What our research costs
Most single studies land between A$1,200 and A$1,950, with multi-site and replication work above that, and ongoing monitoring from A$200 a quarter. We quote one fixed fee per job after a free consultation — but you shouldn't have to book a call just to find out whether we're in your budget. So here are the real numbers, for every service.
Typical investment by scope
Introductory rates. These prices apply to our first five Australian engagements as we build our local case-study base. They will be reviewed once those are complete. Anything quoted to you in a written proposal is locked for that job regardless of what happens to these rates.
These are the ranges most engagements fall into. Your actual fee is confirmed in writing before any work begins, and it doesn't move afterwards. All figures are in Australian dollars and include GST.
Free consultation + pre-screen snapshot
We talk through your concept, the site, and where you are in the deal. Where it helps, we follow up with a short pre-screen snapshot — local demand signals, benchmark cost bands and early red flags — at no cost. You leave knowing whether the research is worth doing at all, and we send a tailored fixed-fee proposal within 24 hours.
Single-site feasibility study
- Catchment, demand and competitor analysis
- Full financial model — P&L, break-even, working capital
- Sensitivity analysis and risk register
- A clear Go / Refine / Pause verdict
Acquisition pressure-test
- Everything in the single-site study
- Vendor-numbers screening — what the seller's figures actually support
- The asking price tested as an earnings multiple
- Lease assessment and modelled-vs-verified callouts throughout
- Due-diligence conditions to attach to your offer
Multi-site comparison
- Two or three locations or concepts modelled side by side
- Demand, rent-to-revenue, break-even and sensitivity per site
- Ranked recommendation with the reasoning shown
Concept replication study
- Fingerprint why your existing venue actually performs, graded against your real numbers
- 10–15 lookalike areas screened and scored, short-stay regulation checked on each
- Side-by-side comparison of the top candidates, with one recommended
- Add a full feasibility study on the area you choose for +A$1,000
Add-ons and ongoing work
| Service | Fee | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Lender & investor pack | From +A$650 | An extension to any study: three-year monthly cashflow, debt-service coverage tested against the 1.25 lender benchmark, serviceability sensitivity and a funding-structure summary — plus an editable financial model that agrees with the report to the dollar. Prepared to lender presentation standards. |
| Refine-to-Go re-assessment | Reduced fee | If your report came back "Refine", adjust the levers we flagged — rent, concept, capex, trading hours — and we re-run the model at a reduced fee within six months of delivery. |
| Market Pulse | From A$200 / quarter | For clients with a delivered report. We re-check the assumptions your decision rested on — rent comparables, competitor set, wage and cost movements, demand signals — against the live market each quarter, and tell you whether the verdict still stands. Monthly cadence available. |
What moves the price
Two cafés are not the same job. These are the factors that decide where in the range a quote lands.
| Factor | Effect on the fee |
|---|---|
| Number of sites or concepts | Each additional location adds roughly A$700–850 — the catchment and competitor work is done again from scratch for each one. |
| Greenfield vs acquisition | Buying a going concern means screening the vendor's numbers and drafting due-diligence conditions. That's the acquisition pressure-test tier, not the single-site tier. |
| Who the report is for | A study you're using to make your own decision is lighter than one a bank or investor will read. Lender-ready formatting and evidence standards add to the scope. |
| Data availability in the location | Metro sites with rich public data are quicker. Thin regional markets take more primary work to reach the same confidence. |
| Venue complexity | A 40-seat café is a smaller model than a licensed multi-revenue venue with accommodation, functions and a bar. |
Outside Australia
We produce studies for the United Kingdom on the same model, priced against local comparables rather than converted from Australian dollars — see marketondemand.co.uk/pricing for UK figures. The United States, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland are quoted on request.
Common questions
How much does a feasibility study cost in Australia?
A hospitality feasibility study from MarketOnDemand currently costs between A$1,200 and A$1,950 including GST, at introductory rates. Single-site studies are A$1,200; acquisition pressure-tests start at A$1,950; multi-site comparisons start at A$2,600. For comparison, the closest Australian specialist comparable starts at A$2,785.
What do MarketOnDemand's services cost?
The free consultation and pre-screen snapshot cost nothing. A single-site feasibility study is A$1,200. An acquisition pressure-test, for buying an existing venue, starts at A$1,950. A multi-site comparison starts at A$2,600, and a concept replication study starts at A$2,950 (plus A$1,000 if you add a full study on the winning area). A lender and investor pack is an add-on from +A$650, and Market Pulse — ongoing quarterly monitoring for past clients — starts at A$200 a quarter. These are introductory rates for our first five Australian engagements. All figures include GST.
Why don't you publish one fixed price?
Because the work genuinely differs. A single café in a metro suburb and a three-site licensed venue comparison are not the same job, and pretending otherwise means either overcharging the simple job or under-delivering the complex one. The ranges above are real; the exact fee is set once we understand the scope.
Is the price fixed once quoted?
Yes. You receive one fixed fee in a written proposal before any work starts. There is no hourly billing and no variation unless you change the scope yourself.
How do payments work?
Fifty per cent on acceptance of the proposal, which starts the work, and fifty per cent on delivery. Invoicing is through Xero. The debrief call can happen before the final payment clears.
How long does a feasibility study take?
A single-site study is usually delivered within five to seven business days of the deposit clearing. Acquisition and multi-site work takes longer and the timeline is confirmed in the proposal.
What do I actually receive?
A 13–18 page report covering catchment and demand, competitor set, a full financial model with break-even and working-capital requirements, sensitivity analysis, a risk register, and a clear Go / Refine / Pause verdict — plus a debrief call to walk through it.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. It's a 30-minute conversation with no obligation and no payment details taken. If the research isn't worth doing for your situation, we'll tell you that on the call.
Find out what your job would cost
A 30-minute conversation, then a tailored fixed-fee proposal within 24 hours. No obligation either way.
Book a free consultation → Or download the pricing guide as a PDF