Competitor research

I am starting a new business and I want to know how many marketing companies I will be competing with in my local area (Melbourne, Australia). I also want to know what kind of services they offer. My business is a boutique marketing and communications agency specialising in marketing strategy and implementation. My clients will be accountants, lawyers and people in the banking and finance industry (they may be banks, private equity firms, superannuation funds). They fall under the category of Professional Services. I am looking to select up to five freelancers for this project. As well as finding me important research on my competitors, I would like to finish up with a group of virtual assistants/researchers I can rely on for all future projects. When I take on new clients I will want the successful freelancers to be able to conduct similar kinds of competitor and industry research for my clients. To be successful in being selected for this project you might charge a low rate and take time to get the information, or you might charge a higher rate and get things done very quickly. I am all about RESULTS. I want to see RELEVANT information that helps me develop my business. However you go about getting the information is up to you so long as you don't waste time and charge me for it, and as long as you get the information I need. I am happy for you to ask a lot of questions in the beginning if I see potential for you to be very efficient once you fully understand the task. THIS PROJECT I created a step-by-step guide (attached) on how to research including suggested search words to use along with a spreadsheet (attached) to capture information. The spreadsheet has headings for the kind of information I want along with an example of what it could look like. I am not the most digitally minded person so if you have better search words to use, or better ways of searching I am okay with that.