Author: Alice Seba
December 2002

A Mystery Shopper is someone who goes to a restaurant, store, hairdresser, grocery store, amusement park or any other businesses and poses as a customer. For example: in a restaurant, the mystery shopper would sit down, order a meal, pay the bill and leave, just like any customer. The purpose of this visit is to evaluate the overall customer service (actual service, knowledge of staff, cleanliness, etc.) that is being offered in the establishment. The Mystery Shopper writes a report and rates the customer service based on a pre-established set of criteria. Then the report is turned into the business to use for training, employee rewards or any number of uses.

This is a business you can do with your family. You can bring the kids, your spouse or all of them. The experience is meant to be as authentic as possible and what's more authentic than a family of shoppers are restaurant customers? However, keep in mind, you are there to work and observe. Your children or your spouse should not distract you from that.

There aren't a lot of business specific supplies you will need. Make sure to have the basics: business cards, contracts and professional attire to meet with potential clients.

Negotiation and Verbal Communication skills - you need these to seal deals with clients.

Objectivity - you need to be able to provide an objective report on your shopping experiences - WHAT happened - not necessarily your opinion.

Customer Service Skills - clearly you need to have customer service skills to establish relationships with clients and potential mystery shoppers, but you also need a solid understanding of customer service so that you can evaluate the service offered by others.

Observation & Memory - You need to notice all the little things and you can't take notes. You will have to remember all the small details and record them later.

The amount you make will depend on who is your client. Some companies only reimburse for expenses, some companies only pay a set amount for expenses (regardless of what you paid) and some do pay an hourly fee of $10-20 for your evaluation in addition to your expenses. You need to decide what you are willing to work for and choose your clients that way. As you gain more clients and references, you will be able to be more choosy in your assignments.

When approaching smaller companies emphasize that you are a small enterprise as well. Many small companies cannot afford to pay the large Mystery Shopping company rates and might be interested in using your services if they are affordable.

Save your money. Avoid paying for a list of potential clients. The companies or individuals selling these lists are making money by doing so and will sell the list to as many people as they can. That creates a lot of competition.

Only take jobs that fit your schedule. Don't leave your client hanging. This will help establish your solid reputation.

Check out the competition. You can do this on the Internet. Check out the big companies and the little ones. What services do they provide? What do they charge?

Make a professional-looking brochure that outlines the benefits of your shopping program, etc. You don't need to spend a lot of money. If you're going to print your own brochures, avoid color ink unless you have a high quality laser printer. If you have an inkjet or other similar printer, you're best bet is black ink on subtly colored paper.

Although most of your clients will be local and much of your business will be run offline, don't forget the importance of an Internet presence. Your web page is your "office". It's where your clients and potential clients can go to see you and what you do. If you plan to expand your business and offer the mystery shopping opportunity to others, a website is essential. It is a way to attract potential clients and mystery shoppers nationwide. Expanding your business in this way is what will ensure you the greatest success to your home based enterprise.

1. Include your website on all your promotional materials (i.e. business cards, brochures, etc.). It is a place where your current and potential clients can read about the services you offer, your rates and helps establish you as a legitimate business.

2. Join some home based business discussion groups. These are a perfect way to network and find potential mystery shoppers that would like to work for you. Try Yahoo Groups for some good groups or start your own.

3. Form partnerships with other sites that compliment your business. This can include everything from a simple link exchange or why not go a step further and really promote one another's businesses on each other's sites? Offer to incorporate their business information right into your website. Give them a page or two about their business, with links back to their site and have them do the same.

Recently, we wrote an article on starting your own Personal Shopping Business. This could be a perfect compliment to a Mystery Shopping Business. Both business ideas have you shopping on the behalf of clients. Visit Personal Shopper to find out more about starting your own Personal Shopping Business.

Mystery Shopping Provider's Association ~ world wide organization of Mystery Shoppers

Message Boards and Useful Tools

Free list of companies to apply to (Canada & US)
Mom-Mom ~ This is a listing of Mystery Shopping Companies. Applying to these mean you will work for someone else.

If you are serious about starting your own mystery shopping business, we recommend you purchase
MyMommyBiz's Start Your Own Mystery Shopping Business.
This comprehensive guide will save you a lot of time in additional research and includes everything from: why start a mystery shopping business, getting set up, supplies, finding clients, being discreet, what kind of services you can offer, who pays for what, contracts with business, hiring other mystery shoppers and more.

Shop4Pay
Learn from the experience of a women who has been a mystery shopper for 7 years.

MoneyandShopping.com makes it easy for you to get started as a secret shopper, because you will know where to look for the most interesting jobs and exactly what to do. In fact, you could get your very first assignment today if you follow the step-by-step information you will get as a member of MoneyandShopping.com.

Books you may be interested in purchasing

The Mystery Shopper's Manual (5th Edition)

How to Have Fun and Make Money in Mystery Shopping: A How-To Workbook with Leads to Get Started Right Away!

Start your own Mystery Shopping Business
This unique mystery shopping eBook contains all the information you need to start your very own mystery shopping business right in your hometown. This eBook contains:

What Is Mystery Shopping?

Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Start

How to Find Mystery Shopping Jobs

Links To Mystery Shopping Jobs

Read Stories From Other Women Who Mystery Shop

How to Become a Mystery Shopper

ECLASSES

Make Money Mystery Shopping
Learn the tricks to finding not only your first job, but the best jobs out there. You will discover how to become an independent contractor for mystery shopping firms by doing secret shopping, merchandising, product demonstrations, grand openings and scheduling shoppers.

In this four-week course, you'll also learn how to find shopping firms, where the jobs are listed, even how to start your own mystery shopping firm. You'll learn other ways to supplement your income that are flexible and fun, as well as discovering the places where professional shoppers grab their job leads. You'll be able to play your vacation around hotel, amusement park, restaurant and retail store shops.

WORKSHOP

Mystery Shop ‘Til You Drop!
Instructor: Sandra Miller-Louden

Sandra shares tips, secrets and hard facts about the world of mystery shopping. She'll steer you away from frequent misconceptions as well and give you the inside track on which jobs to take and which to avoid...which companies to work for and which to pass on! Mystery shopping is perfect for college students, seniors, stay-at-home parents or as a way to earn added income to an existing job. Whether you live in a big city or a rural wonderland, there are always mystery shopping jobs available.

BOOKS

Get Paid to Shop: Opportunities in Mystery Shopping

Mystery Shopping: Get Paid to Shop

Career Knowtes: Mystery Shopping, Second Edition (How to Have Fun and Make Money in a Career You Love Series)

How to Have Fun and Make Money in Mystery Shopping: A How-To Workbook with Leads to Get Started Right Away!

Mystery Shopper's Manual, 6th Edition

Mystery Shopping Made Simple

Get Paid to Shop, Eat & More!

Surprising Secrets of Mystery Shoppers

How to Start and Run Your Own Mystery Shopping Company

WEBSITES

My Mommy Biz
Links to 200 companies, a message board and articles on mystery shopping.

EMAIL GROUPS

Mystery Shopper

Mystery Shopper Resource

Secret Shopper

Shopper Match

Mystery Shopper Services