Wouldn't it be nice to earn money for shopping? It sounds too good to be true, but I can assure you that there are many legitimate companies who are willing to pay you to do so. I have been working as a mystery shopper for the past year and it is something that I truly enjoy.

There are many websites that claim you can earn $50 per hour but most of them are scams. The pay is extremely minimal and I have never been able to earn that much. The secret is to sign up for as many companies as you can find. Therefore, you will be able to complete multiple shops in one day which will increase your daily income.

Most companies require that you make a purchase for which you are reimbursed. Such purchases are usually below $5 and you even get to keep the things that you buy. Many of the companies I am familiar with deal with fast food locations and you get reimbursed for the food that you buy. Other companies do not require you to make a purchase at all and I would recommend these to anyone who is reluctant to become a secret shopper.

You will be listed as an Independent Contractor and have to sign an agreement. This is mostly for tax purposes because you will need to report this income to the IRS if you earn enough. They will require that you list your social security number on most applications but some only require you to do so once you earn at least $500.00.

Most mystery shopping companies list open shops on the Mystery Shopping Provider Association (MSPA) website located at: http://www.mysteryshop.org/ The MSPA offers certification courses for those interested in becoming certified mystery shoppers. I would not recommend wasting time or money on such certifications because you simply do not need them. I am not certified and have never encountered any difficulties. NEVER PAY TO BECOME A MYSTERY SHOPPER!!!

At http://www.marketforceinfo.com/, you can sign up for Market Force Information, SG Marketing and Certified Marketing Services. All of which are legitimate companies who pay by check or direct deposit.

At http://www.second-to-none.com/, you can sign up for Second to none. Since I live in a small town, this site does not offer many shops in my area. They issue payments via Paypal on a monthly basis.

At http://www.mysteryshops.com/, you can sign up for Corporate Research International. This is my personal favorite and it comes highly recommended. Payments are issued via Paypal within a two week time frame. The available shops are quite easy and often fun!

At http://www.epmsonline.com/, you can sign up for Ellis Partners in Mystery Shopping (EPMS). These shops deal with apartment complexes. Aside from the lengthy paperwork, they are relatively easy to conduct successfully. They usually pay $25.00 per shop and issue checks by mail twice monthly.

At http://www.sentrymarketing.com/, you will find Sentry Marketing. I have yet to complete any shops for this company but am planning to do so in the near future.

At http://www.cybershoppersonline.com/, you can sign up for GfK Mystery Shops who pay a bit more than the others. I have only completed one shop for them in the past year and it paid $25.00 through Paypal. Again, if I lived in a larger city, I would be eligible to conduct more shops for them.

You will have to use a search engine to find out more information on these but you may be interested in:

• Consumer Impressions
• Game Film
• Feedback Plus
• Clear Evaluations

With the current economic crisis in the US today, many of us need all of the extra income we can get! I hope that by reading this you are off to start your new career as a secret shopper. Good luck!

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