PRICE GUIDE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · 2026–2027
Market Research cost in the UK
£5,000–£30,000 per project. Typically £15,000.
A professional market research project costs £5,000–£30,000 in the UK, with about £15,000 typical for a small qualitative study. Short online surveys and a few interviews are cheapest; focus groups, nationally representative surveys and international studies cost the most.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does a market research cost in the UK?
| Low end | £5,000 | a short online survey |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £15,000 | what most people pay |
| High end | £30,000 | focus groups or a nationally representative survey |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the accountants, solicitors and professional firms near you.
What moves the price
- Method — online surveys cost less per response than focus groups or in-depth interviews
- Sample size and audience — hard-to-reach B2B or specialist audiences cost more to recruit
- Incentives — participants are usually paid for their time, which adds to the research budget
- Analysis and reporting — detailed insight reports cost more than raw data tables
- In person or online — face-to-face groups add venue and travel costs
- Number of markets — research across several countries multiplies the cost
Professional services prices in the UK are up 12% over five years (ONS Consumer Price Inflation, Other services n.e.c., to 2026 August). Five years ago a typical market research would have cost about £2500 — an estimate from today's guide price and that index, not a recorded price. Source: ONS MM23 D7FR →
WHAT YOU GET
What a market research booking includes
Takes: Four to twelve weeks for most projects, depending on method and sample. Not included: Business consultancy, marketing campaigns and brand design are priced separately — see the related guides below.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common market research jobs
KNOW THE PRICE? NOW SEE THE REAL ONES
Market Research near you, with prices shown
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How to pay less
- Start with free desk research and government statistics before commissioning market research
- Use an online survey rather than focus groups when you need numbers, not depth
- Keep the market research questionnaire short to cut fieldwork costs
Before you book
- Check the agency follows the Market Research Society Code of Conduct
- Agree the objectives, sample, method and deliverables in a written market research proposal
- Ask how research participants' personal data will be handled in line with UK GDPR
- Ask whether participant incentives are included in the research price
Market Research cost: questions people ask
£5,000–£30,000 per project, with about £15,000 typical for a small qualitative study. A short online survey costs the least; focus groups and national surveys cost the most.
Four to twelve weeks for most projects, from design through fieldwork to the final report.
Not by law, but many follow the Market Research Society Code of Conduct and must handle personal data under UK GDPR.
Yes, for a start. Free statistics, online surveys and customer conversations can answer many questions before you pay an agency.
Strategy consultancy, marketing campaigns and brand design are separate services. An agency can often recommend partners for them.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, worked out from published UK market research price guides. They give a national range, not a quote.
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