Mr Al Young Dot Com

There are many great things about being self-employed.  You have the freedom, and flexibility to plan your schedule.  If you want to spend more time with your family, take a vacation, or just go to the zoo,  you can.  No need to ask the boss, because you are the boss.  There are many other great things about being self-employed, but its not always so rosy.

There are some things that are not so great.  One big drawback is the lack of steady income.   Unlike other people with regular 9-5 jobs, I don’t get a paycheck every 2 weeks.  That takes a little getting used to if you have been drawing a paycheck for a long time.  When I was at BART, the paycheck got direct deposited into my account every 2 weeks without fail.  It does not matter if the trains were on time, or if the trains were dirty, I still got paid.  Not so as an entrepreneur.  I don’t get paid every 2 weeks, and I’m sure when I will get paid next.  There are always issues to deal with, and even the best laid plans don’t always go like its drawn up.

Hopefully, in the future, the cash-flow will come in more regularly, so that’s not an issue.  However, for now as I wait to get paid on several deals, I look for ways to pick up some interim income, so I don’t draw upon my savings too much.  Lately, I’ve come across participating in focus groups or taking surveys as a way to pick up some income.  You probably seen ads on the Internet advertising taking surveys as a way to make money.  I don’t know if those are legit, but participating in focus groups does work.  I’ve taken part in several surveys over the past few years. 

How it works is that a market research company or consumer company will pay you to participate in a focus group where you review products or answer questions about your spending habits.  I’ve participated in focus groups that asked for my opinion on features in new cars, and also on my usage of personal finance software.  It usually takes 1-2 hours to complete the focus group, and it pays from $50 to as much as $300.  Most focus groups pay about $75-100 for an hour to an hour and half.  And they usually pay in cash.  There are many ads on Craigslist advertising for focus groups.  You can check and see if there are groups that you qualify for such as luxury car owners, or moms with children under 5.  However, that is time consuming to go through all the ads on Craigslist.

A better way is to go to a website I found called FindFocusGroups.  At this site, you can find all the focus groups in your area, all across the United States.  When you find one you are interested in, you click to an application.  Sometimes, it takes you to a Craigslist ad, and you respond by email, or you answer an online survey.  If you are chosen, they will call you.  The best part of this is that it is one stop shopping for focus groups to participate in.  You see all the ones in your area, how much they paid, and apply all online.  It also helps if you are available on short notice.  Because I am self-employed, I can usually go on short notice if I am chosen.  If you are looking for some additional income in your spare time, check out Findfocusgroups.com.