A secret shopper is someone who signs up with mystery shopper provider companies to visit businesses and report back to the provider company about his or her observations while doing a "mystery shop." A secret shopper does this secretly (of course!) so that the people working at the business don't know they are being evaluated.

For instance, you could sign up with a company that sends secret shoppers to fast food restaurants and shoe stores. Once your registration is accepted by that company, you can go to its website or sign up to get its emails to check for available secret shopping assignments that are in your area. When you see one you would like to do, you follow the instructions of the company to sign up for that assignment.

Then you print out the guidelines for the assignment and the questions you will be answering. You study these before going on the assignment so that you know what you are doing when you get there. Once you are there, you observe everything needed to answer those questions. You do not carry your guidelines or questions into the business unless they are hidden in a pocket or purse! You don't want to give away the fact that you are a secret shopper. If you need to check on them during the visit, use the restroom and privately take a look at your guidelines again while you are in there.

Once you leave, you record your answers to the questions - normally on an online form that the provider company has for you to fill out. You will also need to fax or scan and email your receipt to the company. Give complete, thorough answers. The more specific information you give, the better. If you complete the assignment correctly, you will be paid a fee and/or be reimbursed for the cost of your purchase.

Some secret shoppers only work occasionally, while others register with enough companies that they work several assignments per week. It is their choice because they are not employees of the provider companies. Instead they are independent contractors.

As an independent contractor you must keep good records of your expenses, such as mileage, receipts, and reimbursements. You can plan your mystery shopping trips around times when you need to go out to do errands and then be able to write off mileage expenses that would not have been tax deductible if they were not connected with business travel.

The convenience of being able to pick and choose which jobs you want and when you want to work is one of the big benefits of being a secret shopper. This type of work is ideal for busy moms, students, and retirees who want to work flexible schedules.

Karen S. Roberts provides more informative articles on secret shopping at her website: http://become-a-secret-shopper.com.