HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a market research in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A market research in Ireland costs €1,000–€10,000 per project, typically around €3,000. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a market research in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers market research work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — market Trends Analysis — market trends analysis focuses on identifying patterns and shifts in consumer behaviour and industry dynamics.
- How does complexity of the project change the price?An intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does methodologies used change the price?The work cannot be scheduled until this is known. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does expertise required change the price?Insurance and registration are built into a professional's price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Focus Groups — focus groups are small, diverse groups of people who discuss their perceptions and opinions about a product or service — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a market research job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES to chefs, stylists, organisers, errand runners or concierges. You are buying somebody's time, taste and access to your home, so the checks are about trust and what is written down rather than about law.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Whether they are a trader — a business name and an invoice, not a favour with money attached; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; For anyone in your home unaccompanied, references you actually telephone; For food, whether they hold food-safety training and where the food is prepared; Exactly what the hours cover and what counts as extra; Keys and access in writing: who holds what, and how it comes back.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers market research work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — market Trends Analysis — market trends analysis focuses on identifying patterns and shifts in consumer behaviour and industry dynamics.
A good answer: An intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The work cannot be scheduled until this is known. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Insurance and registration are built into a professional's price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Focus Groups — focus groups are small, diverse groups of people who discuss their perceptions and opinions about a product or service — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a market research job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too — competitor Analysis — competitor analysis involves examining the strengths and weaknesses of rival businesses in the market.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the market research starts, and an itemised invoice after — consumer Surveys — consumer surveys are designed to gather insights directly from potential customers.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the project — an intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct.
- Methodologies used — the work cannot be scheduled until this is known.
- Expertise required — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price.
- Size of the target audience — a large job ties up a whole day rather than part of one.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the project — an intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct
- They will not talk about it: methodologies used — the work cannot be scheduled until this is known
- They will not talk about it: expertise required — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price
- A price for the market research before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the market research has begun
What a market research costs: €1,000–€10,000 per project
The figures are for the job, per project, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Consumer surveys and Competitive analysis each carry their own band. Market Research price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Market researchs near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of the project — an intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct — that is what the market research is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneMethodologies used — the work cannot be scheduled until this is known — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfExpertise required — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSize of the target audience — a large job ties up a whole day rather than part of one — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the market research is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, data collection methods — the answer to this shapes the rest of the quote.
- Consumer Surveys
- Consumer surveys are designed to gather insights directly from potential customers.
- Competitor Analysis
- Competitor analysis involves examining the strengths and weaknesses of rival businesses in the market.
- Focus Groups
- Focus groups are small, diverse groups of people who discuss their perceptions and opinions about a product or service.
- Market Trends Analysis
- Market trends analysis focuses on identifying patterns and shifts in consumer behaviour and industry dynamics.
- Competitive Analysis
- Assessing competitors' strengths and weaknesses to identify market positioning opportunities.
- Market Trend Analysis
- Examining existing data to identify emerging trends that could impact the business.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a market research: questions people ask
The cost of market research is influenced by the complexity of the project, the methodologies used, and the expertise required. For instance, in-depth qualitative research may cost more than simple quantitative surveys due to the time and resources involved.
The duration of a market research project can vary significantly based on its scope. Simple surveys may take a few days to complete, while comprehensive studies involving focus groups or extensive data analysis could take several weeks.
While general market researchers can handle many projects, complex studies may benefit from specialists with expertise in specific industries or methodologies. Hiring a qualified professional can enhance the quality and reliability of the findings.
Emergency or same-day market research is generally not feasible due to the time required for data collection and analysis. However, some providers may offer expedited services for urgent needs, typically at a higher cost.
Yes, many market research firms offer packages that combine various services, such as surveys and focus groups. Booking multiple services can often lead to cost savings and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the market.
Out of scope items for market research may include implementation of findings, ongoing monitoring of market trends, or services that require regulatory compliance. It's essential to clarify the deliverables and limitations with your provider before starting the project.
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