I tested Small Business Knowledge Center (SBKC) to see if forwarding your junk mail really pays. It is legit and pays real money, but the earning potential is low. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend instead.
Legit, but the earning potential is low
You forward junk mail and emails, and answer the odd survey. A $20 MasterCard gift card at 2,000 points. US residents only.
On this page
The short answer
Small Business Knowledge Center is legit and not a scam. It is a market research company that pays you for forwarding your junk mail and emails, and for answering its surveys.
But the earning potential is relatively low, survey opportunities are limited, and the website leaves out a lot of information. It is only open to US residents. It can be a decent supplement to other survey sites, but do not expect to earn a lot from it.
- You can earn real money
- You can turn your spam emails into an earning opportunity instead of just deleting them
- Pre-paid envelopes for your postal mail, replenished regularly
- A phone number you can call for support
- Low earning potential
- The website does not provide enough relevant information
- Survey opportunities are quite limited
- No way to check your point balance, apart from a monthly newsletter
- Only open to US residents
My experience with Small Business Knowledge Center
I looked at the SBKC panels, the ways to earn, the rewards, the registration form and the support options. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- July 2019Review first published Jul 18, 2019
- Latest retest
- Checked: ways to earn, rewards, support
- Reward
- $20 MasterCard gift cardIt was a Visa gift card when I first tested it
- Panel I looked at
- Consumer panelThe panel for people who want to earn extra money
- The consumer panel and the ways to earn
- The rewards and how points work
- The registration form, which only lists US states
- The contact form, the FAQ and the support phone number
- Answering surveys on a phone. SBKC does not say if that works.
- A payout. My review does not show a gift card from SBKC.
Small Business Knowledge Center at a glance
| What it is | Market research company with a consumer panel and a producer panel |
|---|---|
| Ways to earn | Forwarding junk mail and emails, mystery shopping surveys, a referral program |
| Main earner | Forwarding direct mail and emails about topics like insurance, banking, credit cards, travel and retail |
| Reward | $20 MasterCard gift card at 2,000 points, sent to your postal address |
| Point balance | Only in a monthly newsletter. There is no other way to check it. |
| Possible income | $20 in 6 to 10 weeks, according to SBKC |
| Mobile | You forward emails from your phone. SBKC does not say if surveys work on mobile. |
| Who can join | US residents only. Under 18, you need permission from your parents or legal guardian. |
| Support | Contact form, email, a FAQ and a phone number (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm). No social media pages. |
Is Small Business Knowledge Center legit and safe?
Yes, SBKC is a legit market research company, and it pays real money. But that does not automatically make it worth your time. Here is what you should know before you sign up.
- Low earning potential
What you earn depends on how much junk mail and how many emails you receive. SBKC shows $20 in 6 to 10 weeks as possible income. You can earn much more than that in the same time with surveys on other sites.
- You cannot check your point balance
SBKC sends a monthly newsletter with the points you have collected. Apart from that, there is no way to see your balance.
- Paid with a gift card by mail
At 2,000 points, SBKC mails a $20 MasterCard gift card to the postal address you registered with. There is no PayPal option.
- Surveys are limited
Survey invites come periodically. SBKC does not say if there are pre-qualifying questions, so do not expect to earn from every invite.
- US residents only
The website does not say it, but the registration form only lists US states and asks for no country.
My takeSo even though SBKC can turn your junk into gold, so to speak, the earning potential of this site is relatively low. It can, however, be a decent supplement to other survey sites you can join since it will pay you real money.
SBKC pays real money, but not a lot. These sites let you earn on a more regular basis.
See the best alternativesHow you earn on Small Business Knowledge Center
There are 3 ways to earn on the consumer panel. Forwarding mail and emails is the main one. Tap one to read more.
Sending mail and emailsMain earner
Unlike most survey sites, the main way to earn on SBKC is sending it the direct mail and emails you receive. They have to be about one of its topics, like insurance, investments, mortgages and loans, banking, credit cards, telecommunication, travel, department stores, electronics, food and beverage, home improvement, pet supplies, technology or online retailers.
Forward the emails to [email protected]. For postal mail, request pre-addressed, pre-paid envelopes from SBKC. It replenishes them regularly, so you can send as many as you want.
What is nice about this, in my opinion, is that you turn the spam emails you keep getting into money. This is one of the few times I have seen this type of earning opportunity on a survey site.
Mystery shopping surveysPeriodic invites
SBKC periodically sends you mystery shopping survey invites. Complete a survey, and you receive the reward.
SBKC does not say if you have to answer pre-qualifying questions first. Most survey sites work that way, so do not expect to earn from every invite.
Referral programSmall extra
SBKC says you can refer friends and get something in return, but it does not say what. Do not expect to make a lot from this.
How much can you make?
There is no limit to how much mail and how many emails you can send. So it depends on how much junk mail and how many emails you receive: the more you receive, the more you can earn.
SBKC shows that you can potentially earn $20 in 6 to 10 weeks, which is not bad, in my opinion. But you can earn much more than that in the same amount of time by answering surveys on other sites.
It also takes a bit of effort, because you need to remember to forward your emails, and to collect your physical mail and send it back. The earning potential is not great, but it is good enough as a side hustle.
How you get paid
| Reward | Minimum | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
| MasterCard gift card | 2,000 points ($20) | Sent to the postal address you registered with |
SBKC uses points. You earn them every time you send mail or an email, answer a survey and possibly refer a friend. At 2,000 points, you are sent a $20 MasterCard gift card. It used to pay with a Visa gift card when I first tested it.
The process is pretty straightforward. The only issue is that you do not always know how many points you have. The monthly newsletter tells you, and it also brings bonus opportunities. Based on feedback from members, it usually arrives around the 15th of the month.
If you prefer a more convenient payout method, see the top survey sites that pay through PayPal.
Who can join, and how
SBKC is only open to US residents, although the website does not say so. The registration form asks for your postal address and a state, not a country, and it only lists US states. That makes sense, because SBKC mails your rewards to that address.
The website does not state an age requirement. Its terms and conditions say that if you are under 18, you need permission from your parents or legal guardian.
You do not have to log in to the website to earn. You forward emails from your email client, so you can do that on your phone too.
What 2 readers told me
This review has 4 comments since March 2021: 2 from readers and 2 replies from me. Both readers asked about who can join.
The registration form only lists US states. One reader in 2022 said they are a member from Canada. SBKC is not available in the Philippines.
“They’re not just in the US. I’m a member and I live in Canada. … I find SBKC consistent and reliable with their rewards. I usually earn 6 or 7 Visa gift cards a year.”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences about this.
“hopefully this is available here in my country Philippines”
Mikael: But you can check out this list of the best free sites to earn online in the Philippines.
Small Business Knowledge Center 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 | Easy to use. US, Canada, Australia and the UK | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Branded Surveys | Surveys in the US, UK and Canada, paid via PayPal, bank transfer or gift cards | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| PrizeRebel | Surveys, tasks and offers, with a very low threshold | $5 PayPal; some gift cards from $2 | 4.8 / 5 |
If you are looking for survey sites that let you earn on a regular basis, see the top survey sites in your country. All of them have better earning opportunities than SBKC, and you will find a site no matter where you live.
How I scored Small Business Knowledge Center
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. Platform Information.
Small Business Knowledge Center scores 44 out of 100. For better earning opportunities, see these sites first.
See the best alternativesSmall Business Knowledge Center FAQ
Is Small Business Knowledge Center a scam?
No. SBKC is a legit market research company that pays real money for forwarding your junk mail and emails and for answering its surveys. The earning potential is low.
How does SBKC pay?
With a $20 MasterCard gift card, mailed to your postal address once you reach 2,000 points. It used to be a Visa gift card.
How much can you make with SBKC?
It depends on how much junk mail and how many emails you receive. SBKC shows $20 in 6 to 10 weeks as possible income.
Which emails can I forward?
Emails and direct mail about SBKC’s topics, like insurance, banking, credit cards, travel, retail, technology and more. Forward emails to [email protected].
How do I check my points?
Through the monthly newsletter. There is no other way to check your point balance.
Who can join SBKC?
US residents only. The registration form only lists US states. If you are under 18, you need permission from your parents or legal guardian.
How do I contact SBKC?
Use the contact form, send an email, or call the phone number on its website, Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
Who tested Small Business Knowledge Center for this review
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Small Business Knowledge Center, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
They’re not just in the US. I’m a member and I live in Canada. Given the pittance that most survey sites pay out these days (assuming you can even get them to pay out sometimes), I find SBKC consistent and reliable with their rewards. I usually earn 6 or 7 Visa gift cards a year. Those are a bit of a pain, given that they have an expiry date and you have to remember to use them. I usually will use them to top up my Amazon gift card balance.
Thanks for sharing your experiences about this.
hopefully this is available here in my country Philippines,im very much interested to recieve and read emails or by taking paid surveys
for an amount of money this pandemic..
Unfortunately, this particular platform in not available in PH. But you can check out this list of the best free sites to earn online in the Philippines.