Every research project is different, so we don't publish fixed prices—a single figure would be misleading. Instead, we scope each engagement individually and give you a clear, written quote before any work begins. Here's exactly how that works, and what determines the cost.
A doctoral candidate who needs one analysis of data they already have, and a policy institute commissioning a full economic-impact model from scratch, are not doing the same thing—and charging them from the same table would be dishonest to one of them. Research work is genuinely bespoke: the method, the state of the data, the depth of specialism required, and the timeline all vary enormously from project to project, and each of them moves the cost.
Publishing a single headline figure, or a rigid menu of prices, would force us either to pad every quote to cover the hardest case or to quietly add charges once the real work revealed itself. Neither is how we want to work. Instead we look at your actual project, tell you honestly what it will take, and give you one clear number—agreed in writing—before anything starts.
What we can be completely transparent about is how a quote is built and what drives it. That's what this page is for.
When we scope your project, these are the factors we weigh. Understanding them helps you see why a quote is what it is—and where you have choices that affect it.
How much work the project actually involves—a single analysis, a full multi-stage study, or an ongoing program—and how methodologically demanding it is. A straightforward regression and a system of simultaneous equations are not the same effort.
Some methods require deeper or more specialised expertise. A standard panel model draws on our core capacity; a specialist technique—advanced causal identification, structural modelling, a niche qualitative approach—may bring a specialist into the project, which is reflected in the quote.
Clean, analysis-ready data costs less to work with than data that needs sourcing, cleaning, harmonizing, or constructing. If most of the effort will go into building a usable dataset, that shows up in the scope.
A comfortable timeline lets us plan efficiently. A genuinely urgent deadline—a submission or grant window measured in days—may require rearranging priorities, which can affect the cost. We're always honest about what a timeline realistically requires.
What you need at the end—results and code only, or also publication-ready tables and figures, a written methods section, reviewer-response support, or an institutional report—defines the scope, and therefore the quote.
Whatever the scope, our standard of methodological rigour does not change. Where applicable, this includes tested assumptions, appropriate diagnostics, reproducible analytical workflows, and honest reporting.
Most projects are quoted in one of three ways. We'll recommend the one that fits your work and is fairest to you.
Best when the task is clear—one analysis, an audit, a specific study. We agree the scope and quote a single fixed price for it, so you know the total cost up front with no open meter.
Best for bigger or evolving work. We break it into phases—design, analysis, reporting—each scoped and quoted separately, so you can review and decide at each stage rather than committing to everything at once.
Best for faculty, institutes, and institutions who draw on us regularly. We agree a way of working that flexes with your needs, so you have analytical capacity on call without a new quote for every small task.
The scoping conversation is free and carries no obligation. You get a clear number before you commit to anything.
Share your research question, your data, and what you need—through the contact form or by email. The more you can tell us, the more precise the quote.
A methodologist reviews it and, if anything is unclear, asks. If we're not the right fit, or a simpler approach would serve you better, we say so—at no cost.
A clear proposal: what we'll do, what you'll receive, the timeline, and the price. No hidden extras, no scope creep once work is underway.
You decide in your own time. Work begins only once you've approved the scope and the price—so there are never any surprises.
The questions we're asked most often about cost.
Tell us about your project and we'll come back with a clear, written scope and price—usually within two business days, and always before any work begins.