How much will mystery shopping pay?

There are many myths and impressions people have about the pay received from doing mystery shopping. We hope this blog entry will help clear up all your questions.

Here are 9 Frequently Asked Questions regarding how much mystery shoppers get paid. We hope this article helps you find the answers you were looking for.

Will mystery shopping make me rich quick?
No. Don’t believe the ads that say you will.

What is the hourly rate?
Mystery shoppers are generally not paid on an hourly basis. They are paid for every job they successfully complete and submit.

Will I be guaranteed work? 
No. There are many factors that that impact the amount of work you get. Some of these include: There are no jobs in your area, too many shoppers applying for the job, your profile does not suit the client’s needs, you have recently visited this location etc.

Am I an employee or a contractor? 
Most mystery shopping companies will hire you as a contractor.

If I am a contractor, will I need an ABN to become a mystery shopper? 
The short answer is no. However, it is best to consult your tax accountant or contact the ATO to discuss your circumstances.

How am I paid for my work? 
Not all jobs pay. Some offer reimbursements and others offer a hybrid of the two options. Most companies pay you in the following month from the time you completed your job. Some jobs transfer money into your bank accounts, others prefer to pay you through PayPal.

How much am I expected to be paid for every job I complete? 
The amount of pay and reimbursements vary depending on the nature of the job and how involved it is. It also depends on the mystery shopping company.

If I need to purchase something during my mystery shop will I be reimbursed for it? 
This depends on the job. The instructions will advise you whether or not you will be reimbursed for the purchase or not.

Will I make thousands of dollars every month by mystery shopping? 
It is possible but very unlikely. You will need to be signed up to many companies and be willing to travel some distances for some of the jobs. You will need to be extremely organised to keep track of all the jobs that are assigned to you. 

Mystery shopping for some is a hobby for some extra side money and to be able to visit and experience new venues. For others, mystery shopping is how they make a living. We just want to share some facts with you regarding payment before you sign up to a company. 

How do you start mystery shopping?

There are many Australian mystery shopping companies that you can apply to including Mystery Customer. To find out what other companies are available, do a Google search for "mystery shopping companies."

Most companies will ask you to create your shopper profile before anything happens. This is where you provide your details about your name, address, age, gender etc. Once you have set up your shopper account you will be emailed a confirmation email so that you have full access to your account.

Some companies (including Mystery Customer) will then generally ask you to complete several certifications before you can start applying for their jobs. Questions often relate to what you should and shouldn't do as a mystery shopper, how the mystery shopping system works and what the company expects from you.

After successfully passing all required certifications you will then be eligible to apply for the company's jobs once they become available.

Remember, first impressions count. When you receive your first mystery shopping assignment do the best possible job so the company knows they can rely on you. Most companies will have a rating system in place and they will rate your performance after every job you submit through to them. Future assignments will be dependent on how well you complete your first assignment.

Next Topic: How to select a mystery shopping company to work for?