Focus Group Facility & Qualitative Research

Operate focus group facility and conduct qualitative research studies

Startup Cost
$75,000-$400,000
Difficulty
Advanced
Time to Profit
18-30 months
Profit Potential
$12,000-$83,000/month

Overview

Focus group facilities generate $150,000-$1,000,000 annually with 50-70% margins.

In 2025, qualitative insights complement quantitative data.

Revenue from focus group facility rental ($1,500-$5,000 per group), focus group moderation ($2,500-$8,000 per group), participant recruitment ($75-$200 per participant), in-depth interview moderation ($200-$500 per interview), video streaming and recording, and analysis and reporting.

Successful facilities provide comfortable professional spaces, recruit quality participants, employ skilled moderators, enable client viewing (one-way mirror or video), and deliver actionable qualitative insights.

Market research firms and brands as clients.

Marketing through research industry networks, facility quality and location, moderator expertise, recruitment capabilities, and facility amenities.

Required Skills

  • Qualitative Research
  • Focus Group Moderation
  • Participant Recruitment
  • Facility Operations
  • Interview Techniques
  • Insight Analysis

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Qualitative insights valuable for clients
  • Can charge for facility, moderation, and recruitment
  • Long-term relationships with research firms
  • Virtual focus groups expand reach
  • Critical for product and concept testing

Cons

  • High facility build-out and lease costs
  • Participant recruitment challenging and costly
  • Need experienced skilled moderators
  • Geographic limitations for in-person groups
  • Competitive focus group market in major cities

How to Get Started

  1. Build or lease focus group facility with viewing room
  2. Develop participant recruitment capabilities
  3. Hire or train skilled moderators
  4. Market facility to research firms and brands
  5. Recruit participants for studies
  6. Conduct focus groups and interviews
  7. Analyze and report qualitative insights

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