Cash from Surveys

It almost sounds too good to be true. Imagine getting up in the morning and wandering into the kitchen to put on the coffee. While the coffee is perking you go to the computer and fire it up to check your email. There you find that you have 10 requests to complete surveys. You decide which ones you want to participate in today.  You might even be able to complete one before the coffee is ready! So, does anybody really pay you take surveys, you bet they do.

There are thousands of companies who need surveys completed. Online surveys are the modern equivalent of market research.  In the old days marketing research was done by telephone surveys, which you know we all loved, mail surveys, survey takers at the mall, and door-to-door surveys.  Today businesses have discovered the power of the Internet to get opinions from consumers all over the world.  And in today’s world of  “do not call lists” companies need people like you and me to volunteer their opinions in a convenient and easy way.  And they’re willing to do it on your timetable, not theirs, and are willing pay you for your efforts.

So, How much money can you make taking surveys for cash online? Payment for online surveys is usually in the form of cash but other incentives may be offered.  If you are doing product surveys you may get to keep the product you are reviewing.  Some surveys may reward you with prizes or gift certificates. Sometimes you are entered into some pretty major drawings for really neat stuff.  I tend to stick to the cash surveys most of the time,  but every once in awhile I’ll participate in a non-Cash survey if the incentive is interesting enough.

Taking surveys for cash online can make you from $5 to $75 each, or more, depending on the survey complexity  and the length of time it takes to complete.  If you participate in a focus group, which can take from one hour to one hour and a half you can make up to $150 an hour.  Phone surveys can earn as much as $120 an hour.  Reviewing movie trailers can make you $4-$25 an hour. I’ve heard you can earn money playing games but since I’m not a gamer I don’t investigate or participate in those sites.

How do you get started taking surveys for cash online?  First you’ll need a reliable computer and Internet connection.  High speed Internet is best but you could do this over dial-up if you are  in a rural area that did not have access to DSL or cable. Next you need to find companies that are in need of surveys.  The easiest way to do this is to find a company that maintains a database of large and small companies that are looking for consumers who are willing to do arket research for them.  There are many companies that maintain these databases but, as with everything, some are good and some are bad.  The best of these will charge a small, one time, fee in exchange for helping you find hundreds of ongoing paid survey opportunities. This fee can usually be recovered after taking two to four surveys.

In a nutshell this explains the “take surveys for cash” online opportunity. First, Do some market research and check out other opportunities, but these are the best I’ve run across.  Second, if you are going to be doing business on the Internet whether it be taking surveys, affiliate marketing, or e-commerce, please consider taking the steps to protect yourself by creating a business entity.  An LLC, a C Corporation, or an S. Corporation are the common entities. The tax advantages of doing this will save you many dollars during the year that you can put back into the business or invest. Please talk to your lawyer and tax accountant about the advantages of doing this. I am neither.