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Professional Matchmaker
Professional matchmaker services find, screen and set up dates for you. Depending on the type you hire, published prices go from $899 per introduction to $500,000 for a long search.
Key takeaways
- There are 3 main types: retained search, membership with a big pool, and pay per introduction.
- Retained searches cost the most: $50,000 to $500,000 at Selective Search, checked Oct 15, 2026.
- Membership firms start lower. Tawkify says client packages start at $4,900 (Tawkify).
- Pay per introduction exists: DateSpot charges $899 per intro after a $299 call (DateSpot FAQ).
- Tawkify says clients typically get about 1 match per month (Tawkify FAQ).
- Kelleher says its active search usually runs 1 to 2 years (Kelleher International).
- Matchmaker certification is sold by private schools like the Matchmaking Institute. Ask any matchmaker where hers came from.
What does a professional matchmaker do?
A professional matchmaker is a person you pay to find dates for you. You skip the swiping and the screening of strangers. They do that part.
Most of them work the same basic way:
- They interview you about your life, your goals and your deal-breakers.
- They search their pool and recruit new people who might fit.
- They screen each person. Tawkify, for example, says every match gets a criminal record screening and a live video screening Tawkify FAQ · checked Oct 15, 2026.
- They set up the date.
- They ask you both how it went, then adjust.
For the full step-by-step, read what to expect from a matchmaker.
What are the types of professional matchmakers?
The word “matchmaker” covers very different businesses. The table shows the three main types, with prices each firm publishes on its own site.
| Type | How it works | Published price range | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retained search (boutique) | A small team hunts for you for months or years | Selective Search: $50,000 to $500,000 (FAQ). LUMA: $20,000 to $250,000 or more (LUMA). Kelleher: $50,000 to $500,000 (Kelleher) | People with a large budget and a very specific wish list |
| Membership with a large network | You buy a package. They match you from a big pool and recruit more | Tawkify: from $4,900 (Tawkify). Elite Connections: $15,000 for 6 months (Elite Connections). Master Matchmakers Premium: $3,500 to $35,000 (pricing) | Busy people who want a matchmaker in their corner |
| Database or pay as you go | You pay per introduction or per month, with no big package | DateSpot: $899 per introduction after a $299 call (FAQ). VIDA Select: from $1,695 a month (FAQ) | Testing the idea on a smaller budget |
All prices were checked on Oct 15, 2026. Some big firms, like The Matchmaking Company, don’t publish prices at all. Three Day Rule skips the price page, but its blog puts the starting membership at $6,300 Three Day Rule blog · checked Oct 15, 2026.
Who hires a professional matchmaker?
Firms describe their clients as busy, serious and short on time. Kelleher describes its typical members as marriage-minded, high-achieving professionals Kelleher International · checked Oct 15, 2026. VIDA aims its service at accomplished professionals who value their time VIDA Select · checked Oct 15, 2026.
I think it’s simpler than that. People hire a matchmaker when they’re tired of screening strangers alone. I was 35 when I tried one.
So before you pay for anything, ask who is actually in the pool.
How much does a professional matchmaker cost?
Anywhere from a few hundred dollars to six figures. DateSpot has the lowest published price I found, $899 per introduction. Kelleher and Selective Search top out at $500,000.
The full price sheet, with sources and contract terms, is in the professional matchmaker cost guide. If you’re still deciding whether to spend anything, read is a matchmaker worth it first.
How do you hire a professional matchmaker?
Write down what you want15 minutes
Three must-haves and three deal-breakers. Keep it short.
Pick three firms to call30 minutes
Use the matchmaker hub table. Mix one big firm and one smaller one.
Ask for the pool, the price and the refund policyOne call each
Ask about the age range of their pool, the total price in writing, and what happens to your money if you stop.
Read the contract slowly1 hour
Look for the number of introductions, the term, substitutions and refunds.
Sleep on it1 night
Don't sign on the first call. A good matchmaker will still be there tomorrow.
Use the matchmaker contract checklist for step four. And compare firms side by side on the matchmaking services near me hub.
Where are professional matchmakers near me?
Most big firms work in many cities, and some work everywhere. For local options, these city pages are live now:
- AustinProfessional Matchmaker Austin
- BostonProfessional Matchmaker Boston
- ChicagoProfessional Matchmaker Chicago
- DallasProfessional Matchmaker Dallas
- DenverProfessional Matchmaker Denver
- HoustonProfessional Matchmaker Houston
- Los AngelesProfessional Matchmaker Los Angeles
- NashvilleProfessional Matchmaker Nashville
- New York CityProfessional Matchmaker NYC
- OrlandoProfessional Matchmaker Orlando
- PhiladelphiaProfessional Matchmaker Philadelphia
- PortlandDating Coach Portland
- San FranciscoProfessional Matchmaker San Francisco
- SeattleProfessional Matchmaker Seattle
- WashingtonProfessional Matchmaker Washington
Still checking providers in: Atlanta, Miami, San Diego. See the matchmakers and dating coaches by city page for what I have so far.
You can also browse every city in the matchmakers and dating coaches by city index. If you’re a busy professional, the matchmaking service for professionals guide compares firms that focus on you.
How do you become a professional matchmaker?
There’s no single path. Many matchmakers start with private training. The Matchmaking Institute in New York sells matchmaker certification and a starter kit Matchmaking Institute · checked Oct 15, 2026. That’s a certificate from a private school. Ask what it took to earn it.
Some places do regulate dating services. New York’s dating service law lets cities with more than one million people enforce it locally and require licenses NY GBL § 394-c · checked Oct 15, 2026. Check your own city and state before you open a business.
Already a matchmaker? You can get listed as a matchmaker here.
What should a professional matchmaker never do?
- Promise you a relationship. Kelleher itself says no reputable service can guarantee chemistry.
- Rush you to sign on the first call.
- Hide the price until after a paid intake.
- Swap your refund for “substitutions” without telling you up front.
If you’d rather work on how you date than who you meet, read matchmaker vs dating coach. Not sure where to start? Book a free consultation, and tell me what you’re looking for.
Questions people ask
What does a professional matchmaker do?
They interview you, search their pool and recruit new people, screen each match, and set up the date. After each date they ask both of you for feedback and adjust.
Is a matchmaker worth it?
If you want something serious, have the budget, and hate doing the screening yourself, it can be. Without a written refund policy, or with a pool that doesn't fit your age, it isn't.
How much does a professional matchmaker cost?
Going by published prices, anywhere from $899 per introduction to $500,000 for a retained search. Many firms only quote a price after a consultation.
How many matches will I get?
It depends on the contract. Tawkify says clients typically get about one match per month. Ask for the number in writing before you pay.
Do I need to live in a big city?
No. Many firms work nationwide. Tawkify says it works with clients in every state, and Three Day Rule lists a nationwide option.
Can a matchmaker guarantee I'll find someone?
No. Kelleher says no reputable service can guarantee chemistry. Some firms promise a number of introductions, which is different.
How do I become a professional matchmaker?
Most people start with a private training program, such as the Matchmaking Institute's certification, then build a pool of singles. Check your city and state rules too.