Chose a time and a place that doesn’t bias the composition of the group. For example, if you are convening groups of parents, don’t just hold them during the day—this will exclude parents who work outside of the home. If you are holding several focus groups, you may want to vary the days and times they meet: hold some during the day, some during the evening, and at least one on a weekend.

The meeting space should be comfortable and private. Don’t hold the focus group in a location that might be intimidating to some of the participants. For example, some groups may not want to attend a focus group held at a police station or in a neighborhood reputed to be dangerous. Serve light refreshments to make your subjects feel comfortable and to show your appreciation for their participation.

A typical focus group takes from 60 to 90 minutes. Allow another 30 minutes to check people in, administer a written questionnaire (if you decide to collect demographic and/or sensitive information this way), give people a break during the group, and to pay them.