Make Money with Mystery Shopping

Wouldn't it be great if someone paid you to go shopping? Well, it's possible!

Unlike other work-at-home schemes, mystery shopping is a legitimate business opportunity for anyone with a few basic skills. Mystery shopping involves going "undercover" and reporting on your experience. You'll act like a normal customer and shop at various businesses, including restaurants, banks, retail stores and hotels. After you complete your shopping experience, you'll be required to fill out a form that reports on the service you received, the physical condition of the store building, or the goods you purchased. Businesses pay for these services so they get objective assessments from customers, allowing them to see the areas in which they excel and the places where they need improvement.

To get started, you'll need:

A computer. Almost all mystery shopping companies handle their paperwork via Internet forms and online communication. You'll need a computer, Internet access and an email address to receive, accept and complete mystery shopping assignments.

Observational skills. You'll need to observe things like the condition of the restrooms, the number of customers in the store or the overall appearance of the shop. You may also need to keep track of the time or count the minutes it takes for a salesclerk to offer assistance.

Writing skills. Basic writing skills are necessary to complete the mystery shopping evaluation forms. In some cases you'll be able to choose multiple choice answers, but most mystery shopping jobs require you to write an essay about your experience.

How much does it pay? That varies, but might include:

A flat rate. No matter how long it takes you to complete your mystery shop and fill out the evaluation form, you'll receive a flat rate for your time. Rates vary depending on the type of business you're evaluating, the complexity of the job and the company for which you work. Pay can be as a low as $2 and as high as $100 per job.