HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a startup advisor in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A startup advisor in Ireland costs €80–€300 per hour, typically around €150. 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 startup advisor in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers startup advisor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — mentorship and Networking — advisors often provide mentorship and leverage their networks to connect you with other entrepreneurs, potential partners, and industry experts.
- How does advisor's experience change the price?An expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of your startup change the price?It is where estimates most often turn out to be wrong. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does specific services required change the price?A basic option and a premium one are different jobs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Market Entry Strategies — startup Advisors offer strategic advice on how to effectively enter your target market — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a startup advisor 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 startup advisor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — mentorship and Networking — advisors often provide mentorship and leverage their networks to connect you with other entrepreneurs, potential partners, and industry experts.
A good answer: An expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is where estimates most often turn out to be wrong. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A basic option and a premium one are different jobs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Market Entry Strategies — startup Advisors offer strategic advice on how to effectively enter your target market — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a startup advisor 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 — funding Strategies — A key role of a Startup Advisor is to help identify suitable funding options, whether through venture capital, angel investors, or crowdfunding.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the startup advisor starts, and an itemised invoice after — business Planning — startup Advisors assist in creating comprehensive business plans that outline your vision, mission, and objectives.
Getting the quote right
- Advisor's experience — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour.
- Complexity of your startup — it is where estimates most often turn out to be wrong.
- Specific services required — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs.
- Complexity of your business model — it is where estimates most often turn out to be wrong.
- 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: advisor's experience — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour
- They will not talk about it: complexity of your startup — it is where estimates most often turn out to be wrong
- They will not talk about it: specific services required — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs
- A price for the startup advisor 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 startup advisor has begun
What a startup advisor costs: €80–€300 per hour
Most startup advisors quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Business model development and Market research and analysis each carry their own band. Startup Advisor 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
Startup advisors 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, or book by the hour.
- Look firstAdvisor's experience — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour — that is what the startup advisor is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of your startup — it is where estimates most often turn out to be wrong — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSpecific services required — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of your business model — it is where estimates most often turn out to be wrong — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the startup advisor is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, duration of engagement — the hours add up faster than people expect.
- Business Planning
- Startup Advisors assist in creating comprehensive business plans that outline your vision, mission, and objectives.
- Funding Strategies
- A key role of a Startup Advisor is to help identify suitable funding options, whether through venture capital, angel investors, or crowdfunding.
- Market Entry Strategies
- Startup Advisors offer strategic advice on how to effectively enter your target market.
- Mentorship and Networking
- Advisors often provide mentorship and leverage their networks to connect you with other entrepreneurs, potential partners, and industry experts.
- Business Model Development
- This involves creating a clear and viable business model that outlines how the startup will generate revenue and sustain itself.
- Market Research and Analysis
- Advisors conduct thorough market research to identify trends, target audiences, and competitive landscapes that inform strategic decisions.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a startup advisor: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the advisor's experience, the complexity of your startup, and the specific services required. More experienced advisors typically charge higher rates, while those who specialise in niche markets may also command a premium.
Most advisory sessions last between one to two hours, depending on the topics discussed and the depth of the advice needed. Initial consultations may be shorter, while more detailed strategy sessions could extend longer.
It depends on your specific needs. General Startup Advisors can provide broad guidance, while specialists may be necessary for specific sectors or regulatory compliance. For instance, if your startup involves regulated industries, a qualified specialist may be essential.
While many advisors operate on a scheduled basis, some may offer emergency consultations for urgent matters. Availability can vary, so it's best to inquire directly if you need immediate assistance.
Yes, many Startup Advisors are open to scheduling multiple sessions, which can often lead to a more cohesive strategy. Bundle packages may also be available, providing a better rate for multiple bookings.
Startup Advisors generally do not provide legal or accounting services unless they are qualified in those areas. They focus on strategic advice, business development, and mentorship rather than operational tasks like bookkeeping or legal filings.
MORE GUIDES