Sheila, I saw something today that made my blood run cold; a shop house that presents its shops, and then has you bid on them, thus driving the price down to the one who is the most desperate to get it. ewwwwwwww. I hope they know that you get what you pay for.
The highest paying shops are the ones that the scheduler calls you. Write a fabulous report, and they will beat their way to your door.
Don't undersell yourself. Someone wrote the other day, "where can I find more supermarket shops." Why? They are low paying, under 7 dollars, and massively detailed in report. The apartment shops are no bargain, either, even though the average is $25; be prepared that a decent report is going to take 1-2 hours, bringing it below minimun wage. But it is good work but a warning, I have not been paid 5 times, and four of them were apartmant shops. Epson (Ellis) thought they could punish me, and restrict my privileges, while still calling me when they had an emergency. They are not my parents. All over a huffy editor who I think was 12.
Don't sell yourself short, Sheila. There is no magic about getting jobs; once you have figured that out it is not if you will work but where. I do no shops under $10, unless it suits my own purpose, and a $10 dollar shop better have little to no paperwork. My real cutoff is $15, it goes up from there.
Realize that some shops you do because it is fun. This is unique amongst jobs. Dining, hotels, bowling,spas; you don't make a thing, and you put your money up front, but in the end your life is more enjoyable for it. But do five of these in a week and understand; you didn't MAKE anything this week, in fact, you are temporarily behind.
I actually met someone who thought they were going to get PAID to eat out. The companies are two smart for that. They have a product, it cost them a negligible amount to feed you, and they get your services for free. Make sure You know what You are buying.
Wannabe scheduler/editor