Shopper Question of the Week: “Can I Be a Full-time Mystery Shopper?”

November 05, 2009

All our mystery shoppers are independent contractors (freelancers), which is an industry standard, so every shopper decides how many projects (and which type of projects) they’re interested in pursuing and accepting.  Just like any other company owner, YOU decide how many hours you want to invest in your business.

Keep in mind, however, that just because you’re seeking as many projects as possible doesn’t mean that there will be as many projects available as you want on a regular basis.

When you register as a shopper with a Mystery Shopping Provider (MSP), the following issues may impact the number of projects available to you:

o Does that particular MSP have clients in your geographic area?
o How often does a client in your area want mystery shops conducted?
o Does that client prohibit using the same shopper more than once to prevent detection (client required rotation)?

You can potentially boost the number of projects available to you by registering with several (or more) different MSPs. When selecting companies to contract with, we highly recommend that you start with companies that are members of the MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association).

Please keep in mind that scammers may assume the identity of reputable companies, so be cautious when registering. Remember that you shouldn’t have to pay to become a mystery shopper, so if a company asks for money to register, it’s cause for concern. In addition, beware of any companies that offer you projects involving money transfers – these are common scams.

When you decide to freelance as a mystery shopper, it can take time to build your business. As you begin to successfully complete projects for companies, you’ll earn a reputation as a reliable resource and you’ll be more likely to receive offers for projects. Good luck with your business!