| Starting a mystery shopping business can be fun | | | | hand, you can open your bank account. The rest |
| and have lots of rewards. It costs very little to | | | | of the start up procedures are common to any |
| start and run, and can be operated out of the | | | | company start up; phone, office, etc. |
| home as a small business, or it has the potential | | | | 4. Get your processes set up. |
| to become as large as you'd like. | | | | - For a mystery shopping business, first decide if |
| Below is a simple overview of the beginning steps, | | | | you want to use a simple database to keep track |
| and will give you a general idea of how to | | | | of your shoppers, or decide if you want to use |
| proceed: | | | | one of the handful of automation services that |
| 1. It's best to first become a mystery shopper | | | | exist for this industry. |
| yourself. That will give you experience and | | | | - Find out which source you will use to find your |
| knowledge in the field. When applying for mystery | | | | shoppers. Do a search for "mystery shopper job |
| shopping jobs online, you will often first see an | | | | boards" to find the latest/greatest ways to |
| independent contractor agreement. Just make | | | | advertise for shoppers. |
| sure there is no "non compete" clause in the | | | | - Develop some industry specific questionnaires |
| agreement. That clause would mean you are | | | | (example, restaurants, retail, etc.) |
| signing an agreement NOT to open your own | | | | 5. Get clients. |
| company. | | | | - Start by doing free reports for 3 companies. In |
| 2. Be aware there are laws in some states that | | | | exchange, ask for their testimonial on how great |
| prohibit certain mystery shopping activities. In | | | | your service is and how the reports have helped |
| Nevada, you would have to have a Private | | | | them. You can then use the 3 testimonials to |
| Investigator's license to operate a mystery | | | | entice real money paying clients. |
| shopping company. In other states, you would | | | | - Get out there and promote yourself. There are |
| have to stick to mystery shopping strictly for | | | | quite a lot of specific ways to do this. A couple of |
| customer perception, rather than spotting for | | | | those ways would be networking groups in your |
| theft, as the latter requires a PI license in many | | | | area, business groups, etc. |
| states. | | | | While there is no way to provide all the details on |
| 3. You are now ready to start your company. | | | | how to start a mystery shopping business in one |
| First get a DBA (Doing Business As) from your | | | | short article, I hope this has given you somewhat |
| county office (United States), then with that in | | | | of an overview. |