Top Up Your Income With Focus Groups [Side Hustle Case Study]

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Here’s the next installment in our side hustle case study series, where real people share how they make extra money in their spare time!

Today Will from Great Deals Made Easy tells us how he makes extra cash on top of his day job by taking part in focus groups. This is a perfect side hustle for busy people, and it pays well too!

Read on to find out how much you can make with focus groups and where to sign up.

Making money with focus groups with Will from Great Deals Made Easy

Please tell us a little about yourself and your side hustle.

I run a money-saving blog called www.greatdealsmadeeasy.com and regularly attend a focus group in London, getting paid £50-100 for a 60-90 minutes session.

A focus group is a gathering of deliberately selected people who participate in a planned discussion intended to elicit consumer perceptions about a particular topic, usually for a product or service. Marketing companies pay individuals to take part in the discussion.

How long have you been doing your side hustle? How did you get into it?

I have been attending focus groups for 2 years now, attending around 14 sessions. My main drive to join these was getting an additional income after work.

What does the work actually involve? What does a typical day/work session look like for you?

Normally, you have to apply via email for the focus group, spending approx. 5 minutes answering their suitability questions. Once completed, there is a strong chance of being selected (70% I’d say). I always pick evening slots based in London, so I can attend after my day job.

How much can you make taking part in focus groups?

Focus groups can pay around £50-£70 per 60 minutes or up to £100 for a 90 minutes slot.

Are there any start-up costs and/or ongoing expenses with this side hustle?

You do have to pay travel costs to get the venue. This is why it works well if you are an office worker who has bought a travelcard already or live locally to the focus group location.