Would you like to earn money by participating in paid focus groups? This post explains everything you need to know about earning money with market research studies.
I first participated in a focus group during my sophomore year in college. It was for a new radio station. The two-hour segment required me to listen to music snippets and rate each song on a scale of 1 to 10. After the session, I received an envelope with $100 in cash—not bad for a couple of hours of easy listening.
Over the years, I’ve participated in many focus groups and earned cash or gift cards for my efforts.
Interestingly, I didn’t apply for these opportunities; they came along because I had used the product or entered a giveaway.
Make Money Participating in Paid Focus Groups
If you want to make some extra cash by participating in online focus groups, there are many places to apply. Best of all, these opportunities pay well, usually $50-$150 for an hour of your time. And often, you’ll get free products to sample, a nice little perk!
For shorter online and telephone surveys, expect to earn $5-$20 for 15-20 minutes.
Are you ready to cash in on paid focus group opportunities?
Here is a list of places to find consumer research companies.
1. Adler Weiner Research
Adler Weiner Research accepts focus group participants within driving distance from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Orange County. They have been in business since 1960 and conduct market research via focus groups, in-depth interviews, in-home visits, and shop-along visits. To apply, complete their online questionnaire and wait for email invites. Adler Weiner Research has a B- rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
2. Alibaba
Alibaba conducts various user studies, including surveys, interviews, and usability tests. Participants will receive monetary compensation in the form of a check, a coupon, or a gift card for their participation. Alibaba gets a 3.8-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
3. Apex Focus Group
Apex Focus Groups conducts focus groups, clinical trials, and paid survey panels in the US. Studies are done both in-person and online, and participants must have a high school diploma. The average compensation is $35-$75 for a single session and $350-$750 for a multi-session study. Apex Focus Group has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau.
4. Fieldwork
Fieldwork conducts nationwide paid focus groups and in-person studies in Seattle, San Francisco, Orange County, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Fort Lee, and New York City, and sets up temporary locations for their clients as needed. They conduct general consumer product studies, healthcare studies that actively recruit nurses, doctors, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals, and studies for business professionals and patients.
To start, fill out the online application and wait for invitations. Studies are most often conducted in focus groups, but they also offer taste-testing, product trials, phone interviews, mock juror opportunities, and online studies. Compensation ranges from $50 to $100. Fieldwork gets a 3-star rating out of 5 on PaidForSurveys.com.
5. Find Focus Groups
Find Focus Groups is a website dedicated to paid focus group opportunities in the US. On their site, you can browse by location (city and state), see what topics are available, and how much each study pays. Find Focus Groups is not a market research firm but instead a focus group marketplace. According to their website, they vet all the opportunities listed on their site. If you’re curious about this focus group portal, check out the Wealth Pursuits review.
6. FocusGroups.org
FocusGroup.org recruits participants in the US who are at least 18 years old for focus groups, clinical trials, product testing, app and game testing, and online surveys. To get started, create an account with your email address and a password, or you can use your Google account credentials. Once inside the portal, you can browse available studies and apply for ones that you’re interested in. Studies, trials, and testing pay out in cash, and online surveys pay out in points; 100 points equals $1.00.
At the time of writing, they had 169 available studies, and here is a sampling of what they entail and pay:
- Focus Group on Restaurant Choices – $150 for 90 minutes
- Focus Group on Mobile Games – $225 for 2 hours
- Product Test on Kitchen Appliances – $300 for online surveys, March to September
Besides promoting their own studies, they also promote studies from other market research firms on this list. FocusGroups.org receives a 4.4-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
7. Hotjar
Hotjar conducts video research studies for a wide variety of companies. With Hotjar, you’ll earn an average of €30 per interview, with some interviews paying more. However, you will need a computer with a webcam and mic, and Google Chrome to participate in studies. Payments go through the Tremendous rewards platforms, which offer 2,500 different payment options, and participants are accepted worldwide. Hotjar gets a 3-star rating out of 5 on PaidFromSurveys.com.
8. Ipsos iSay
Ipsos recruits individuals to take part in market research through paid online surveys. They accept users from all over the world, and it’s easy to get started. Sign up for a free account, verify your email address and phone number, and answer a few simple profile questions. You can start taking surveys immediately, or you can complete profile questions that will match you with more opportunities. For each survey you take, you’ll earn points that can be traded for digital gift cards to major retailers, cash via PayPal, or a Visa card. 500 points are equivalent to $5 in cash! Ipsos iSay gets a 4.1-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
9. GLG Insights
GLG Insights is a market research firm that conducts studies in a wide variety of professional industries. Research is gathered using phone interviews, in-person research studies, and simple online surveys. With GLG Insights, you set up your profile and hourly rate for participation and wait for invites to studies that match your professional expertise. Once you complete a study, you’ll get paid via direct deposit. GLG Insights gets a 4.3-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
10. Google Usability
Google User Experience Research conducts consumer research on its own online products and services. Studies are conducted online and in-person, and for each study you complete, you’ll receive a small gift, such as a gift card from a major retailer or a Visa or MasterCard debit card. Google User Experience Research gets a 4.1-star rating out of 5 on Glassdoor.com.
11. L&E Research
L&E Research has been conducting market research since 2011. They offer online, phone, and in-person studies in Austin, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Denver, Minneapolis, New York City, Raleigh, San Francisco, St Louis, and Tampa. Many of their studies are for healthcare professionals, but they also have focus groups and opportunities for everyday consumers. The average pay varies with each study, but you’ll be paid in cash, check, or a Visa gift card. L&E Research has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Some open studies with L&E Research right now include:
- Product testing for parents of babies – $65 for 35 minutes (in-person study)
- Online finance study – $250 for 45 minutes
- Pain management study – $75 for 30 minutes (phone interview)
12. MindSwarms
MindSwarms is a market research platform that collects opinions in video format. For these studies, you can use your computer webcam, smartphone, or tablet. To join, fill out the online application and answer questions via video for the studies you’ve qualified to participate in. Participants earn $10- $50 per survey completed; payments are made via PayPal. Mindswarms gets a 4-star rating out of 5 in the Apple App Store.
13. Nelson Recruiting
Launched in 1980, Nelson Recruiting conducts paid focus groups, surveys, phone and web interviews, taste tests, new app testing, and mock juries in the US. First, fill out the online profile and wait for relevant opportunities. After completing the study, the hosting company will pay via cash, check, or Visa gift card. Nelson Recruiting gets a 5-star rating out of 5 on Glassdoor.com.
14. Nichols Research
Nichols Research conducts consumer research via focus groups, surveys, in-person and telephone interviews, product tests, online studies, and more. To apply, sign up online and wait for opportunities via email. Participants receive a gift or an honorarium for their time and participation. Nichols Research has an A+ rating with the BBB.
15. Polis by Emporia Research
With Polis, you can earn prepaid credit or gift cards by participating in online surveys, online interviews, focus groups, and other activities. To get started, you’ll log in with your LinkedIn credentials. Once your account is created, you can opt to sign in to text messages, where you’ll gain access to special offers. Most studies are targeted at small business owners and professionals.
With Polis, you can get alerts about new opportunities via email and text, and you can also browse the available studies in the portal. When you find a study you’re eligible for, you must answer a few questions to ensure you’re the right demographic. Once you complete the study, your reward will be issued 12 days later. To redeem your payment, log in to the portal and head to the payment tab.
I haven’t yet qualified for a study with Polis, but I’ll keep you updated on my progress. Emporia Research gets a 4.2-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
16. Probe Market Research
Probe Market Research offers a wide range of opportunities, like focus groups, online surveys, mystery shopping gigs, mock juries, product trials, and much more. Focus groups pay between $50 and $400 per study. Probe Market Research has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
17. Rare Patient Voice
Rare Patient Voice is a company that connects caregivers and patients with market research firms developing new products and services to address various medical and health-related concerns. Rare Patient Voice conducts studies in the following formats: interviews, surveys, and online communities, and each study pays $120 per hour. Rare Patient Voice accepts users from the US, the UK, New Zealand, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Canada, and Australia, and they have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
18. Recruit + Field
Recruit + Field is a market research firm that conducts consumer, B2B, and healthcare studies. Studies are conducted via in-person focus groups, online surveys, phone surveys, and product testing gigs. For each study you participate in, you’ll earn compensation. Recruit + Field has been in business since 1977 and accepts participants worldwide. Recruit and Field gets an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau.
19. Respondent
Launched in 2016, Respondent is a market research company 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 are online.
A couple of open studies that were going on when I searched the platform were:
1) Homeowners who are planning a renovation – $135 for 40 minutes
2) Fitness app development – $60 for 60 minutes
According to their website, the average hourly pay is $95 per study, and payments are made via Virtual Visa card. You can also earn money by referring friends and family to the platform. If one of your referrals completes a study, you’ll earn $20!
Be sure to read our full Respondent review. Respondent gets a 4.3-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
20. Sago
Sago, formerly Focus Group by Schlesinger, conducts market research studies through online surveys, phone interviews, in-person events, and product testing opportunities.
To participate, fill out the online application for your country. They accept participants who are at least 18 years old from the United States, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and Spain, and they even have a few worldwide studies. Once you’ve created an account and answered some basic questions, they’ll match you to studies that meet the demographic criteria. For each study you participate in, you’ll earn points that can be traded in for gift cards and Visa debit cards. 100 points are worth $1.00 in cash and rewards.
Just a heads up, you will be required to upload a photo of your government-issued ID when you create an account so they can verify your identity. Sago gets a B rating from the Better Business Bureau.
21. SIS International
SIS International recruits participants from around the world for focus group studies. To earn cash incentives and rewards, you’ll need to join their database. Once you’ve submitted your information, you’ll receive notifications for opportunities that match your specific demographics. There’s not a lot of information on their website about the opportunities or payments, but reviews on Trustpilot suggest they often hold in-person sessions in NYC and offer online opportunities. SIS International receives a 4.8-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
22. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is an online platform that rewards users (from the US, Canada, and Australia) with points for participating in surveys, focus groups, product testing gigs, and web searches. You’ll earn points towards Amazon gift cards or cash via your PayPal account for each study or survey. With Survey Junkie, your account must reach a 500-point balance ($5.00) before you can request payment. Survey Junkie also has a mobile app so that you can participate in studies on the go.
If you want to learn more, you can check out our review of Survey Junkie. Survey Junkie gets a 3.7-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
23. User Interviews
User Interviews recruits participants from the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Germany, France, and the UK for paid focus groups, surveys, and website testing. Studies are conducted online, by phone, and in person, and the average payout is $45 per study.
You can browse studies directly on the site to see what’s available, but here is a sampling of the types of survey panels, time requirements, and payout amounts.
To learn more, read our full review of User Interviews. User Interviews get a 4.1-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
Paid Focus Groups Wrap-up
Participating in paid focus groups can be an excellent way to earn extra cash from the comfort of your home. You’ll need to answer some preliminary questions to determine your eligibility for the study, but once you’re accepted, it’s an easy and flexible way to earn extra money just by sharing your habits, feedback, and preferences.
I suggest creating a separate email account for these activities, since you’ll receive many emails from these companies. Another thing to consider is if you’re not comfortable sharing personal information like your age, gender, and household income, then this probably isn’t the right opportunity for you. Market research firms want to know these details along with behaviors, thoughts, and opinions.
While there are many legitimate paid focus groups to take advantage of, you do need to be aware of scams. Follow these simple scam-prevention tips and research companies thoroughly before committing to an opportunity.
Have you ever participated in paid focus groups? We would love to hear about your experience!
