Earn a little extra money doing Focus Groups

If you have a little bit of extra time (or could make some!), doing Focus Groups is an excellent way to bring in a little bit of extra money. The range of payment is pretty large depending on the company and time requirement, but typically sessions are worth somewhere between $75-$125, some being more or less. Also, most pay in cash.

I’m going to begin adding companies to this list over time, but let’s start with a few.

Focus Forward is a company I have worked with several time. They have online panels, surveys, and in-person focus groups. The typically send out email invitations to prescreen for focus groups and then call you with more questions if you qualify.

Fieldwork is a company that works out of various cities (including the Chicagoland area, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, East Fort Lee, NJ, Orange County, LA, Minneapolis, Westchester, NY, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Seattle). If you live in or are willing to travel to any of these cities, I would recommend signing up. I have worked with their Fieldwork O’hare facility and they are very accommodating.

Schlesinger Research also works out of many cities. These include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Francisco. I believe I have received phone calls and emails from them. And if you happen to be a medical professional you can also sign up for their medical database. I really like this group (maybe because before one high paid study they “sugared us up” with candy so that we’d pay attention!) and I thank my friend Liz for turning me onto them (Thanks Liz!).

Let me finish with just a few tips:

First, if you live in a large city like I do, make sure you ask about parking. Some facilities have their own parking lot or will validate parking for a parking garage. If they don’t and you will have to pay for parking, consider that expense when you think about accepting the invitation.

Second, be as honest as you can during the screener. You’re never quite sure what they are looking for (until you are!) and you don’t want to talk yourself out of the interview if you could have qualified by being honest. However, everyone will ask if you’ve participated in a market research survey or focus group in the last 6 months. It is obviously your choice how you answer that question, but most places require that you have not to qualify for their current study.

And third, if you are busy during the time of the study, please turn it down. The money is enticing, but if you have to cancel at the last minute because you can’t switch a shift or the like, it makes their job tougher and you’re not making a great name for yourself. Besides, I promise you, there will be more!!