Side Hustles Explored: Becoming a Mystery Shopper

Your monthly money doesn’t have to be limited to a set amount. If you often wonder: If only I could make more money or I had a better job that paid me more money, then it might be time for you to establish a side hustle.

I’ve committed to talking about a different profitable side hustle each week for this series. This series aims to share the options out there and provide tips and actionable steps you can take to get started with the side hustle that interests you the most.

Ever since I started side hustling, I’ve been able to take better control over my earnings and avoid letting my income limit or control my actions and my goals.

Today I’m excited to talk about one of my favorite side hustles, mystery shopping. When I first became a mom and wasn’t working much, I started picking up mystery shopping gigs to make some extra money.

So What is a Mystery Shopper Exactly?

A mystery shopper or secret shopper is someone who is hired to do a form of market research by visiting different retail locations or businesses. They observe certain aspects of the company and report their findings and observations after the experience.

When a mystery shopper visits a location to make an observation, no one knows they are there for market research. Mystery shoppers dress in normal casual attire, blend in with other shoppers, and even make purchases and ask for services to help make the experience more authentic.

In other words, mystery shoppers get paid to visit places, purchase goods, and deliver an observation report to the company that hired them after the visit.

The best thing I love about being a mystery shopper is getting paid to visit so many different locations and utilize their products or services. Some shops are fun, like bowling shops or those that require you to visit a restaurant. The shops are quick and easy (most take less than an hour) and pay pretty good money.

As someone who sits at a computer now for 50 hours/week, I’d jump at the opportunity to get paid to visit a store, restaurant, etc.

While the jobs pay decent money for the time you spend, it’s worth mentioning that I don’t think it’s realistic to be able to earn a full-time income or support yourself 100% from the money earned from mystery shopping.

More than anything, it’s a great option to have as a side hustle. And it helps bring in additional income, which is why I figured it was perfect to mention in this series.

If you’re interested in becoming a mystery shopper yourself on the side, here are some important tips and guidelines to follow.

How Much Can You Make as a Mystery Shopper

According to Indeed, many mystery shoppers earn around $22.21 an hour. For many people, they can earn upwards of $4,000 a month, but this is if they treat mystery shopping as a full-time job. It’s also important to note that you’re not usually paid hourly but per project. The hourly rate is an average of how long it takes to complete a project and how much shoppers are paid.

The average monthly earnings are around $1,000 monthly, and many mystery shoppers are paid via gift cards and direct deposit.

Find a Company to Work For

When you’re ready to start mystery shopping, it’s important to sign up with a company. This ensures that you get gigs regularly. Also, before adding any personal information, ensure the company you sign up with is legit.

Generally, you should Google the companies you’re interested in working with. Search for reviews about them and check to see if the Better Business Bureau accredits them.

Here are a few companies that I know are good choices:

www.SecretShopper.com/

www.BestMark.com/

www.MarketForce.com

When you find your ideal company, begin the process of signing up. You’ll want to fill out your profile of interests and receive a Shopper ID with the company. This helps them notify you when shops are available for you to do.

No matter which company you choose to work with, you will most likely become an independent contractor. You will be responsible for paying your own taxes quarterly or at the end of the year for your income because the company will not take out taxes when they issue payments.

Decide How Far You Want to Travel

One of the downsides of mystery shopping is traveling to various locations each time you take on a job. Some jobs may be in your hometown or neighboring towns, or far away from you.

It’s up to you to determine how far you’re willing to travel for a job regarding your time, fuel and mileage, and the amount paid. For example, attending a $35 shop at a restaurant that’s 45 minutes away from you may not be worth it for you in the end.

Some jobs will offer reimbursement for gas, but most won’t. So it’s important to keep your driving at a minimum. Only opt for jobs 20 minutes or less from your home unless the pay will be worth it.

Set Aside a Fund For Shops

It’s important to understand how mystery shopping works. Since you are going to several different locations undercover, the company that hires you can’t give you a company card or anything similar to make your required purchases.

If the shop you sign up for requires you to visit a bowling alley and spend at least $20, you will have to spend your own money initially. Then you get reimbursed for it and/or paid compensation for completing the shop. This may not be how all companies do it, but in my experience, this was the norm.

On the other hand, some shops won’t require you to spend money at all. An example of this situation would be a shop I completed at an auto store. I just asked the employee a few questions and received a no-obligation quote for service. In that case, I was compensated just for visiting the location and didn’t have to make any required purchases.

To be on the safe side, establish an account where you can safely store money to complete your shops. I’d start with setting aside $100. This is reimbursed after you complete your first few shops. But the point of this side hustle is to earn money and not spend your own trying to complete jobs.

Related: What Are Sinking Funds and How to Use Them

Get Organized

Like all jobs, it’s important to be organized to avoid confusion about the tasks you need to complete. Once you sign up with a mystery shopping company, you’ll receive email notifications often about available jobs. You’ll need to bid on the jobs you like, or ask for them or assign them yourself.

When you sign up for jobs, it should be a no-brainer to mark it down in your calendar or set an email reminder. Certain jobs require you to show up at certain times. So you don’t want to mix up the days and times.

Just like a regular job, you’d be penalized if you didn’t show up or give any notice about your absence. To avoid losing out on job opportunities, always make sure you check your schedule. You’ll want to make the necessary preparations for the shop beforehand.

Another aspect of the job that you’ll need to organize is delivering the paperwork. To receive compensation for each shop you complete, you’ll need to answer questions about your experience. This is usually through a brief survey. Then you’ll send it back to the company along with any other materials or receipts they require.

As an independent contractor, you will be responsible for keeping track of all your receipts and sending in paperwork by the deadline.

Earn Money Without All the Hassles

Overall, mystery shopping is easy and, dare I say, a fun way to earn extra money in your spare time. It requires minimal effort and time, pays a reasonable amount, and allows you to set your own schedule and determine how much money you make. Folks, that’s a job with flexibility at its finest.