More shops in my area or ones i would prefer to do?

I looked at shops in my area on MSPAs site and BestMark has the most shops in my area. There is also Market Force but it has fewer shops in my area. BestMarks shops are all on the automotive side which I would prefer not to do but Market Force has ones to do with restaurants and retail stores which is what I would rather. So which should I pick? This is my first time doing this btw, I looked into MS a while back but I wasnt 18 so I couldnt do it but now I can and im starting college soon and I want a way to make money but not a job that i have to do only at certain times daily, I think MS will work perfectly for me.

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You don't need to pick one or the other - do them both. And sign up for more MS companies too. You aren't confined to one company.

thank you! Do you know if you are required to give either of those companies your SS number?

I believe so for both of them. It's for tax reasons.

You will be required to give most, if not all, companies your SSN.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

Thank you all! I dont know anything about taxes, ive never had to have them done but is there anything I need to do like keep my receipts or what? My parents are no help, they have someone do there taxes for them

I've never done my taxes for MS-ing before because I'm just getting started, but there are some great threads about it on these boards by Flash. I'm probably going to end up having someone do them for me. But I have been keeping everything!

Thank you!

Read the first post in the first six topics in this area - New Mystery Shoppers - and many questions which you haven't even thought of yet will be answered.

FWIW, if MarketForce has a couple jobs in your area, do one or two with them to get your feet wet. Start slowly and as you get comfortable sign up with as many companies as possible. There is a list at the bottom of the page.

AndrewTX
Certifiable

Thanks! But do you have to do taxes? I dont even know the point in them lol im clueless here

Fees earned from mystery shopping are taxable income. BTW, the "point" in taxes is so we have a military to defend the country, local police and fire, local and national parks, public education, etc., etc.

I get taxes for people who get a regular paycheck but what I meant was doing what ever you have to do once a year, I dont understand whats going on with that.

Everyone who has an income can be taxed, why should it just be those that work a full time job? I had taxes deducted for my very first job at 11 years old and now I make more than many who work 2080 hours a year.As independent contractors we are actually small business owners. We have an advantage in the number of allowable deductions which offset our income. However, ICs cannot continue to show losses year after year.

court811 Wrote:
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> I get taxes for people who get a regular paycheck
> but what I meant was doing what ever you have to
> do once a year, I dont understand whats going on
> with that.

All earnings are taxable. Your questions are more serious and more basic than anyone can answer in a one paragraph response. Scroll up to the top of the New Mystery Shopper area and spend some time reading the entire first thread on Mystery Shopping and Taxes.

Thanks im startin to get it. I read half of the post on taxes but it's over my head, im just not going to worry about till I actually have to do it. But thanks for the help!

Court, when you start shopping keep up with how many miles you drive and keep all your receipts.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
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> Court, when you start shopping keep up with how
> many miles you drive and keep all your receipts.

Thanks, will do! Do you have any recommendations of how I should keep track? Should I just write it in a notebook or something?

If you are comfortable with Excel that is an easy way to keep track. Mine is set up to tally mileage by the week and the month. I can give those numbers to my tax accountant at the end of the year. Otherwise, go old school and keep a notepad. The most important thing is that you do track everything that is or even might be deductible and do it as you go along. Taxes are necessary, but the American way is to avoid paying any more than you have to

Thanks!

Expenses (and Income too)

Keep all receipts for your business, required purchases, mileage, office supplies, other mystery shopping expenses, and home office (if you have a home office dedicated to this business).

A notebook can work just fine. However, many of us use spreadsheets because of the powerful abilities they have to do math and separate items into groupings, say calendar years, for example. It doesn't hurt that backups are easy too.

There is much assistance on the forums for you on the topic of taxes and others. Scroll through the threads or you can go to the IRS itself if you like. Try the Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center there at [www.irs.gov]

Welcome to the forums and good luck!

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut

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More shops in my area or ones i would prefer to do?

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