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Make $50 – $150 an Hour Participating in Focus Groups

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Make $50 - $150 an Hour Participating in Focus GroupsBy Holly Reisem Hanna

I remember the first time I got called to participate in a focus group. I was a sophomore in college and money was tight. It was for a radio station that had gathered my name from a sweepstake that I had previously entered. The 2-hour segment required me to sit a room and listen to snippets of music and rate each song on a scale of 1 to 10. After the session was over, I was handed an envelope with $100 in cash — not bad for a couple of hours of easy listening.

Over the years, I’ve participated in many different focus groups where I have earned cash and/or gift cards. Interestingly, I never sought out any of these opportunities, they came along because I had either tried out a free class, used the product, purchased a membership, or entered into a giveaway.

However, if you’re looking to make some extra cash by participating in focus groups — there are lots of places to get connected. Best of all, these opportunities pay well. Usually between $50 – $150 for an hour or two with some gigs paying as much as $200, $300, and even $400 for a couple of hours of your time.

Often you’ll get free products to sample too; a nice little perk!

For short online and telephonic surveys expect to earn between $5 – $20 for 15 – 20 minutes.

Are you ready to cash in with focus groups?! Here are 15 places to get started:

1. Respondent

Respondent is an online platform that offers a wide range of focus group studies. Just create an account and browse the various projects that are going on. Some focus groups are in-person, while others can be done remotely. A couple of studies that were going on when I searched the platform were:

1) Share your digital banking experiences – $45 for 30 minutes

2) Men's fashion website testing – $50 for 60 minutes

According to Respondent's website, the average hourly pay is $140 per hour, and payments are made via PayPal. You can also earn money by referring friends and family to the platform. If one of your referrals completes a study, you'll receive $20!

2. 20|20 Panel

20/20 conducts in-person research studies in Nashville, TN, Miami, FL, and Charlotte, NC, as well as online research studies. 20|20 Panel was founded in 1986 and has been seen in The Wall Street Journal. A few of the companies they’ve done research for are Kraft, P&G, Frito-Lay, Disney, and Dell. Studies pay between $50 – $150 or more. Apply online for opportunities.

3. Adler Weiner Research

Adler Weiner Research accepts consumers and healthcare professionals in Chicago and Los Angeles. Adler Weiner Research has been in business since 1960 and conducts market research via focus groups, in-depth interviews, in-home visits, and shop along visits. To apply, fill out their online questionnaire, and when opportunities arise, you’ll be contacted via email. Adler Weiner Research has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

4. Alibaba

Alibaba conducts different types of user studies including surveys, interviews, and usability studies. Participants will receive monetary compensation, coupons, or gift cards for their participation.

5. Consumer Opinion Services

Consumer Opinion Services does market research in Portland, Seattle, and Las Vegas, as well as the occasional online study. To apply, click on the link to the city where you’re located and fill out the online application. If you qualify for participation, you’ll be called via phone for additional screening. Consumer Opinion Services has been in business since 1960 and has worked with companies like HP, Grove Insight, and Auto Focus Research.

6. Fieldwork 

Conducts focus groups in 16 major cities across the US (you can see a full list on their website), but also sets up temporary locations for their clients as needed. To be considered fill out the online application and when you meet criteria for a study, you’ll be called or emailed. Compensation ranges from $50 – $100. Fieldwork has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

7. Find Focus Groups 

Find Focus Groups is an online platform that lists nationwide focus groups. Here you can browse by location, see what topic the focus group pertains to, even view how much each study pays. Besides focus groups, they also offer online surveys, and you’ll receive $5 just for joining. Find Focus Groups has been featured on Forbes, CNN, and the Today Show.

8. Focus Group.com 

Focus Group.com conducts market research via 12 different marketing methods including online surveys and focus groups, shop alongs, in-person focus groups, home-based interviews, small discussion groups, and more. To participate fill out the online application and respond to surveys and attend focus groups you’re invited to. In-person focus groups pay between $75 – $150 for your time. A few specialty areas they cover are moms, healthcare professionals, and business owners.

9. Google User Experience Research

Google conducts consumer research on many of their online products and services. The 4 types of research they conduct are: on-location, online, in-home, and online sampling studies. Participation in a study session will entitle you to a “token of appreciation” such a gift card or donation to a charity.

10. Indy Focus

Indy Focus conducts consumer and healthcare research in Indianapolis, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, and Phoenix. Compensation is provided for participation.

Make $50 - $150 an Hour Participating in Focus Groups

11. Inspired Opinions

Inspired Opinions offers consumer research gigs (online surveys, telephone surveys, and in-person focus groups) in the US, UK, France, and Germany. For each survey or study completed, you’ll earn points (100 points = $1). Points can be redeemed for gift cards once you’ve accumulated 1,000 points. Inspired Opinions has a B+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

12. MindSwarms

MindSwarms is a third party platform where you share your opinion via video on your webcam, smartphone, or tablet. To be considered for the opportunity, fill out the online application, and answer questions via video for studies you’ve been invited to participate in. Participants are paid $50 for each study the complete; payments are made via PayPal.

13. Nichols Research

Nichols Research conducts consumer research in the San Francisco area. To apply, sign up online and wait for opportunities to be sent to you. Nichols opportunities include focus groups, video game testers, surveys, usability labs, mock juries, and car clinics. Participants receive a gift or an honorarium for their time and participation. Nichols Research has an A+ rating with the BBB.

14. Plaza Research

Plaza Research offers focal groups (in 14 major cities) which include telephone interviews, in-home interviews, and online surveys for payment. Plaza Research has been in business since 1982 and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

15. Probe Market Research

Probe Market Research offers a wide range of opportunities, such as focus groups, online surveys, mystery shopping gigs, mock juries, product trials, and much more. Focus groups pay between $50 and $400. Probe Market Research has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Please note, while all companies are believed to be legit, I have not personally used these sites for finding focus groups. As is always the case, you need to do your due diligence (research the opportunity extensively) before applying.

Have you participated in focus groups for cash? If so, we'd love to hear how you found the gig and how much you were paid.

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Originally published September 3, 2015. Content updated January 9, 2018.

This page includes affiliate links. Please be aware we only promote advertising from companies that we feel we can legitimately recommend to our readers. Please see our disclosure policy for further information.

Comments

  4. Hi Holly,

    I am looking for opportunities in London England, do they have the same sort of companies here? if so who are they please?

    Reply

  6. Great list of websites. I have been doing surveys online for over 8 years and was amazed to find a few companies I have never heard of yet. I thought I had heard them all. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

  7. Great list, Holly! I actually signed up for 20/20 Panel a few years ago and got a lot of survey offers from them. It’s a good company and they even offer online surveys as well. This was a good start for me when I first came home.

    Reply

  8. Hi Holly
    I live in Darien, CT and this concept is fascinating to me. I graduated with a Business School degree from Boston College with a double major in marketing and psychology. I am very worried about scams. What do you suggest I do next? I can travel to nearby focus groups and I am skilled online as well.
    Thanks!
    Sally

    Reply

    • Hi Sally,

      I would check out the companies above on the Better Business Bureau, Glassdoor.com, and via Google to see what their reviews and ratings are like. Once you feel comfortable that they are legit, fill out the application and wait for studies to come in. If there is ever an application request that makes you feel uneasy, don’t fill it out — always trust your gut.

      I signed up with Respondent, and they send me a ton of good-paying surveys and focus group opportunities. I haven’t tried one out yet — but I should just to see how quickly they pay and what not.

      If you’re still feeling uneasy about scams, check out this post for helpful tips on avoiding them: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/scam-prevention/

      Good luck and keep us posted!

      Reply

  12. Looking to join focus groups in my area. I live in Bonita Springs/Estero Florida location. Can you help me find the right direction? Love your site as well.

    Reply

  13. Holly-

    Thanks-add AOC research to your lot-I always do these in Charlotte NC. (They may have other locations) I did a ton of local focus groups in Chicago until we moved. It is nice to have a reliable source in a smaller city.

    Reply

  14. I paid into a company for Mystery Shopping leads, how to’s, etc, from an ad on your site back in October and I can’t find the link anymore. Can you help me with this?

    Reply

  16. I would love to participate in research studies to make extra money I have an IQ of 148,149,148 taking test back to back since than I have figured out a way for cancer even forming in ones own body and the reasoning behind skin cancer dabbled in how aids comes about and how to stop ahalstimers and so much more I love studying disease it’s all natural to me as in my genius and the way my brain operates it’s easy for me to mentally manipulate circumstances as well as patterns ud be surprised what I could bring to the table and as a bonus I’d be making money I highly driven and ready to take it all in beyond reasoning please reply

    Reply

  17. Hi i am looking for oppertunity in india. please suggest market research projects and oppertunity for india….

    Reply

  19. Im a Market Research Recruiter with Focus Quota and we’re seeking respondents for participation in our upcoming Opinion Study regarding Fast Food Purchases.

    If selected, you will receive a Visa Gift Card in the amount of $250.00 if kept for the entire day. If the client releases you early (usually within 2 hours), you will receive a Visa Gift Card in the amount of ​$100.00.

    Please complete the questionnaire via the link below and if qualified, we will contact you within 72 business hours with follow-up questions, if needed.

    If interested complete the questionnaire via the link below
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuJECKvdG3ETh_hMnrIc5KZpWBj7fiS5I7hjmWCcvCqRxbCw/viewform?c=0&w=1

    Then send over
    Name:
    Age:
    3 of your favorite fast food establishments:

    Reply

  20. I really like the FocusGroup.com site. Very easy to use, just signed up. They have all kinds of opportunities and it looks like they pay quite well for their surveys/trials/research studies.
    Thanks!

    Reply

  21. I used to work for a marketing research company. Focus groups usually pay decent money. Check into any local offices in your area as well. They do them in person also. Just call them and ask to be added to their list.

    Reply

  22. Be careful! Many of these sites that claim that they will “pay” for your opinion ask you a series of personally identifying information, very detailed, including actual birthdates, on webpages that are totally unsecured. If you use such a site, make sure it has SSL technology, with the little padlock in the address. I suspect mostly these sites are simply getting “FREE” market research done by collecting consumers’ information.

    Reply

    • Yes, you should always look for secure sites. I don’t think they’re getting info for “free”. Most companies have very specific questions regarding their products and services, and these sorts of questions are not asked in the first set of questions. The initial questions asked are to determine if the individual is the correct demographic and market.

      Reply

  23. I love your post a huge fan for about a year know my fav is crowdtap. I wish to one day have a blog like yours. You have helped me make tons of money, I love this post and any of the easy money ones could you do a post on the best free samples sites.

    Reply

  24. Hey Holly,

    Thanks for sharing this. I came across this (as I was seeing it on Triberr) and thought of dropping by to check it out. And “wow”!

    You really do your research, huh? Good job and excellent post indeed.

    *PS The title is really attractive. Thanks for that!

    Reply

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