The Executive Suite: How to Start a Private Detective Business

Monday, September 23, 2013

How to Start a Private Detective Business

Because there are no specific educational requirements to start a private detective business, much of the learning required will have to be obtained on the go, while working to establish the business and an ongoing clientèle. Also known as PI's, private detectives fill a number of roles, and this will affect the paperwork and information required to start a business in the field.

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Find out what the requirements are in your state. Some states require PI's to be licensed, while others consider the profession more of a standard business and don't oversee its inner workings. In states where a license is needed, you may also need to pass a background check and maybe show proficiency in the use of a gun before you are allowed to open a PI business.
Obtain a license if required by your state. This may be necessary if you plan on doing surveillance and invading privacy (such as in the case of tapping phones or shadowing). Some states, like California and New York, require registration with the state before you can operate a private investigator business, while others, like Alabama, have no licensing prerequisites.
Get proper training. Because there are no official degrees for this career, training and education is mostly up to you. Hundreds of schools offer online training that covers everything from investigative services to gear and technology to surveillance. You will also need a good understanding of paperwork, such as filing out statements and writing investigative reports.
Establish yourself in the field. If you're an absolute beginner, it may make sense to partner up with somebody more experienced or to work as an apprentice for another firm before opening your own. This will give you a better outlook of the opportunities available and will teach you insider secrets regarding searches, investigations and increasing your profits.
Set up a website advertising your business and explaining what services you offer. This will allow you to reach potential clients beyond your immediate neighborhood, which could mean an additional source of income, as many cases could be handled by researching via the Internet or phone. You will also need to come up with a list of areas you want to specialize in. While this shouldn't prevent you from covering other investigative areas as well, having a few specific areas in mind will make you look more like an expert.