Getting organized right from the beginning will be essential to succeeding at secret shopping. In my “Getting Started” post, I say how a typical full day can consist of working for 8-10 companies. As you start accumulating work, it will become apparent how easily an assignment could be forgotten (big no, no!!!…watch for my blog on this subject). Anyway, you’ll start accepting assignments with future start dates, shops in different directions from your home that you may not want to do on the same day, and all kinds of good information you’ll need to track. Volition has an excellent printable assignment log, and I will post the link to the form below. As for me…I created my own way of staying organized years before I ever found out about Volition’s form. In the end, I like my system better only because I like keeping it all on one place. Maybe a hybrid of Volition’s log and my system will work best for you. Here’s what I did.

I purchased a thin notebook..½”…with 8.5” x 11” yellow tablet inside and a pocket. If you follow my way, be sure the notebook is the kind that will allow the tablet to be replaced, so you don’t have to keep replacing notebooks. Also, the notebook is essential for protecting the pages inside…this notebook will get a lot of wear.

I use the pocket in the notebook for two things. First, I keep a smaller tablet for notes throughout the day, and second, I keep an envelope in the pocket to hold any receipts I accumulate throughout the day.

As for the yellow tablet, I section it off in six columns, (see picture below) and I label the columns as follows: Start Date, Due Date, Company (this will be the name of the secret shopping company), Assignment, Complete, and Paid.

The first four columns are filled in immediately upon accepting any assignment. The first three are self-explanatory. In the "Assignment" column, I write in the name of the location I will be shopping, their address and phone number (if available). Columns five and six are also self-explanatory. I use only check marks for these two columns, so it is easy to run my finger down column five to see what I need to schedule in my day, and I only mark an assignment complete after I have entered the report. I make up about five sheets at a time, and I do NOT remove any page until all lines in columns five and six are checked marked. Then, remove the page and file it or throw it away, if you prefer.

This has been my system. As you move along, you will find whatever works best for you. If you have other suggestions, you are welcome to post them in the comments.

Click here for Volition's log.

A dummy sheet