Local interviews and focus groups
Run face-to-face interviews and small focus groups for local businesses and councils in your area.
- £300-2k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
5,998 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 73200 “Market research and public opinion polling”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
In-person research such as street or in-store interviews, customer feedback sessions and small focus groups, followed by a written summary of what you heard.
Your first three steps
- Contact local shops, venues and community organisations to ask what they would like to know about their customers
- Prepare a simple focus group kit: question guide, consent form, recording method and a booked venue
- Offer a first session at a reduced price and collect a testimonial
Who pays
Local businesses, councils, community groups, charities and agencies that need people on the ground in your area.
How it makes money
Fee per project or per session, usually covering recruitment, running the session and a short report. Some work is paid per completed interview.
Skills that help
- Friendly, confident interviewing
- Recruiting and organising participants
- Note taking and summarising
- Staying neutral and not leading answers
Watch out for
- Get clear consent before recording anyone and check UK GDPR and ICO requirements
- Check public liability insurance, especially if you hire venues or work in shops
- If you work with children or vulnerable people, check whether DBS checks or safeguarding rules apply
- Budget for participant incentives and venue hire before quoting
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: local interviews and focus groups
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a local market research business?
Startup costs are typically around £300 to £2,000, depending on your equipment, insurance and venue needs. Remember to budget for participant incentives and venue hire before quoting clients.
What rules apply to running interviews and focus groups?
Get clear consent before recording anyone and check UK GDPR and ICO requirements. Check public liability insurance, especially if you hire venues or work in shops. If you work with children or vulnerable people, check whether DBS checks or safeguarding rules apply.
How much can I earn from local fieldwork?
Monthly revenue is typically around £400 to £2,500, depending on how many sessions you run and what you charge. Estimates start from about 6 hours a week, so it is a business you can build gradually.
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