With mystery shopping, businesses are given the opportunity to measure the success or failure of the company. Obviously, businesses of all types want to do everything possible to impress customers, encouraging them to come back time after time, while also spreading the word to family and friends about the great product and/or service purchased. With such intense competition, having an edge in knowing how satisfied customers are is the key to a long, successful business.

The variety of businesses that are seeking assistance from mystery shoppers has expanded from its origination in retail, to now including restaurants, schools, hotels and the hospitality industry and even to churches. As the value of a mystery shopping experience continues to increase, the variety and amount of companies offering this service will continue to increase.

As mentioned, companies of all types can benefit from this unique service. Therefore, it does not matter what type of business uses a mystery shopper, just that the information reported is accurate. For instance, in the United States, some of the companies looking for mystery shoppers include:

- Grocery Stores - Banks - Apartments - Movie Theatres - Restaurants - Fast Food Chains - Grocery Stores - Gas Stations - Car Dealerships - Hotels - Airlines - Health Clubs

Literally all types of businesses can benefit from mystery shopping. That is why businesses both large and small are able to have the opportunity to grow and improve. It is not always possible for owners of a business to know how their services can be improved. S by hiring a mystery shopper, they can get the feedback that they need.

Some companies hire mystery shoppers on their own, while the majority will search for companies that offer this service as their main course of business. The company will work out a suggested direction for the mystery shop and the items that they would like evaluated. The marketing research company will provide these instructions to the hired mystery shopper and once the shopping experience has been completed, the information will be packaged and presented to the client.

Companies looking for mystery shoppers are looking for tangible ways to provide feedback to their customers in addition to general thoughts of the experience. This will allow for the development of a truly valuable report for the client and details that will allow the client to develop their own implementation plan to address any issues. While this service is beneficial to the client, it is also a great way for the mystery shopper to earn extra money.