact information for the leading mystery shopping companies.
What do mystery shoppers really do?
Depending upon the shop, retailer or type of research assignment given, a mystery shopper will generally ensure that the store and its employees are providing a high level of customer service. The positions are generally very flexible when it comes to work hours as well as location. The exact names of these positions vary . They can be called researchers, secret shoppers, or even retail checkers. However, the most common designation is “mystery shopper.” However the most common name of the job opportunity is often called just a plain old "mystery shopper". So anyone that is interested in applying should check for different designations when seeking this type of job.
Activities of a Mystery Shopper
Anyone who works in this field will need to pretend - believably, without giving away the fact that they are a mystery shopper - to be a customer. While doing this, they gather information that the client company wants to know about, then submit a report with their findings. Assignments can include pretending to look for an apartment, opening a checking account at a bank, joining a gym, or buying an item such as a piano. A job could be almost anything: renting equipment at a local home improvement store, going out to lunch, bringing your car in for repair, grocery shopping, or calling a customer service line to review how staff respond. Increasingly as more services are provided online, assignments may also include evaluating apps, websites, or virtual chat support. Some jobs even allow you to work from home. While doing this, the mystery shopper will make observations and gather information that the client company wants to know about, and then the shopper will need to submit a report with their objective findings. Just about any type of business - large or small - can use mystery shoppers. Major retailers like Target, McDonald’s, and Walmart hire them, as do smaller independent businesses. The types of establishments and shops you visit or work with can be as varied as you like.
Earnings per assignment
If you work as a mystery shopper in higher-paying service categories (such as home builders, apartments, car dealers, gyms, or banks), you can usually make $20 - $40 per assignment. A shopper at a dinner restaurant might make $35 - $100 in free food and drinks. Newer video-based mystery shopping employers, which require hidden video equipment, can pay $100 or more. Standard retail jobs usually pay less ($7 - $15), though purchase-and-return shops can reach $25. Fast food restaurants often only cover the cost of your meal plus a small report fee. Pay varies depending on location, urgency, and market demand. Assignments can take as little as 30 minutes - including filling out a report - or up to two hours. Longer jobs tend to pay more. Experienced shoppers who consistently perform well often get priority access to higher-paying assignments. The more responsibilities you are asked to complete as a mystery shopper, of course the more the assignment will pay. So a longer job will pay the employee more money for that job.
Monthly earnings potential
As with any self-employed work, income depends on time and effort. Beginners usually start small while building a reputation. There is no simple “easy” button to press to make a lot of money. Anyone who starts in this field will need to develop relationships with retailers and companies, and start from the bottom. You need to expect your income to fluctuate from month-to-month. With steady work and high performance, monthly earnings can range from $200 for part-timers to $1,000 for serious shoppers. Those who take on specialized or video assignments may make $2,000 - $3,000 per month. Free perks— - uch as meals, merchandise, or event tickets - add to the value. In addition, since you will be visiting many of these establishments, you may also be able to perform merchandising at the same time to increase your income and read more on retail merchandising . Mystery shopping companies Mystery shopping companies connect individuals with assignments. Legitimate ones never charge you to join . There are also similar product testing companies that pay for a combination of shopping/testing and details details on legitimate product testing sites that can also be mostly done from home. Be cautious of scams asking for upfront fees or personal financial information. However it is always recommended that you read the fine print before signing up with anyone, especially if they request your bank account or credit card information. Here are established and current companies that continue to post regular work:
Coyle Hospitality Group
– www.coylehospitality.com
Market Force Information
– Covers industries from retail to entertainment; has the Eyes:On mobile app; pays via direct deposit monthly and website is www.marketforce.com BestMark – Highly reputable, A+ BBB rating, varied sectors including automotive; frequent payment via direct deposit - www.bestmark.com
Secret Shopper
– Long-established, MSPA-accredited; offers digital and onsite evaluations www.secretshopper.com IntelliShop – Operates across 18,000+ cities globally including most mid to large US cities; payments via PayPal about 30 days after month’s end www.intelli-shop.com
Sinclair Customer Metrics
– They have been operating since 1987, offers in‑person, telephone, and hidden‑camera video shops; pays by check; A+ BBB rating with information here www.sinclaircustomermetrics.com
Intouch Insight
– Quick gigs in stores, restaurants, gyms; pay via PayPal on the 15th and month-end; established 25+ years and details are here www.intouchinsight.com
Perception Strategies
(healthcare focus) – Specializes in phone-based healthcare mystery calls, which is a great for work‑from‑home flexibility www.perceptionstrategies.com
Field Agent
(mobile app-based shops) – Mobile app-based platform, pays $2–$12 per mystery shopping task (price checks, audits, mystery shops), serves U.S., Canada, UK, and more with the US info here www.fieldagent.net Other platforms like Observa and GigSpot offer smartphone app assignments, often quick jobs that pay $5–$15.
Mystery Shoppers on Reddit
also often mention Customer Impact, RBG, IntouchInsight, and Bare International as reliable companies with steady work with more mystery shopping info on Reddit here ( https://www.reddit.com/r/mysteryshopping/comments/1hhkoca/what_are_the_best_mystery_shopping_platforms/ ), as the more feedback from a community the better.
- number of companies listed above
can help people enter this field, and there are also smartphone apps too. Some of the Mystery Shopping sites and companies that we have heard about are above. Each has their own application process. Or find detailed reviews of free legitimate mystery shopping companies .
How to apply for a mystery shopping opportunity - Step-by-Step
Choose 2 - 3 companies from the above list that fit your location and preferences. Check company ratings (BBB, online reviews, MSPA membership). Visit their official websites and sign up - never pay to join. Legitimate firms don’t charge to join Complete any required training, certification, or background checks required for the mystery shopping job. Beware of offers asking to impersonate vulnerabilities - such as a company suggesting pretending to be blind or deaf - those are unethical and criticized by advocacy groups Download necessary apps (for example, Eyes:On or Field Agent). Log in regularly to browse available assignments in your area. Read instructions carefully, keep receipts or notes, submit on time. Track payments and repeat high‑quality work for more opportunities. As with any “non-traditional” job or side hustle, always do research first before signing up for a job or company . It is similar to apply for a full time job opportunity - be prepared, ask questions, know the employer - whether you are working as a mystery shopper or in any career. For guidance and dispute resolution, check the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) (website https://www.mspa-americas.org/ ).