Contents of The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Own Mystery Shopping Business

Foreword

Introduction

Why Mystery Shopping?

About Mystery Shopping

Specific Categories of Mystery Shopping

In Store Evaluation
Telephone Evaluation  (Sometimes Fax)
Comparison Shopping
Customer Response Surveys
Web Site Evaluation/Internet Surveys
Internal Shop
Impulse Buying
Qualitative Research  - Focus Groups
One-Off and Special Studies

Raising Capital For Your Business

Checklist For Borrowing

Trading Formats

Sole Proprietorship
Partnership

Using a Business Name

Your Business Environment

Technology
Telephone
Telephone Answering Machine
Fax Machine
Computer/Word Processor

Letterheads and Business Cards

Letterheads
Samples of Effective and Ineffective Letterheads
Business Cards
Sample Business Cards For You To Copy In Your Business

Introduction To Marketing

Word of Mouth
Direct Mail
Hand Delivered Leaflets
Cold Calling
Advertising

Professional Advisors

Bank Manager
Accountant
Legal Advisor

Market Research

Study The Opposition First
Let Your Own Experience Be Your Guide

Who Your Main Clients Will Be

Finding Clients

Important In The Extreme

Main Ways to Market Your Business

Network
Get Listed
Work Your Internet Site

Specific Advertising and Marketing Techniques

Business Cards
Brochures
Low Down On What Makes a Winning Brochure
Introduction
Teaser Headline
About Your Company, What You Do, Benefits to Clients
Response Mechanism
Leaflets (sometimes called 'flyers')
Sample Leaflet For You To Copy In Your Business
Advertisements
Sample Advertisements For You To Copy In Your Business
Online Promotions
Using Client Prospect Forms
Client Prospect Form #1
Client Prospect Form #2
Client Prospect Form #3
Mailing Prospective Clients
Letter to Someone You Met at A Business Meeting or Other Informal Occasion
Letter to Someone Referred by A Client or Other Individual

More Marketing Ideas

Advertisements for Telephone and Marketing Directories
Press Release
Tips for Creating Winning Press Releases
Press Release For You To Use In Your Business
Typical Procedure for In Store Evaluation

Meeting Potential Clients

Before the Meeting
On Your Way to the Meeting
At the Meeting
After The Meeting

Preparing The Proposal

Layout of the Typical Proposal
Sample List of Possible Evaluation Areas to Accompany Proposal Document
Cover Letter to Accompany Proposal Documentation

Analyzing and Evaluating Reports

Sample In Store Evaluation
Sample Exit Interview Evaluation

In Store Employee Comparison Form

Hiring Freelance Shoppers

Application Procedure
Interview Procedure
Interview Assessment Forms
Sample Interview Assessment Form
Sample Independent Shopper Agreement Form
Advertisements for Hiring Mystery Shoppers
Newspaper Advertisements
Display/Classified Advertisement
Display Advertisement
Simple Classified Advertisement
Sample Online Application Form for Mystery Shoppers
Offer Letter to Individual Shoppers on Company's Database

Knowing Your Shoppers

Individual Shopper Record
Shoppers' Assignment Log
Sample Shoppers' Assignment Log

Pricing

Invoicing and Accounting Procedures

Typical Accounts Sheet for Individual Clients
Typical Accounts Receivable Sheet
Invoices
A - Sample Receipt Invoice
B - Invoice Featuring Trade Terms
C - Invoice Featuring Part Payment Up Front

Safety, Security, Confidentiality

Tips To The Top

Bonus To Shoppers
Shopper Bonus Notification Normally Accompanying Payment of Fees and Expenses
Shopper Certificate for Placement in Your Office As An Incentive for Other Shoppers to Work Harder

More Worked Examples

Fast Food Delivery Assignment

Sample Advertisements
Sample Shopper Assignment and Evaluation Form
Typical Offer Letter to Individual Shoppers on Company's Database
Typical Shoppers' Instructions and Evaluation Form
Typical Report For Client     
Typical Invoice from Shopper

Travel Operators Assignment

Advertisement in travel agents windows or local newspapers 'Travel' pages
Follow Up Letter

Complaint that Business Station Staff are Not Answering Telephone to Callers

Typical Internet Advertisement
Typical Offer Letter to Individual Shoppers on Company's Database
Typical Shoppers' Instructions and Evaluation Form
Typical Report For Client
Typical Invoice from Shopper

Checking Adherence to Health and Safety Rules

Request for Shoppers
Typical Shoppers' Instructions and Evaluation Form

Golf Store Evaluation

Typical Shoppers' Instructions and Evaluation Form