I would like to know the best companies to sign up for as a newbie. I plan on researching about this for the rest of this year and actually start doing it at the begining of next year. So if anybody is will to help me I would greatly appreciate it. Please and thank you

Good luck to you. There are varying opinions, but most would agree Market Force is a good one to get started with. Personally, I also think Trendsource, Second to None, and Maritz (I wouldn't start out with their gas station shops), have pretty straightforward reports.

If you get onto the iSecretshop platform, they have several MSCs in my area who have shops and you can complete them in an app, which makes it kind of easier because you can just walk away from the place you just shopped, go somewhere no one can see what you are doing and complete it right then and there. Other platforms have apps as well, but some of them don't work that well or only let you partially do things in the app.

I'm just celebrating my first month of shopping, but I just kind of jumped in like a crazy person so I have done about 30 shops along with having a fulltime job lol. As a newbie, I think cell phone shops for places where you are not a customer are the easiest. There's one on iSecretshop I've done a few times that pays 9 bucks. You just go in and ask what the associate recommends, based on the guidelines. When I did some, it was best smartphones and smartwatches. They don't pay a lot, but it helps get over that nervousness of being incognito, remembering what you are there for and remembering all of your "lines" and such. Read the guidelines carefully, but you typically don't have to give them any information other than maybe a first name. If you can find some near where you live or work it might be worth a try.

As a newbie, one challenge can be doing shops where you have to pay some of your own money for something. You typically don't get paid for a month to two months for most MSCs. Depending on your financial situation, you might want to pace yourself on those at first until pay starts coming in from the shops you've already done. For that reason, you might actually want to pick up a few easy ones in December so you do have a little pay coming in in January.

Trendsource pays the fastest of the ones I have worked for- There are pluses and minuses to Trendsource. They always seem to have jobs available, and I think that's because they don't pay that well. I've done several grocery jobs for them that are pretty tedious and take a lot of time on the report, to the point where you are barely making minimum wage, if that, but you do get paid within a couple of weeks, and everyone needs groceries. I'm a month in and they are the only ones who have paid me so far, although I have some other paydays I am expecting soon.

Good luck

Thank you ma'am. I really appreciate your feedback and answers.

Starting out, I recommend Marketforce. Their guidelines are helpful and straightforward. Payment is timely. Similarly, Stericycle. Not many shops in my area, but a good starter company. Ipsos also has a national presence. I can't speak to the timeliness of their payments. Maritz also has shops nationwide. Bonuses can be good, training is good. Nice folks, but sometimes, they give me heartburn, and suck too much of my time.

Initially, I would proceed with caution on any shop requiring a hefty purchase. Until a comfort level is reached, that outlay of dollars is at risk. Shops which do not require any purchase are also good - and not just starting out. Automotive, banks, cell phones, apartments. . .

Have fun searching and researching!

What about RBG (Reality Based Group)?

I enjoy doing their shops. Guidelines and report are straightforward. Payment terms are met.

Marketforce, Trendsource, Best Mark, GFK. The last 3 pay quickly and that is helpful sometimes. Ath Power Consulting for bank shops and they have higher paying shops if you are willing to open an account or apply for a credit card. Other good starter companies are SeeLevel HX, Sinclair CM, Alta 360, technology store shopper. Ardent is good if you want to do a certain food shop. Many companies add bonuses near the end of the month so watch for that, especially in the last days. Apartment shops are nice because they pay more than some other types at times. I've only done non targeted shops with Ellis for those but wait until you do some other kinds of shops first. The reports for this company are tedious, though not as bad as some people say.

I too use SeeLevel, Sinclair, Alta, iSecretShop and also A Closer Look. I have been happy with all of them!

I started with NSS. It's quick pizza shops. Then I went to A closer Look. They both are straight forward, A Closer Look can be time consuming for newbies depending on the shop. It took me about 3 hours on the first report but I like dining out, NSS not much narrative required. Both are reimbursement for food purchase. Although NSS will bonus when needed. I like the shops that require photos. The narrative is not as long.

I would say Market force, Alta360, Trendsource, Northfork, and RBG (for the thrift store shops -- easy retail and gets you some clothes to use for business casual shops!).

If you haven't done this before, SQM Step Levels are great for training. They take a long time, but you'll learn something. RBG is very easy. Additionally, I would recommend Confero because their shops are interesting, and Mintel because they pay better than most. Everyone will have different experiences. For instance, I only recommend Sinclair to newbies that I think shouldn't be in the industry.

Oh my goodness, North Fork is amazing! Just this past week I went to the wrong location for a shop. They gave me the option to redo it and it was fine! Then just last night I didn't do my shop right and they offered me a reshop. How the client wanted the shop done was complicated and the shop was a bit farther than I'd like but it was bonused. They were so understanding about it and even said there'd be more shops I could do!