What a VCS study costs
Every study is designed around your claim, so the final price depends on the panel size, study length, number of visits, instruments and photography. These starting prices show where most studies begin. Tell us your claim and we will send a fixed proposal within 48 hours.
From $9,000A consumer perception study with panelist questionnaires
$40,000 to $65,000A full anti-aging study with expert grading, instruments, questionnaires and photography
Proposal in 48 hoursA written, fixed price for your study. No NDA is needed for a first conversation
Starting prices by study type
| Study type | Typical design | Starting at |
|---|---|---|
| Safety and irritation | Patch testing, 30 panelists, 3 to 4 weeks | $1,250 |
| Consumer perception | 25 to 30 panelists, questionnaires at 2 to 4 timepoints | $9,000 |
| Moisturization | 25 to 30 panelists, measured from baseline to 24 hours | $11,000 |
| Perception plus expert grading | 30 panelists, expert grading and questionnaires, 4 to 8 weeks | $15,000 |
| Efficacy with instruments and grading | 30 to 35 panelists, instruments, expert grading and questionnaires, 4 to 8 weeks | $22,000 |
| Clinical photography add-on | Studio images at each visit, usually on a subset of 3 to 5 panelists | $1,850 per panelist |
| Rush topline results | Topline data 2 weeks after the last visit, added to any study | $1,750 |
What drives the final price
- Panel size. More panelists give more statistical power, and cost more to recruit, screen and pay.
- Study length and visits. Each visit means washing, acclimation, grading, measurement and questionnaires.
- Methods. Each instrument, grading attribute and photography view adds time at every visit.
- Special requirements. Blinding, placebo control, specific skin types or conditions, or a rushed timeline.
Included in every study
- A written protocol designed around your claim, for your approval
- IRB review through Allendale IRB when the study requires it
- Recruitment, in-person screening and onboarding of every panelist
- In-clinic visits in rooms held at 20 to 24 °C and 30 to 70% relative humidity
- Panelist payments through ClinCard
- Quality Department review of the data against every results table
- A final report that belongs to you
Get a fixed proposal
Tell us the claim you want to make and your timeline, and we will send a written proposal with the study design and price within 48 hours. No NDA is needed for a first conversation; we sign one before you share formulas or confidential data.
