Starting a Market Research Firm Solo: How to Acquire Clients?

Ans: Let me congratulate you first, it is an excellent initiative you have taken, there are several firms in Market Research but there is always a demand for a genuine data driven research firm.
Initially you do not need a big team, you can handle solo, and when you require first go for management undergraduates as interns.
If you work smart client acquisition and retention will be really easy and smooth you can go step by step:
Create a one-page professional website, keep your clients’ segment in view and develop the content accordingly. Define methodology and tools in such a way that potential clients should relate immediately with their requirements. Don’t write lengthy content. Be precise be crisp.
Use business email id only.
Get very smart stationary printed, letterheads over 100 GSM, nice envelops, attractive business cards etc.
Search the websites where startups are registered such as startup India, start in up, istart etc., you will find a lot of startups who are in Launch phase or in Growth Phase, both look for secondary market research.
Exporters can be your potential clients.
Tourist planners.
Medical startups.
You have huge market for your service, start from here and you may ask time to time for further steps.
All the best