I make over $2,500 a month from focus groups. Here's how I decide which ones are worth my time and how to find the highest-paying ones.

• Filipe, a 30-year-old entrepreneur, makes an average of $2,845 a month participating in online focus groups.
• He started his own business teaching others how to make money from focus groups, after quitting his retail job for more flexibility.
• Focus groups are consumer studies by big brands who pay well for opinions on their products or services.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Filipe, a 30-year-old who goes by only his first name online and who runs his own business, One Click Hustle. Business Insider has verified his identity and income. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I first got started with online focus groups back in 2020. A friend posted an Instagram story about how research participants were needed for a study.

I had no idea what it was, but I clicked on the link and filled out the survey.