City guide
Professional Matchmaker Chicago
Professional matchmaker Chicago searches we could verify cost $3,500 to $250,000+. Chicago dating coaches cost less: $275 to $500 a session, or $1,997 for a 3-month program.
Key takeaways
- Smart Dating Academy lists Chicago date coaching at $275 to $500 a session (date coaching page, checked Oct 15, 2026).
- Michelle Herzog, a Chicago-based therapist who coaches women, charges $300 for a 60-minute call and $1,997 for a 3-month program (coaching page, checked Oct 15, 2026).
- Master Matchmakers lists searches at $3,500 to $35,000, and LUMA lists $20,000 to $250,000+ (Master Matchmakers pricing, LUMA cost page, checked Oct 15, 2026).
- ABC7 Chicago reported in Nov 2023 that matchmaking can cost $2,500 to $25,000, and one Batavia client paid about $3,000 (ABC7 Chicago).
- Dating by Blaine starts Chicago matchmaking at $35,000, but its paying clients are men. Women can fill out an intake to be considered as a match (Chicago page).
- I couldn't open the text of Illinois's dating service law, so check with the Illinois Attorney General before you sign (checked Oct 15, 2026).
Who are the professional matchmakers in Chicago?
Chicago has local matchmakers, a few big national firms, and some strong dating coaches. On Oct 15, 2026, I opened each one’s own site and confirmed it says it serves Chicago. Six of the nine have a price you can see before you call.
| Refund policy | Who it suits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Dating Academy | Dating coach | Chicago; single sessions you can do from home, and longer packages with a Chicago photo shoot | $275 to $500 per session (30 or 60 minutes) (its website) Oct 15, 2026 | Not stated on the pages checked | Women who want one or two focused sessions before buying a bigger package |
| Michelle Herzog | Dating coach | Chicago-based licensed relationship therapist; dating coaching for women | $300 for a 60-minute strategy call; $1,997 for a 3-month program (its website) Oct 15, 2026 | Not stated publicly | Women who want someone with therapy training to look at their dating patterns |
| Matchmake Chicago | Matchmaker | Downtown Chicago, the North Shore and the west suburbs | About $3,000 (one client's cost, reported by ABC7 Chicago, Nov 3, 2023) source Oct 15, 2026 | Not stated publicly | Singles who want a local, family-run firm that does its own photos and background checks (per ABC7) |
| Master Matchmakers | Matchmaker | Chicago and nationwide | $3,500 to $35,000 for a premium search; $450 one-time registry membership (its website) Oct 15, 2026 | Registry fee is non-refundable. Premium searches can be paused, and unused matches can be given to a friend. | People who want promised matches and a price that depends on how picky the search is |
| LUMA Luxury Matchmaking | Matchmaker | Chicago and nationwide | $20,000 to $250,000+ for full-service matchmaking (its website) Oct 15, 2026 | Not stated on the pages checked | Big budgets that want a custom search |
| Dating by Blaine | Matchmaker | Chicago; paying clients are men. Women can fill out an intake to be considered as a match. | Starts at $35,000; most Chicago searches $35,000 to $50,000 (men only) (its website) Oct 15, 2026 | Not stated on the city page | Women who want to be considered for a matchmaker's male clients |
| Three Day Rule | Matchmaker | Chicago | Not published | Not stated on the city page | Singles who want a national firm with a Chicago team, including LGBTQ+ singles |
| It’s Just Lunch Chicago | Matchmaker | Chicago | Not published | Not stated publicly | Singles who want a long-running national brand |
| Selective Search | Matchmaker | Headquarters at 35 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago | Not published | Not stated publicly | High budgets; it markets itself as elite matchmaking |
Three Day Rule, It’s Just Lunch and Selective Search don’t post prices. Selective Search lists its headquarters on Wacker Drive. For how the national firms price things, read professional matchmaker cost and Three Day Rule cost.
What do Chicago matchmakers and dating coaches charge?
Every Chicago price I could tie to a source is below, from a coaching call to a luxury search.
- Smart Dating Academy, one coaching session (published on its website) · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Michelle Herzog, 60-minute call to 3-month program (published on its website) · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Matchmake Chicago, one client's cost (ABC7, 2023) · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Master Matchmakers, premium search (published on its website) · checked Oct 15, 2026
- LUMA, full-service matchmaking (published on its website) · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Dating by Blaine, matchmaking (men only) (published on its website) · checked Oct 15, 2026
Where these numbers come from:
- Smart Dating Academy: $275 to $500 per session on its date coaching page · checked Oct 15, 2026. Calls with founder Bela Gandhi are $275 for 30 minutes and $500 for an hour on the coaching calls page · checked Oct 15, 2026.
- Michelle Herzog: $300 for a 60-minute call and $1,997 for her 3-month program on her coaching page · checked Oct 15, 2026.
- Matchmake Chicago: no price on its site. A client told ABC7 Chicago · checked Oct 15, 2026 she paid about $3,000. That’s one person’s cost, not a price list.
- Master Matchmakers: $3,500 to $35,000 for a search, or $450 for its registry, on its pricing page · checked Oct 15, 2026.
- LUMA: $20,000 to $250,000 or more on its cost page · checked Oct 15, 2026.
- Dating by Blaine: starts at $35,000, with most Chicago searches at $35,000 to $50,000, on its Chicago page · checked Oct 15, 2026. It matchmakes for men only.
A spot in someone’s pool is not the same as being a client. Free matchmaking services explains the difference.
What are Chicago singles saying about matchmakers?
This part is anecdote, not data. It comes from a Nov 2023 story on ABC7 Chicago · checked Oct 15, 2026.
- Natalia La Cava of Batavia hired Matchmake Chicago after a breakup. She made herself a deal: go on a date with every person her matchmaker picked. She did, and she met her partner. She said she paid about $3,000.
- Dana Davenport of Naperville was tired of the apps. She told ABC7 they felt “like being in Costco or Sam’s Club” with rows of pictures. She worked with a matchmaker at Connectricity and found someone.
- ABC7 put the usual range at $2,500 to $25,000, depending on the company and the services.
I love La Cava’s deal with herself. She didn’t audition anyone over text first. She just showed up.
WBEZ also profiled Kara Laricks · checked Oct 15, 2026, a Chicago-based LGBTQ+ matchmaker and date coach with Three Day Rule.
Dating coach in Chicago or a matchmaker: which do you need?
A matchmaker brings you people. A coach helps you choose better and show up differently.
| Matchmaker | Dating coach | |
|---|---|---|
| Published Chicago price | $3,500 to $250,000+ | $275 to $500 a session; $1,997 for 3 months |
| What you get | Someone else finds and screens dates | Help with your profile, choices and patterns |
| Who does the work | Mostly them | Mostly you |
| Best for | A big budget and no time | App burnout, repeat patterns, dating after divorce |
| The catch | The pool may not fit your age | Nobody hands you dates |
Smart Dating Academy and Michelle Herzog both coach women, and Herzog is a licensed therapist. For more on choosing, read matchmaker vs dating coach and dating coach cost.
What does Illinois law say about a matchmaking contract?
Some states have a law written for dating service contracts. Illinois may have one, but I couldn’t open the official text on Oct 15, 2026, so I won’t guess at what it says. Three things I can tell you:
- If anything in a contract feels off, contact the Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Protection office · checked Oct 15, 2026 before you sign.
- The federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule · checked Oct 15, 2026 is narrow. It covers some sales made at your home or at a seller’s temporary location. It doesn’t cover sales made fully online or by phone, or deals closed at the seller’s own office. When it applies, you have until midnight of the third business day to cancel.
- Find the words “refund,” “cancel” and “substitution” in the contract before you pay.
To see which states do have a verified law, read dating service contract cancellation rights. Then run your contract through the matchmaker contract checklist.
What should you ask on the first call?
A good matchmaker or coach answers all of this without getting cagey.
Questions for the first call
From Dating Coach Online · datingcoachonline.com · By Maya, Dating Coach
For coaches, add the questions in questions to ask a dating coach.
Where should you go from here?
Compare national services on matchmaking services near me, or browse matchmakers and dating coaches by city. If you’re on the fence about the money, is a matchmaker worth it runs the numbers.
Want a second opinion before you sign anything? Book a free consultation. Your note comes to me, Maya, and nobody else.
Questions people ask
How much does a matchmaker cost in Chicago?
The published Chicago prices we found run from $3,500 (the low end at Master Matchmakers) to $250,000+ (the top of LUMA's range). ABC7 Chicago reported one local client paid about $3,000. Most firms quote on a call.
How much is a dating coach in Chicago?
Smart Dating Academy lists $275 to $500 a session. Michelle Herzog charges $300 for a 60-minute call, or $1,997 for a 3-month program.
Is there a free matchmaker in Chicago?
Not really. Dating by Blaine lets women fill out an intake to be considered for its male clients, and Master Matchmakers charges $450 to join its registry. Being in a pool makes you a possible match, not a client.
Can I cancel a matchmaking contract in Illinois?
I couldn't verify the Illinois statute text, so I won't guess at the rules. Read the cancel clause before you sign, and call the Illinois Attorney General's consumer office if it's unclear.
Do Chicago matchmakers run background checks?
Some say they do. Matchmake Chicago told ABC7 it vets each client with a background check. Ask any firm what its check covers and who it applies to.
Are there LGBTQ+ matchmakers in Chicago?
Yes. WBEZ describes Kara Laricks as a Chicago-based LGBTQ+ matchmaker and date coach with Three Day Rule.
Is a Chicago matchmaker worth it?
It can be if you have the budget and very little time. If your real problem is picking the same kind of person, a coach costs far less and works on that.