I tested FocusGroup.com to see if it is worth your time. It is legit and its research studies pay well, but it is only for people in the US, and the best-paying studies are in person. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend instead.
Tested by Mikael (EarnWithMike)Founder and lead testerMikael founded PaidFromSurveys in 2016 and has personally tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites since then. He shows his tests and payment proof to 555K+ subscribers on his YouTube channel, EarnWithMike. He tested FocusGroup.com himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Legit, but not for everyone
Research studies pay quite well, but most of them are in person, and only US residents can join.
On this page
The short answer
FocusGroup.com is not a scam. It is a legit survey and focus group site. However, this does not mean that you should join the panel immediately.
The best-paying studies are in person, at one of its offices in the US. You will only be eligible for these if you live in the same area. The online surveys pay less. That is why this site is not for everyone.
- Has several earning opportunities
- Rewards for its research activities are relatively high
- Decent payout methods, from $10
- Unique studies, like shop alongs and product tests
- Hard to qualify for its in-person research activities
- Limited access to earning options overall
- No longer offers PayPal as a payout method
- Only available to US residents
- The contact form is hard to find
My experience with FocusGroup.com
I signed up for FocusGroup.com, looked at the earning options and the rewards portal, and made a video about it. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- September 2019Review first published Sep 1, 2019
- Latest retest
- Checked: earning options, payouts, support
- Owner
- SagoFormerly Schlesinger Group. It took over FocusGroup.com after I first tested it.
- Minimum cashout
- 1,000 points ($10)A fairly low payout threshold
- The registration form and the member portal
- The online surveys and the other earning options on offer
- The rewards portal and the payout options
- The site on a mobile device
- The FAQ and the way to contact support
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from FocusGroup.com.
- In-person focus groups and interviews at one of its offices.
An inside look at FocusGroup.com
In the video below, I give you an inside look and show exactly how you can earn from FocusGroup.com.
Screenshots from my test
Want to earn from online surveys regularly? The top sites in your country give you more chances to earn.
See the best sites in your countryFocusGroup.com at a glance
| What it is | Survey and focus group site. You earn from online surveys, focus groups, interviews, shop alongs and product tests. |
|---|---|
| Company | Sago (formerly Schlesinger Group). It used to be owned by Focus Pointe Global. |
| Cost to join | Free |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Minimum cashout | 1,000 points ($10) |
| Payout methods | Visa cards, Amazon gift cards and more. No PayPal anymore. |
| In-person studies | At one of its 16 offices across the US |
| App | No app. The website is optimized for mobile use. |
| Where you can join | US residents only |
| Support | Troubleshooting FAQ and a contact form, which you reach through the “Contact Us” page |
Is FocusGroup.com legit and safe?
Yes, FocusGroup.com is legit. But being legit does not mean it is worth your time. Here is what you should know before you join.
- The best studies are in person
To join the in-person focus groups or interviews, you must show up at one of its 16 offices across the US. You will only be eligible if you live in the same area, so this opportunity will not be convenient for everyone.
- You will not qualify for every study
It is hard to qualify for the in-person research activities. Some readers also wrote that they were screened out of online surveys after they had already answered many questions.
- Readers reported slow redemptions
In 2023 and 2024, readers wrote that a redemption took weeks to process, and that the redemption page showed an error and support did not reply. These reports are a few years old.
- No PayPal anymore
FocusGroup.com used to offer PayPal cash as a reward, but this option has been removed. You get paid with Visa cards, Amazon gift cards and more.
My takeThe good thing about FocusGroup.com is that if you ever qualify for its in-person research activities, you will be able to earn a significant amount of money. The downside is that you will only be eligible for these opportunities if you live in the same area as its offices. If you prefer to earn from online surveys regularly, I recommend you check out the top survey sites in your country instead.
How you earn on FocusGroup.com
There are 5 ways to earn: online from home, over the phone, in person and on the go. Tap one to read more.
Online surveysEasiest
One of the easiest ways to earn is the online surveys. You can take them whenever it fits into your schedule and from wherever you want to.
They typically pay less than the in-person studies, but still decently, based on my experience testing it, especially considering how easy they are to take.
Focus groupsPays well
Focus groups are held online or at one of FocusGroup.com’s offices. For an in-person focus group, you go to the location in the invite. For an online one, you sometimes use a webcam or the telephone.
You are paid once you complete the focus group. For in-person focus groups, you are paid right away. They are usually also fun or interesting to take part in.
InterviewsPays well
Interviews are done at your home, at its office, or over the phone. You normally get a notification by email first, or sometimes they call you.
A marketing research professional asks you questions about a product or service, and you discuss concepts and ideas related to it.
Shop alongsUnique
A marketing research professional goes on a shopping trip with you. They watch how you shop for a certain type of product and ask about your decisions.
This is one of the more unique earning opportunities I have seen on a survey panel. If you get the chance and it fits your schedule, it can be worth it.
Product testingAt home or on site
You test a product at home or at one of its facilities. At a facility, you share your opinion in a questionnaire or a group discussion.
At home, they send the product to your address. You then test it and submit an honest online review through the link in the email you receive.
How much can you make?
In my experience, in-person research activities typically pay well, because they take more effort and time. If you ever get an invitation to one, I suggest you grab it right away.
The online surveys typically pay you less, but still decently. If you live near one of its offices, you have a higher chance of being invited to an in-person study.
So this site is not for everyone in terms of earning potential, but it can be a way to make a bit extra on the side.
Payout methods and minimum
| Method | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa cards | 1,000 points ($10) | A physical card is sent by mail, so it takes longer to arrive |
| Amazon gift cards | 1,000 points ($10) | Redeemed through the online portal |
| PayPal | Not available | It used to be offered, but it has been removed |
The online portal you get access to as a member makes it very easy to redeem your rewards. You need at least 1,000 points to redeem, which is $10. That is a fairly low payout threshold that is not too hard to reach.
Overall, I like the payout options. If you want PayPal, see the top survey sites in your country.
What 26 readers told me
This review has 26 comments since 2021: 13 from readers and 13 replies from me. These are the things readers ask about most.
Readers wrote that a redemption was still processing after weeks, or that the redemption page showed an error. Contact support, and if support does not reply, the company behind it.
Readers were told they did not qualify after they had already answered many questions. Not qualifying is normal on survey sites, but it is frustrating this late in a survey.
You can see the current open focus groups and their locations on the FocusGroup.com website.
Readers asked if gift cards can be turned into cash, how to report earnings in their taxes, and if they can join from outside the US. Only US residents can join.
“the payout can take up to 20 days and that’s after waiting 2 weeks for the study to end …”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences. I agree that it should not take that long to get paid.
“I have tried to go to the redemption page and redeem my points for several months now.”
Mikael: Sorry to hear that. I suggest you try contacting the company behind if the support itself does not reply.
“Where are the Focus Group physical locations?”
Mikael: You can see the current open focus groups and the locations on their website.
FocusGroup.com alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | High pay per survey and fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Survey Junkie | Surveys in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK | 500 points ($5) | 4.4 / 5 |
| Branded Surveys | Well-paid surveys and a bonus program for active members | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Respondent | Well-paid research projects, straight to PayPal | None. You are paid after each project. | 3.0 / 5 |
Live in the US? See the top survey sites in the US. Anywhere else, see the top survey sites in your country. You will find a site for you no matter where you live.
How I scored FocusGroup.com
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
FocusGroup.com scores 66 out of 100. It is not for everyone. These sites give you more chances to earn.
See the best sites in your countryFocusGroup.com FAQ
Is FocusGroup.com a scam?
No. FocusGroup.com is a legit survey and focus group site. But it is not for everyone, because the best-paying studies are in person.
Who owns FocusGroup.com?
Sago, formerly Schlesinger Group. It used to be owned by Focus Pointe Global.
Who can join FocusGroup.com?
Only US residents who are at least 18 years old.
What is the minimum payout?
1,000 points, which is $10.
Does FocusGroup.com pay through PayPal?
Not anymore. It used to offer PayPal cash, but this option has been removed. You can get paid with Visa cards, Amazon gift cards and more.
Where are the in-person focus groups?
At one of its 16 offices across the US. You can see the current open focus groups and their locations on the FocusGroup.com website.
Is there a FocusGroup.com app?
No. But the website is optimized for mobile use, so you can take most online surveys on your phone.
How do I contact FocusGroup.com?
Go to the “Contact Us” page, choose any question, and you find a link to contact the helpdesk at the bottom of the answer.
Do I pay taxes on my earnings?
In many cases, yes. Read my guide to surveys and taxes.
Who tested FocusGroup.com for this review
Founder of PaidFromSurveys.com since 2016. Mikael has tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites and shares his tests with 555K+ subscribers on YouTube (October 2026).
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with FocusGroup.com, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
This company endlessly sends offers for supposed “paid studies” then says I don’t qualify every time, but only AFTER asking the actual survey questions (so basically taking my information & specific survey answers for free). I’ve attempted to reach out to them & they never reply. Focusgroups.org IS legit & has actually paid me for my time, focusgroup.com is NOT & has not paid (or allowed me to “complete” a single survey) even after trying to give them multiple chances over several months. Absolutely infuriating and shameful to take advantage of people like this.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
the payout can take up to 20 days and that’s after waiting 2 weeks for the study to end they give your points for redemption , this would be great site if they paid in timely manner, some people like me do focusgroups to make extra money for bills, its been over a month since study closed and 10 days into my redemption is still processing, and my electric and water is due and now water is off and on top of late fee and all i am screwed, and it would of been all paid if they paid me in timely manner …and if you order visa card the physical card it can take up to another month to receive in the mail that’s after redemption processing …come on i did my part and everything they asked of me. and there customer service is bullshit, they just keep feeding you same line of b.s. ..payments can take up to 2 months or more….thats not right or cool
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I agree that it should not take that long to get paid.
You can see a list of fast paying sites here.
When signing up, they ask for your ID. I did a quick scan on google about this and read that the company is legit first. Now I’m regretting that I was dumb enough to upload it. After signing up, I entered a bit of profile information and saw that I was eligible to complete a list of online surveys for points. I tried a short one, just to see how it worked. It was a survey about radio stations local to my area. I was 80% complete and 10 minutes in when I received a screen that said I didn’t qualify. Feels like this is a free way for this company to get your data and a bonus driver’s license number. I quickly clicked on an email link (they send an email with a choice to verify or delete data) to erase my data, but they have it now. I would advise people reading this to not make the same foolish mistake.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and opinion.
I have tried to go to the redemption page and redeem my points for several months now. When you click get my gift card link to choose your gift card option to redeem your points with, it gives me and error message on a white screen. I have emailed their support several times and have never gotten a response back. So does anyone know the next step I should take in order to find out how to redeem my points and get my gift card?
Sorry to hear that. I suggest you try contacting the company behind if the support itself does not reply. You should be able to find this info in their about section. Let me know how it goes.
Having problems getting into my account at FocusGroup.com.
It won’t work for me. Help
You need to contact their support about this.
Hello.Where are the in person sites?
What do you mean?
Where are the Focus Group physical locations?
You can see the current open focus groups and the locations on their website.
How do you go about claiming your earnings on your income taxes?
I have an article about taxes for surveys and similar options here.
This article does not mention if the gift cards can be turned into cash. I don’t think my billing companies will accept gift cards to pay my bills.
You can also get paid via PayPal in many cases, as you can see in the review above.
Does this group really pay you $500 for 2 days , consisting of 2 days ? 10 hours a day? ?
I explain everything in the review above.
Can I join even if I’m not from the Us.?
There is a section in the review that explains who can join.
Very helpful. Thank you. Am considering this
Glad it helped you.
This article is very helpful. Thank you.
You are welcome.