By Dr. James M. Dahle, WCI Founder
It's a simple proposition. You have valuable knowledge and can always use a little extra money. Various companies want that knowledge and are willing to pay for it. Why not get the two parties together and make a deal that causes them both to be better off? You can take surveys for money. You can make money taking online surveys. Online surveys for cash. Got it?
Recommended Physician Survey Companies
So, which companies should you try out? Here are the five we recommend. Note that we have an affiliate relationship with each of these companies. If you sign up with them, we get paid a few bucks. Thank you for going through these links to support the mission of The White Coat Investor. You also sometimes get a special deal by going through these links that you can't get by going directly to the company.
#1 All Global Circle
The All Global Circle community is set up to provide a clear, easy, and efficient means of communication between the pharmaceutical industry, the research industry, and those professionals who are using new developments and end products on an ongoing daily basis. If All Global Circle can't get you a survey to take within 90 days, they'll pay you a loyalty bonus just for logging in and checking a couple of times per month. By signing up through these links, you'll get an extra $50 just for being a member of the WCI community. It generally pays within two weeks of survey completion.
Sign Up for All Global Circle today!
#2 Incrowd
InCrowd’s 5-10 minute MicroSurveys use a mobile-first approach, giving physicians an easy way to participate in paid research on diverse healthcare topics. It’s medical research designed for physician schedules. Incrowd will take people from all of these fields:
- Active Physician
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Nurse (BSN, LPN, RN, CNA)
- Physician Assistant
- Hospital Administrator
- Psychology
- Optometry
- Pharmacists and Staff
- Managed Care
- Dentistry
- Practice Managers
- Dental Hygienists
- Medical Resident or Fellow
- Veterinarian
- Genetic Counselor
Incrowd pays via Paypal or Tango (gift cards). It pays for surveys every time your balance reaches $25 and for interviews within 24 hours.
Sign Up for Incrowd today!
#3 Zoom Rx
ZoomRx surveys are quick, easy and tailored to your specialty. If you need to step away for a second you can automatically pick up where you left off the next time you log in. You can choose PayPal as your payment method and get paid instantly. Or they offer payment by check.
Sign Up for Zoom Rx today!
#4 Opinion Site
Join OpinionSite to share your expert feedback on new products, patient treatment trends and issues impacting the everyday lives of healthcare professionals. Participate in a wide array of engaging surveys and interviews. Your personal information and privacy are fully protected at all times. Digital payment tools provide a quick and easy way to redeem the rewards you earn for participating in research. It takes less than 5 minutes to join and once your membership is approved they will begin matching you with the meaningful medical research that fits your interests, with invites being sent to your inbox whenever a new research opportunity matches your profile.
OpinionSite accepts:
Active Physician
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Nurse (BSN, LPN, RN, CNA)
Physician Assistant
Hospital Administrator
Psychology
Optometry
Pharmacists and Staff
Managed Care
Dentistry
Practice Managers
Dental Hygienists
Medical Resident or Fellow
Veterinarian
Genetic Counselor
Technician, Technologist, and Imaging
OpinionSite accepts healthcare professionals in the US, Canada, UK, and EU.
Sign Up for Opinion Site Today!
#5 MD for Lives
This opportunity is for doctors, nurses and pharmacists (but no residents.) Plus those without NPI: Decision Makers- Directors, Managers, C-Suite Executives, Hospital Admins, Lab Admins, Optometrists, Payers, Healthcare Regulators, and Veterinarians. It's all on an app for both Android and iPhone, making it super convenient to do surveys on your phone during downtime. MD for Lives pays via Paypal, Amazon vouchers, or through edX or Coursera, and it pays monthly. Surveys pay $50-$500. If you sign up via these WCI links, you'll get a $20 sign-up bonus.
Sign Up for MD for Lives today!
Why Doctors Should Take Paid Surveys
Why would someone want to become a paid survey-taker? There are a fair number of reasons besides the obvious.
#1 Take Surveys for Money
A surprising number of doctors are looking for a side gig. Multiple streams of income are a good thing. Taking surveys isn't ever going to overtake your clinical practice as your main source of income, but you can make a surprising amount of money doing them as a physician, especially compared to non-physician online survey companies.
#2 Start a Business and Get a Solo 401(k)
Here's another big reason people want to do surveys. If you are an employee at your practice, one big advantage of taking surveys is that you get some self-employment (1099) income. Since you and your employer are completely unrelated employers, that means you can start an individual or solo 401(k). Yes, that's right, you can have more than one 401(k). Assuming you're maxing out the 401(k) at your main gig, you can contribute 20% of what you make doing surveys into the solo 401(k). You can also roll traditional, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs into it, allowing you to do a Backdoor Roth IRA, at least if Congress continues to allow them after 2021. Be sure to treat the enterprise as a real business. Get an Employee Identification Number and a separate business bank account. Treat its finances separately from your own. Report the income and put any expenses on Schedule C and SE each year.
#3 Make a Difference
These companies really do want to know what you think, so much so that they're willing to pay you for your knowledge and opinion. This influences the products they come out with, how they market those products, and perhaps even what they charge for those products. Most of the time we're talking about medications here, but there are certainly surveys about other products.
#4 Learn About New Products
Let's not kid ourselves. These companies also want to get the word out about their new medications and other products, and they want to develop brand recognition. Why shouldn't you get paid for them to advertise to you? Plus, you'll be up to speed on the latest and greatest.
How Much Can You Make Taking Physician Online Surveys?
It depends on how many surveys you take, how much each survey pays, and how quickly you can take them. No matter how many companies you sign up for, you're not going to get enough surveys that you can spend all day just taking surveys. You have to take them as they come. But it's pretty easy to knock them out during some downtime during the day, while watching TV, while helping with homework in the evening, or while commuting on public transit.
The companies generally send you a check 4-6 weeks after the study or survey is complete. Hourly rates while actually taking the survey range from $60-$300 per hour, although most surveys won't take an hour. If you really make an effort at this, it would not be terribly difficult to make $1,000-$2,000 per month on surveys. In at least one case, WCI columnist Rikki Racela made $30,000 in a year by taking surveys. An extra $10,000-$20,000 might not be much for a super-efficient and busy plastic surgeon, but it's enough to move the needle for lots of doctors and it is life-changing money for a resident or fellow.
What About the Screen-Outs on Medical Surveys?
One of the biggest complaints of doctors who have tried surveys is that they often get five or 10 questions into the survey only to learn that they will not be paid to take it. They are “screened out.” This can be particularly annoying as it often feels like they already got your opinion and valuable advice just in the screen-out questions and didn't bother compensating you for it. There are a few ways to work around this.
#1 Play the Game
With some experience, you can often figure out what the company is looking for and make sure you screen in, rather than out. Obviously, you don't want to compromise your integrity for $100, but there is some gamesmanship here in the gray areas.
#2 Take a Lot of Surveys Knowing the Screen-Outs Will Happen
You can also view the screen-outs simply as part of the job. Even if you're screened out of 3/4 of the surveys, is it still worth your time? If so, then quit beating yourself up about screen-outs.
#3 Let Market Forces Adjust
These companies know that survey-takers hate being screened out. So they have an incentive to minimize the screen-outs, too. If one company screens you out more than the others, quit taking their surveys and take the ones from companies that don't screen you out. If not enough docs are willing to even try their surveys, it may force these companies to pay you something less than the full survey price when they screen you out. Some companies already do this outside the physician survey space, although they're only paying 5-25 cents for screenouts.
#4 Fill Out Your Profile Completely and Carefully
Many sites allow you to fill out a profile. They use this profile to decide which surveys to send you. The more completely you fill it out, the fewer surveys you will get but also the fewer screen-outs you will get. That means that a much higher percentage of the surveys you do take will go all the way.
#5 Take the Survey Soon
Most companies hiring a survey company only want a certain number of responses. There may be quotas for each type of group—50 emergency docs, 50 family docs, and 50 internists for instance. The sooner you take the survey, the more likely you are to get in before they get their required number of responses.
#6 Read Questions Thoroughly and Don't Rush
Believe it or not, there are people who just click through surveys as quickly as possible to try to get paid. Obviously, the data from those survey-takers is worthless. So the companies actually screen out people who go too fast. Especially if you miss a question such as, “The answer to this question is B. Please select B,” that has been specifically inserted to catch people doing that and screen them out. If the survey is supposed to take 20 minutes, don't finish it in two.
#7 Stick to Short Surveys
Shorter surveys tend to have fewer qualifying questions and may even pay more on an hourly basis.
Does Your Medical Specialty Matter for Online Surveys?
Unfortunately, yes. Years ago when I looked into doing surveys, I discovered that my opinion as an emergency doctor was worth dramatically less than that of an endocrinologist, rheumatologist, neurologist, or dermatologist. Why? Because my main prescriptions are on the Walmart $4 list. If you're prescribing $10,000+ a month biologics, your opinion is a whole lot more valuable than mine! Don't get me wrong, there are surveys for every specialty, but some definitely have an advantage.
What About the Sunshine Act?
Many doctors would prefer their names not appear in the public database of the Sunshine Act, which requires pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers to report all payments and gifts made to physicians. Payments to physicians for participating in pharmaceutical and medical device marketing research are typically made by research companies, instead of manufacturer-sponsors. Those payments are, in most cases, excluded from reporting under the Sunshine Act law.
Do I Have to Pay Taxes on Online Survey Income?
Yes, all earned income is taxable, even if the compensation comes via gift cards. The companies aren't required to send you and the IRS a tax form unless you earn $600+ in a year, but you're required to report it all as income.
Ready to Get Started Taking Surveys?
So, what should you do if you're serious about this? Should you form a company before doing medical surveys?
#1 Get an EIN
The first thing I would do is get an Employer Identification Number (EIN). You don't have to do so. You can simply use your own personal Social Security number. You'll automatically have a sole proprietorship and file a Schedule C for this new business. However, if you want to open a Solo 401(k) to shelter 20% of your survey income, you will need an EIN so you might as well get it now. It's fast and free from the IRS. Seriously, it's super easy. Like 30 seconds easy.
#2 Open a Business Bank Account and Paypal
Next, open a business bank account at your bank or credit union. Get a Paypal account, too, for your new business. Link them together. Route all income and expenses for this business through those accounts. You don't have to do this, but it will make your accounting MUCH easier at tax time.
#3 Sign-Up with All the Companies Above
Which company to sign up with? Sign up with all of them. Why not? It's free and easy. You can sign up with all five in less time than it takes to open a bank account. As time goes on, you will likely find you get more surveys from some than others. That's OK. No harm done. Be sure to use the WCI links above for special deals and to support our mission.
#4 Return and Give Feedback Below in the Comments
After you gain experience working with these companies, come back and tell your fellow white coat investors about it. Maybe you can inspire another doc to begin doing their own side hustle without having to actually spend much time doing it.
If you are already doing surveys, share your experience. Which companies do you like best and why? Which do you not like so much? What other companies should we add to the list? Which ones pay the most and the quickest? Which are least likely to screen you out? Comment below!
We are a dual physician couple who will have a few thousand (5-10k) in survey income this year. This is the first year that we’re doing this. We max out our employer sponsored 403b and 457 and contribute about 20% of our pretax income to a 401a (defined contribution plan). We’re interested in setting up solo 401k accounts related to our survey income for the benefit of being able to rollover 401k/403b balances from prior employers into this account. I have a few questions related to this:
1. When requesting an EIN related to this business (that does the surveys), should we structure this business as a sole proprietorship, qualified joint venture, or a partnership?
2. Our understanding is that since we maximize our employer sponsored 403b plans, we can only contribute 20% of the survey income to solo 401k as employer contributions. Is this correct?
3. Should we open one or two solo 401k accounts for the two of us?
Thank you.
1. Might be easiest to do two sole proprietorships. That’ll keep you from having to do a partnership return. You’re getting two separate 1099s right? So you could easily do two Schedule Cs, get two EINS etc. The only downside is you’d have two separate solo 401(k)s.
2. Yup, 20% of net income as an employer contribution.
3. Either is fine, but if it’s two separate companies, it has to be two separate solo 401(k)s. The alternative is to do a partnership and one solo 401k. You know, as I think about it, maybe what I’d do is a qualifed joint venture. Then it’s only one company, one EIN, and one 401(k), but you don’t have to do a partnership return. You do have to do two schedule Cs though I think, but that’s really no big deal.
I am an attending. I get survey offers from M3 global but always get screened out after I waste time answering questions. I gotten at least 10 survey offers so far. Is this a common trend?
Yes, it’s very common, unfortunately. A lot of screening sections are unfairly long. You have to decide if it’s worth your time in order to get the compensation for the ones that you actually pass the screening for.
I see some of these have a skip tab for the screening questions, I will try to use that next time. To be screened out of 10 plus surveys? I am an anesthesiologist. Some of these survey sites don’t even have anesthesiology listed as a specialty. lol
Anesthesia is certainly not a highly desirable one. They really like the docs that prescribe expensive stuff- Heme/Onc, Neuro etc.
I’m sorry dude 🙁 I wrote a blogpost about surveys and how my wife, an anesthesiologist, always gets screened out: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/how-i-made-30000-taking-doctor-surveys/
I strongly advise against signing up for Curizon. I attempted two surveys with them. The first contained a major logic flaw that prevented me from continuing the survey. I reported this, yet it was never resolved. The second I spent 20 minutes completing, and after reaching a message that said I had completed the survey save for some final demographic questions, I completed those demo questions only to be informed I was screened out. I reported this as well and escalated the matter until a manager “confirmed” I had been screened out. Absolute nonsense.
Are the surveys open for retired physicians?
You’d have to check with each one individually. I bet some would still be interested in your opinion, especially if you’re a recent retiree.
Question related to disclosures re finances and pharma- for survey work, do these have to be reported in conflict of interest statements when publishing an article or giving a talk? Do you even find out which pharma company you’re working with/ causing the COI?
Seems an appropriate disclosure to me, assuming it can be done.
You never find out which pharma company is sponsoring the survey. Always a middleman company in between.
Does anyone know if there are surveys for medical lab directors (PhD)? It’s not clear from these lists.
Never seen one.
Ya “The science advisory board”
For purposes of jumping into this for solo401k contribution, do you need a business PayPal account or can you just have checks sent directly to you or to a business checking account e.g. Schwab? In other words do some survey sites only wire money though the likes of PayPal? Thanks!
hey UCSB (UC Santa Barbara?) however you get paid has no bearing on making a solo401k contribution. the survey companies can differ in how you get paid. most have the option just to send a check, though many have options to get a visa rewards card, amazon money, etc. You do not need a business PayPal account, nor do you need checks sent directly to business checking account. having checks sent to you personally is fine. I have not seen a survey site that will only wire money through something like PayPal.
Awesome, thank you! Yes, UC Santa Barbara!
Depends on the company. I think some are paypal only. No big deal though, Paypal is easy to use.
Best to have a business account and if you need to use Paypal, having a dedicated account to this business activity. That’s just good practice. If you’re going to do a solo 401(k), you’re going to need an EIN and that’s what should be used for the bank account.
Thank you, as always!
Are residents able to complete surveys? I’m a family medicine resident.
Some, yes.
You did not recommend many of the top paying survey companies for physicians. Atheneum, Reckner, Schlesinger, Guidepoint, and Zoomrx pay much higher rates and are much easier to work with. Some of the survey companies you recommend don’t disclose how long their surveys take before doing them so you can’t make an educated decision to decide if the time is worthwhile. I do about 300 surveys and interviews a year for the last years so I have a lot of exposure to all the companies out there. DrMoves.com
Thanks for sharing John. We’ll reach out to those companies.
Does anybody have any experience in podiatrists (DPM) being able to do these?
Don’t know how many surveys they would get, but why not sign up and see? Or shoot that question around to the various companies and ask how many podiatry surveys you’d get in a year to decide if it’s worth your time.
I plan to start a solo 401k with survey money. For my survey company 1099’s, should I be entering my EIN or SSN for tax purposes. Does it matter?
EIN
Shoot, I had already entered my SSN. Will this pose a problem when opening a solo 401k?
I doubt it, but I’d try to change it if you can.
no worries man, I sometimes made the mistake of putting my SS#, and sometimes the tax form you have to fill out online doesn’t even allow you to put ein#, just the SS#. It didn’t matter in the end as the 1099 you receive still goes to you, and you report on your taxes the 1099 income as part of you company and make your solo401k deduction based on that.
I would recommend Sermo, Schlesinger and M3 global
Stay far away from MDforLives- they never pay ,