How much does Private Investigation Cost?

What do Private Investigators Charge for a case?

The question of cost is, of course, one that is discussed in every case and so here I will write a little about how Private Investigators generally charge for their cases.

Each case is always unique. There is no template, however, certain types of investigation generally require a particular skill set and it is this that we use as a guide when costing out a case but we have to bear in mind that at the point of quoting the case, we have no idea how the case will actually unfold and therefore it is difficult to be 100% certain what a case will cost.

Having said that, experience enables us to guide clients as to what to expect financially and we find ourselves to be accurate most of the time. We stay in touch with our clients so they understand what is happening (or not happening) in the course of the investigation and this assists the client to understand why an extra cost may apply or indeed why the case will actually be cheaper than we thought.

Pricing generally falls into 3 main areas which are:

A Retainer/Deposit, Flat Fees and Hourly Rate

There may be a combination of these involved in one case.

A Retainer or Deposit Payable Upfront

Running an investigation incurs costs and by requesting a deposit/retainer we ensure those costs will be met.

The deposit may form all or part of the overall budget. The way it is likely to be used and what further fees may be applied would all be discussed with the client beforehand.

Requesting an upfront payment can also help us to establish that the client is committed to their case and is taking their investigation seriously enough to invest in it.

Flat Fee

A flat fee is charged when a task is straight forward and there are unlikely to be any extra tasks involved. A simple job that accomplishes a single goal.

Hourly Rate

All Private Investigators have a set hourly rate. The rate my vary depending on the time of day. Often this rate is stated as a standard practice as a guideline in relation to the retainer or deposit but can occasionally stand alone but rarely as most Private Investigators will not expense an investigation upfront for you and instead would quote a deposit amount which consists of a certain amount of hours of investigation whilst allowing room for costs incurred.

There are a few things to keep in mind regarding the costs in involved in hiring a Private Investigator. Because the Investigator is only in control of the investigation and not "the real world" where anything can happen and that is of course the arena in which we operate, the client needs to appreciate this and understand that there often can be no givens in this line of work and it is due to this that choosing a reputable and honest investigator is necessary. One which is clear about pricing, talks to you during the course of the investigation (meaning not necessarily while they are trying to negotiate traffic and stick with a target, but at the end of each day) and keeps the client up to date about the costs that are incurred each day is well worth the time in seeking out.