How to Start a Private Investigation Business: A Proven Blueprint for Success shows you a way into the world of private investigation, the types of investigations to target, employee and independent contractor management, finding and dealing with clients, some common misconceptions in the field, and all the nuts and bolts of starting your investigation business.

Book & CD-ROM. Did you spend your childhood reading detective novels, imagining how amazing it would be to start your own agency? Have you recently retired from your current job in the police, military, or other investigative agency? Do you want to start your own company? If so, consider owning and operating your own private investigation business. With a massive upside and potential for growth, the industry has been booming for years. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics' Occupational Handbook for 2010-2011, numbers are projected to increase as the demand for private investigators increases in a time of heightened security, employee background checks, cyber crime, and increasing litigation. The BLS projects 22 percent growth in the field over the next decade. Now is the perfect time to break into the private investigation industry. This book was written for anyone who has considered working in the field of private investigation and decided that it would be ideal for them. How to Open and Operate a Private Investigation Business will teach you everything you need to know about the profession, starting with the basics of what you can expect and which preconceptions are just Hollywood fancy. You will discern the key differences between a private investigator and a police officer and why those who want to be the latter should consider all their options before getting into private work. You will learn how to choose a niche of investigation and how to think critically. You will pick up tips on how to investigate a case and perform all of your necessary functions legally. Whether you will be working out of your home or are looking to buy or rent office space, this book will provide a wealth of start-up information, from forming and naming your business to deciding if it will be a solo or joint venture. Several chapters are devoted to explaining how to form a partnership, LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship, as well as the legal implications for each type of business. This comprehensive manual will arm you with everything you need to operate your business, including sample business forms; contracts; worksheets and check lists for planning, opening, and running day-to-day operations; lists; plans and layouts; and dozens of other valuable, time saving tools of the trade that no business owner should be without. Giving detailed instruction and examples, the author leads you through every step that will attract success. You will learn how to draw up a winning business plan using the companion CD-ROM with an actual business plan you can use in Microsoft Word. You will familiarise yourself with basic cost control systems, copyright and trademark issues, branding, management, legal concerns, sales and marketing techniques, and pricing formulas. Understand how to hire and keep a qualified professional staff, meet IRS requirements, manage and train employees, generate high-profile public relations and publicity, and implement low-cost internal marketing ideas. You will learn how to build your business by using low- and no-cost ways to satisfy customers, as well as methods to increase sales and have customers refer others to you. This book imparts thousands of insider tips and useful guidelines, including case studies of real world successful private investigation businesses. Discover how to hire contractors and attract clients. Determine which licenses, liability insurance, contracts, and forms you will need, such as privacy agreements. You will find out what tools you need, including the right camera and lenses. Employ modern computer equipment to accent your investigations and use the internet to search through public records, private databases, and courthouse records to speed up the process. Learn how to perform background investigations, interviews, and surveillance and the basics of each type of investigation. For anyone who is considering or has ever considered starting his or her own private investigation business.

A fascinating examination of the world of private investigators by a 21st-century private eye. Today's world is complicated: companies are becoming more powerful than nations, the lines between public and corporate institutions grow murkier, and the internet is shredding our privacy. To combat these onslaughts, people everywhere -- rich and not so rich, in business and in their personal lives -- are turning away from traditional police, lawyers, and government regulators toward a new champion: the private investigator. As a private investigator, Tyler Maroney has traveled the globe, overseeing sensitive investigations and untying complicated cases for a wide array of clients. In his new book, he shows that it's private eyes who today are being called upon to catch corrupt politicians, track down international embezzlers, and mine reams of data to reveal which CEOs are lying. The tools Maroney and other private investigators use are a mix of the traditional and the cutting edge, from old phone records to computer forensics to solid (and often inspired) street-level investigative work. The most useful assets private investigators have, Maroney has found, are their resourcefulness and their creativity. Each of the investigations Maroney explores in this book highlights an individual case and the people involved in it, and in each account he explains how the transgressors were caught and what lessons can be learned from it. Whether the clients are a Middle Eastern billionaire whose employees stole millions from him, the director of a private equity firm wanting a background check on a potential hire (a known convicted felon), or creditors of a wealthy American investor trying to recoup their money after he fled the country to avoid bankruptcy, all of them hired private investigators to solve problems the authorities either can't or won't touch. In an era when it's both easier and more difficult than ever to disappear after a crime is committed, it's the modern detective people are turning to for help, for revenge, and for justice.

So you want to be a private investigator?• Little or no law enforcement or related experience?• Sick of sending resumes and calling companies only to hear 'no'?• Want to start your own business?• Want to know what it's really like being a P.I.? A few years ago I was in exactly the same position. Find out how I went from a standard corporate marketing job, to fulfilling my dream of becoming a private investigator - with almost no experience. From spreadsheets and office politics to stakeouts and car tailing. If you're in this position then this is the place to start. This book explains the exact steps I took to make it as a P.I. It's a combination of my own experiences, as well as the 20 plus books and countless articles I read during the process. Relevant for the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is the definitive guide. WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING: "Your advice and book structure has been the most easy to follow out of all the PI courses and books I've picked up. Your book is the first that actually breaks down the mindset and actions required... find out what value I can add to the PI firm of interest, look for skills I may already have that aren't necessary directly PI skills but good for their business, and be persistent in reaching out to offer assistance. Also, getting my hands on old cases to study is a brilliant idea. This makes a lot of sense."-Ewell "I finally received your book and I read it cover to cover in one sitting. There is so much useful information in it for those wishing to enter the industry that, at times, it almost felt like I was reading a handbook written for me personally. Thank you so much for writing such an informative and helpful book."-James "I recently bought your PI book and found it a really informative and enjoyable read. Having read many of the books on private investigations that are on Amazon, I found yours especially helpful."-Angus Find out: • The top 3 mistakes people make when looking for a job as a P.I.• How to provide value to an organization, even without investigative experience• A day in the life of a private investigator - truth and fiction• 14 typical cases you may be involved in• Reviews and links to dozens of books, articles and websites for further information This is not about the tools and techniques of a private investigator (e.g. surveillance, tailing, tracing, interviewing etc.), there are many other books and online resources for this. It is not a manual for the job itself; it is a guide on how to get into the industry in the first place. It is specifically for people with little or no experience who want to break into the exciting world of private investigation. Having read this book you'll come away knowing the first steps you need to take, some further reading or resources, or maybe you'll realize that private investigation is not really for you. Either way, this book can save you months of frustration sending out resumes and facing rejection after rejection. No more going round in circles. Don't waste any more time. Before doing anything else, start with this book.

This is the only PI book that tells you how to find the lucrative jobs and make big bucks. Find out what cities are naturals for PIs, which businesses desperately need investigators, how to stretch your limited advertising budget, how to use associations and clients to land other jobs, what three tools you must have to succeed and much more.

The complete series contains everything you need to learn about the business of launching, marketing, and boosting your Private Investigation company. This book contains all three how-to books in the series. Written by veteran Private Investigator John A. Hoda, CLI, CLE specifically for persons that want to get into the business or for practicing private investigators who want to improve their business and marketing skills. Critically acclaimed by industry veterans, Hoda illustrates several different approaches to achieving success and maintaining a sane work/life balance. The checklists are worth the purchase alone.

Observe someone without being observed. Dig up long-buried dirt. Catch a cheating spouse. The Everything Private Investigation Book shows you the basic research techniques and tricks the pros use. You'll learn how to get background information using a wide range of sources, including newspapers, court records, military files, and even the DMV. Written by experienced investigators, this guide helps you to: Use the Internet to get information on anyone and anything Conduct background checks for prospective employees or tenants Uncover hidden identities and assets Manage a physical or electronic surveillance Protect privacy and avoid identity theft Whether you're a journalist, an amateur genealogist, a business owner, a landlord, or just curious, you'll find essential information in this guide. In addition to being a valuable resource, The Everything Private Investigation Book is also a fascinating read. Even "armchair detectives" will enjoy reading about famous real-life and fictional PIs and the little-known secrets professionals use to crack the case. Sheila L. Stephens was the first female Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) special agent in the state of Alabama and one of the first in the nation. She recently graduated from Boston University with a master's degree in criminal justice. After leaving the ATF due to injury, Ms. Stephens opened a private investigation/security business. She is a criminal justice professor at Andrew Jackson University and a contributing writer and associate editor of The Agent, the newsletter of the National Association of Federal Agents (NAFA). Ms. Stephens lives in Bessemer, AL.