www.nicholsresearch.com

Nichols Research is another good company to sign up with. Start by going to there website and signing up with their company. You will answer a series of questions and be entered into there database.

• They mostly email you with Focus groups.
• They pay from $75.00 and up.
• They will call you for other focus groups also.
• Some of their studies that go over 2 hours will be served with a light dinner.
• They aren't as consistent with listings, so you may here from them infrequently.
• They have great focus groups, but getting the opportunity to get in on them isn't in your favor unless they call or email you.

Anyone with any other experiences with this company, please let us know.

Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

The Basics of Focus Groups

Research companies sometimes hold focus groups to gather information from a specific market (like people with cameras) on new or existing products (like digital cameras). Research companies conduct these focus groups because they want to see how useful, and therefore how profitable, a product can be. Because this is so important to these companies, they are often willing to pay participants a sum of money for their time.

Focus groups usually have a maximum number of individuals that they can allow to participate. Most of the listings here will ask you to email or call to provide certain demographical information (age, gender, occupation, income) to see if you are part of the market the group focuses on. This is called screening. They don't want an 4 year old for a focus group on surfboards.

If you're not comfortable giving this information, then you should probably look into other sources of extra income, like paid surveys. Focus groups range in amount paid and length of time, but most pay between $80 and $100 for two or three hours of your time.

Lists of Companies that actually Pay

Here is a list of companies that I have used personally (locally) and have been paid by. Most companies pay by Check, but you occasionally you will find some that pay in cash. Either way, as long as your paid, who cares what format its in!

• www.schlesingerassociates.com - Can sign up to be on their lists of contacts for surveys
• www.nicholsresearch.com - Can sign up to be on their lists of contacts for surveys
• www.findfocusgroups.com - Best one and paid the most
• http://www.blarry.com/hom)e_f.html
• www.sjfocus.com - Pays very well, but they will contact you after you sign up (not frequent)
• http://www.thefocusnetwork.com/atlanta/home.htm
• http://www.thefocusnetwork.com/chicago/home.htm
• http://www.thefocusnetwork.com/dallas/home.htm
• http://www.thefocusnetwork.com/london/home.htm
• http://www.thefocusnetwork.com/mexico_city/home.htm
• http://www.thefocusnetwork.com/new_york/home.htm
• http://www.thefocusnetwork.com/toronto/home.htm
• http://www2.pineconeresearch.com/ ( Must be invited to sign up)
• www.focusgroup.com
• http://www.acop.com/information.aspx (waste of time)

Making Money Giving Your Opinion

The hardest, most time consuming part about getting paid for surveys is finding, evaluating and keeping track of all the good market research companies out there - they are hard to find (most aren't even listed with the search engines), some of them are scams, and some simply don't pay enough!

It took us months of research to do it, but we have compiled a database of Research companies
of only the very best dedicated market research companies, ready and willing to pay you for your opinions! We will update our database , as we continue to bring you more and better paid survey opportunities each month. Each company we have found, we have used before and have been paid.

While most companies will pay you cold hard cash, others may give you free products, gift certificates, or "points" that can later be redeemed for products or cash. Personally, I would rather earn cash and the sites that we recommend either pay that way or with Travelers check, or Gift Cards.

When and how you’re compensated depends on the specific survey or focus group you join. Some pay instantly via PayPal, others will mail you a check, etc. Just remember, you’ll always know the exact details up front, and you may pick the ones you like!

* Please refer to all postings for surveys *