This is what mystery shopping–a job you can do from home— is about, and again, it’s not a scam. I was paid to visit banks ($25 for 10 minutes of work. I would do 4 or 5 of these shops in a day), restaurants, pet stores, card stores, grocery stores, music stores, and airports. I was paid $10 per shop to complete 15 shops at the Philadelphia airport, totaling $150 for 1.5 hours of work, plus the time it took me to fill out the short reports.

I also shopped department stores, specialty shops, home improvement outlets, and more. I even brought my kids on some of my assignments (I could leave them with my husband at home if I did the shopping on weekends). This is the perfect work-at-home job for stay-at-home moms and dads to make a little cash (or maybe a lot of cash, depending on how many shops you want or can do in a day).

Apply as a Shopper to Legitimate Secret Shopping Companies

The best way to get started as a secret shopper is to first understand what legitimate secret shopping entails. Afterward, apply to as many mystery shopping companies as possible to increase your chances of being selected for a shopping assignment.

Best Mystery Shopping Companies that Offer Legit Mystery Shopper Jobs in 2025

The mystery shopping industry in 2025 features several reputable companies that consistently offer reliable assignments, timely payments, and a variety of legit mystery shopper jobs across industries. Here are the top companies to consider:

• BestMark
• Market Force Information
• Sinclair Customer Metrics
• Intouch Insight
• IntelliShop (HS Brands)
• Secret Shopper
• Field Agent
• Pinnacle
• A Closer Look
• Second to None

Keep in mind that there should never be a fee to sign up with an individual mystery shopping company. However, there are some good websites out there that may charge a one-time fee to have access to all of their resources. These types of websites provide valuable information to anyone starting out in the business and are not scams. Again, what you want to look out for are the individual “mystery shopping” companies that charge a fee to sign up with them. A secret shopper website that charges a fee to access their resources, which include a list of hundreds of mystery shopping companies, articles, tips, and more, is OK.

Additionally, be prepared to accept some low-fee jobs initially. Take them and get your feet wet. It’s a great way to become familiar with mystery shopping procedures and learn how to write effective reports. These assignments may be at fast-food shops, as they tend to be lower-paying. However, you will be reimbursed for your meal, gain valuable experience, and you can probably bring the kids!

A great website to check out is http://www.mysteryshop.org/, the official site of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. Here, you can learn more about mystery shopping and legit mystery shopper jobs, search for jobs, and learn how to become a certified shopper (I’m a Silver certified shopper; the next level would be a Gold certified shopper).

Want to read a book that teaches you EVERYTHING you need to know about becoming a mystery shopper? Check out From Desk to Discovery: Making Money as a Mystery Shopper.

If you’re still skeptical, feel free to leave a comment. I don’t mind helping others with this very cool income opportunity!

For more creative ways to earn money at home, check out my Pinterest Board, Earn Money From Home!

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