Apex Focus Group Review: $750/Week Legit or Scam?

TLDR: Apex Focus Group is a legit useful resource to seek out paid market analysis research. However there are sufficient crimson flags that it wouldn’t be my first alternative on this area.

Nonetheless, paid focus teams are a enjoyable and straightforward strategy to make more money. That’s one motive why we’ve been overlaying them for years on Facet Hustle Nation.

On this put up, I’ll break down:

• How Apex Focus Group actually works (trace: it’s not a market analysis firm)
• How a lot you possibly can earn with them
• Higher alternate options to contemplate 

Prepared? Let’s do it!

Apex Focus Group

2.0

Apex guarantees to ship you legit paid focus teams by way of e mail. However you may need to dodge some scammy affords alongside the way in which.

Execs:

• Does ship out viable paid market analysis research.
• You’ll be able to earn $50-150/hr from these research.

Cons:

• Additionally sends affords others have discovered to be scams.
• Engages in deceptive advertising.

What’s Apex Focus Group?

Apex Focus Group is a free e mail service that sends you paid market research opportunities. It’s not a market analysis firm itself, nor a facilitator of any paid focus teams.

That disclaimer is discovered within the footer of the web site:

“Apex focus group (AFG) doesn’t personal or function any paid alternatives. AFG matches subscribers with potential paid scientific trials, surveys, and focus teams from different suppliers. AFG could obtain compensation from suppliers of alternatives it sends to subscribers.”

In brief, it’s an affiliate enterprise that makes cash referring focus group individuals to different analysis corporations.

Nothing mistaken with that, they usually’re fairly upfront with the way it works, even explaining as a lot on the homepage:

“Our workforce gathers focus teams from across the internet … to convey you professional paid focus group alternatives.”

Cool. Performed proper, that’s undoubtedly a worthwhile service.

Is Apex Focus Group Legit?

Apex Focus Group is legit, however there are some crimson flags to concentrate on, and higher alternate options for paid focus teams (see beneath). 

Apex was based in 2019 and began to develop quickly in 2021:

If you happen to sign-up, simply know what you’re moving into. It’s an e mail service that often sends money-making alternatives.

The corporate isn’t BBB accredited, however they’re attentive to buyer complaints on Better Business Bureau.

All of the complaints relate to customer support points with Apex’s Third-party companions. And to their credit score, Apex’s responses are fairly considerate and caring. 

For instance, right here’s a part of one response:

I respect you sharing this expertise with us although so we are able to deal with it with them, too. Whereas we’re in the end not accountable for transactions that buyers have with these third occasion companions, that doesn’t imply I’m unwilling to assist.

I wish to personally give you the $20 that you just had been owed by [3rd-party partner] as a result of they’re one among our third occasion accomplice.

How Apex Focus Group Works

After you be a part of Apex, you’ll begin to get emails with paid market analysis alternatives. (And different semi-related affords — extra on that beneath.)

With every of these, they’ll let you know the challenge incentive upfront (how a lot you’ll receives a commission), and roughly how lengthy it would take.

Right here’s an instance e mail I obtained:

If the examine seems like a match, full the separate pre-screening course of and hopefully you’ll get chosen. 

After the examine, you’ll obtain your reward — not from Apex, however from the Third-party market analysis firm.

One factor that’s deceptive in regards to the Apex website is their listing of “Out there Focus Group Research.” At press time, this listing hadn’t been up to date in a minimum of 12 months.

Since most research are time-sensitive, none of those are literally out there.

On the optimistic aspect, they listing a number of of their focus group referral companions, so you possibly can simply go sign-up instantly with these corporations:

How A lot Can You Make with Apex Focus Group?

Apex claims you possibly can earn “as much as $750/week.”

Whereas that’s undoubtedly attainable by means of multi-session research, don’t financial institution on that being a constant supply of earnings.

I maintain a fairly shut eye on paid analysis and will make $750 a 12 months from such a aspect hustle.

As an aggregator of paid analysis research, the pay vary with Apex will range fairly a bit. A typical vary is $50-150/hour, relying on the examine.

For instance, listed here are a few of the research they despatched me:

• $650-1,000 for a examine on new know-how merchandise
• $100 for a 60-minute examine on social media
• $150 for a 45-minute examine on drinks
• $100 for a 60-minute examine on pets
• $200 for a examine on grocery buying

Who’s Behind Apex Focus Group?

Apex Focus Group emails from from Justin Jones from “Full Circle Media.”

A number of staff report working for the company on LinkedIn, however Justin isn’t one among them.

There isn’t any Google itemizing for Apex Focus Group or Full Circle Media at both of the US addresses given:

• 14350 sixtieth St North, Suite #46131 Clearwater FL (seems to be a virtual address)
• 2160 Kingston Court docket SE Ste E, Marietta GA

The area registration can also be personal.

All that mentioned, it’s not unusual for affiliate web site homeowners to attempt to stay nameless.

Getting Random Emails from Apex Focus Group?

Along with the paid focus group emails, Apex tends to ship different affiliate affords associated to saving or making more money.

These have included:

• A automotive insurance coverage quote service
• A Zantac class motion settlement??
• A scammy-looking debt analysis service
• A car-wrap promoting service that many reviewers referred to as a rip-off

As all the time, do you personal due diligence earlier than giving your private data to any of those Third-party companies.

The choice and vetting of the accomplice affords Apex sends by way of e mail is certainly hurting the corporate’s repute. At press time, Apex had earned a solidly-mediocre 2.4-star ranking on Glassdoor.

The most typical grievance is that they ship too many emails selling scammy affords.

That’s unlucky — and pointless — as a result of there are many legit ways to make extra money.

Apex Focus Group Signal Up Course of

The sign-up course of for Apex could be very easy. All it’s a must to do is full a brief kind with some fundamental data.

It asks questions like:

• Your title
• E mail deal with
• Zip code
• Date of start
• Gender
• When you’ve got children
• What sort of cellphone you utilize
• Your employment standing
• Your training

In comparison with different market analysis corporations, it is a fairly quick onboarding kind. However once more, Apex isn’t a market analysis firm; it’s an e mail listing.

One other deceptive factor on the Apex Focus Group website is the false shortage on one of many sign-up pages. It says “Solely 3 Positions Left.”

That is full BS. 

That will be like me saying, “Join the Facet Hustle Nation e mail listing. There’s solely 3 spots left!”

The extra individuals who be a part of the Apex Focus Group e mail listing, the more cash they’ll make. Among the particular person research can have participation caps, however not the overall Apex e mail listing.

The opposite fascinating factor is relying on which “Register” hyperlink you click on on, you may get estimated hourly charges which might be minimize in half, to $35-75/hr:

All else being equal, I’ll join the $75-150 model 🙂

Apex Focus Group Options

Whereas Apex could assist join you with some paid analysis alternatives, there are higher choices. Listed below are a few of our prime picks.

Probably the most comparable aggregator service was FindFocusGroups.com, however sadly it doesn’t appear to be it’s been maintained in a number of months.

Person Interviews

Greatest General

UserInterviews.com

4.1

Person Interviews is a legit facilitator of on-line (and in-person) client analysis research. Members can receives a commission (usually $50-150/hr) to share their opinion and form future services. Whereas this gained’t change your day job, it may be a pleasant supplemental earnings.

Execs:

• The most effective-paying survey corporations I’ve discovered.
• Simple to sign-up.
• Numerous new research added each week.

Cons:

• May be tough to get chosen.

User Interviews helps you get paid for your opinions in one-on-one market analysis interviews, largely executed over the cellphone or on-line.

The common price of pay is within the ballpark of $100 an hour. I’ve earned $105 for about an hour and a half price of “work” to this point.

Try my full User Interviews review for extra.

Respondent

Greatest for Business Execs

Respondent

4.1

Earn a mean of $75 per challenge, and get notified of upcoming research you might qualify for.

Respondent additionally focuses on one-on-one market analysis interviews, largely executed over the cellphone or on-line.

Based on the positioning, the common payout is over $100 an hour. Try our full Respondent review for extra.

(I’ve earned $395 to this point — $190 of which was for a spotlight group that concerned taking part in with Legos!)

Uncommon Affected person Voice

Greatest for Medical Analysis

Rare Patient Voice

4.5

Sufferers and caregivers can earn $120/hour whereas serving to advance medical analysis.

A number one supply for medical analysis, Rare Patient Voice pays sufferers and caregivers $120 an hour. A lot of the research are cellphone or webcam interviews, and you may browse a full listing of obtainable research on their website.

If you happen to undergo from any kind of medical situation (even when it’s not tremendous uncommon), I feel this one is price a glance.

FocusGroup.com

FocusGroup.com is run by Sago, a long-running analysis firm. They provide nationwide cellphone or webcam analysis alternatives that pay between $75 and $200.

I earned $115 for a 45-minute on-line survey — take a look at my full FocusGroup.com review to study extra.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is an organization the runs (largely) in-person focus teams. I took half in one among their research in San Francisco, and earned $150 for a 2-hour focus group, plus a $50 bonus prize for displaying up early.

They’ve areas all through the US.

Fieldwork focus teams usually final 1-2 hours, and pay begins at $75.

Try my full guide to Online Focus Groups for more cash incomes alternatives.

Different On-line Survey Choices

A lot of the consumer-facing survey choices beneath gained’t have hourly charges practically as sturdy because the extra industry-specific research that the choices above do, however they will nonetheless add up and you may knock them out in your spare time.

Listed below are a few of Facet Hustle Nation’s prime picks: