“How do I get a list of companies who are mystery shopped and looking to pay to do so?” — Charles P.
Charles, thank you for your question. Before I answer, I first need to explain how the mystery shopping world works.
Mystery shopping assignments are not usually given out by the business you are shopping. They are usually scheduled by a ‘mystery shopping company.’ A mystery shopping company will run the mystery shopping program for regular businesses. This means that if you want a mystery shopping assignment then you need to find mystery shopping companies, and then apply to be a ’shopper’ with them. Continue reading ‘Mailbag: How do I get a list of companies to mystery shop?’
Please not that I am not a tax professional, so please understand that this in not tax advice, and may not be accurate. I recommend consulting an accountant. Also, TurboTax is very helpful in walking you through filing your taxes.
Do I need to pay taxes on my mystery shopping earnings?
Yes — you are required to report all of the money that you receive as a mystery shopper to the IRS. This means that you report all of your fees AND your reimbursements.
As a mystery shopper, you are considered an ‘independent contractor.’ Which basically means you are running your own business, and the mystery shopping companies are your clients.
That means you will do your taxes as though you were a ’sole proprietor’ of a business. Effectively, you will end up paying taxes on the total profit you earned during the year. This is actually very good news, because it means you are open to a whole new world of deductions that AREN’T otherwise available. (More about deductions) Continue reading ‘Taxes & Mystery Shopping: Questions and Answers’
The allure of “getting paid to shop” draws tens of thousands of people to mystery shopping every month. There are over 1 million mystery shoppers in the United States alone, and many more around the world. To most people, mystery shopping is a mystery that’s hard to pin down.
Many people tell me that mystery shopping is something they would like to try, without understanding what its all about.
If you are going to decide if mystery shopping is something that YOU want to do, then keep reading. Because I’m going to tell you what skills you will need, what benefits you will gain, and just as importantly, what you won’t get from mystery shopping. Continue reading ‘Why People Mystery Shop’
As a mystery shopper there are a few basic things you will need.
Years ago, before the internet, mystery shopping was a much different game. Finding companies, getting assignments, and submitting reports was a completely different process. Nowadays, everything is done online.
That means the first thing you need to get started is internet access. Internet at home is ideal. Libraries are also a good place for internet access.
Once you find a reliable source of internet, I recommend registering an email account dedicated just to mystery shopping. Once you get the ball rolling, you’ll be receiving dozens of job offers every day. Dedicating a separate email account to mystery shopping will make staying organized much easier. I recommend Gmail, Google’s free email service. Continue reading ‘Mystery Shopping Equipment’