For most mystery shoppers, mystery shopping is a part-time job. It may be a second job to supplement income, or a job that can be done conveniently around retirement, going to college, taking care of kids, and any number of other things. For a handful of mystery shoppers, mystery shopping is a full-time job, where full-time hours are devoted to the job every week. If you are considering making the leap to becoming a full-time mystery shopper, here’s what you need to know.
How Much Money Do You Want (And Need) To Earn? Everyone has a bottom line number they are shooting for each month. Whether you are looking to earn a few hundred dollars , a thousand dollars, or more each month, this is an important figure to know.
Is There Enough Work? For many mystery shoppers, there simply may not be enough assignments to complete nearby. Take a good, hard look at the number of assignments available on a regular basis from your providers. Figure how many assignments you would need to complete on an average day to make your income goal. Is the amount of work required to make your income goal realistic for your own schedule? And is the amount of work required available in your area? And while the assignments may be there, consider the amount of competition you face in requesting and getting those assignments. Consider how many assignments you can realistically get your hands on and also have time to complete in a day, a week, and a month. As a full-time mystery shopper, you can expect to have a few travel days where you make a short road trip to complete out of town assignments from time to time. However, if you consistently will need to travel 30, 50, or more miles on a daily or almost daily basis, this may not be financial worthwhile to you.
If you live in a fairly well-populated area, you may be able to find additional assignments by signing up with more mystery shopping providers.
Do You Have What It Takes? Provided the assignments are available in your area, your income potential as a mystery shopper will be limited by how much time and effort you put into the job. Do you have the diligence to keep your nose to the grindstone and work to meet your minimum income requirement each and every month? Do you have the commitment to the job to work every day even when you don’t have a manager or supervisor hovering over your shoulder? If not, you may find yourself in some financial hot water.
Most mystery shoppers can handle mystery shopping as a part-time job. However, when you take the extra step to making mystery shopping a full-time job, you take on added time commitments and responsibilities. You also may be more dependent on mystery shopping income than part-time mystery shoppers are. So before you take the plunge into becoming a full-time mystery shopper, do some homework and make sure it is the right decision for you.
I lost my job eleven months ago. I have done mystery shopping on a full-time basis since then. I live about forty-five miles from Chicago on the Indiana side so I apply for shops from both states.
Although I have steady regular work it still isn’t enough to cover my living expenses. (I live the simplest life style you can imagine.) By time I get home and write the reports and look for more jobs I am making less than minimum wage.
I also do audits and merchandising. For these jobs I have traveled over one-hundred miles round trip (so I pick up a shop on these trips as well.)
I am reliable for the most part so I am always getting new clients but it still isn’t enough. I am looking for a more conventional job at this time. Perhaps working a more conventional job and picking up shops will be financially better for me.
Wow, this was a very valuable article. Mystery Maven speaks the truth. Please hear what is being said. Part-time is the way to go. If at that point you feel you want to go full-time please do (I doubt you will at this point, economy and all, you wont get the “required” assignments every month as necessary.) I too am unemployed and live in NC, there are enough assignments to keep me busy, but not enough high payers to make this a full-time proposition, not to mention the competition. This is a great part-time position. Full-time needs a lot more thought,effort,dedication that most are able/unwilling to provide.
I have been trying to turn mystery shopping and merchandising into a full time job since I started over three years ago. One thing Maven didn’t stress was the cost of doing the work. In mystery shopping you will invariably have a required purchase to make. Even if you get reimbursed the payment is so far into the future that you have your money tied up for awhile. This is not to mention the cost of gas and wear and tear on your car.
I need full time work! does anyone know of the high paying jobs I am in NJ. thanks
I need full time work! does anyone know of the high paying jobs I am in NJ. thanks.
Since I do not live in a metropolis, the shops available are not many or high paying. My experience so far is that Mystery Shopping is good to fill the corners. There are associated operating costs to consider. Presently, I would not choose to to do this work full time, however I may in the future if my personal circumstances were to change. It is simply not practical right now. My mainstay is personal care work, supplemented by merchandising and mystery shopping.