Home-Based investigator: research and background checks
Work from home on records research, locating people and due diligence for lawyers and businesses.
- C$1.5k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
Desk-based investigation: searching public records, court filings, corporate registries and open sources to verify facts, find people or check backgrounds, then delivering a written report.
Your first three steps
- Check your provincial licensing rules to confirm whether desk research and background work needs a private investigator licence, and apply if so
- Set up a secure home office with encrypted storage and write a simple report template and price list
- Offer a trial report to a few local lawyers or small businesses and ask for feedback and referrals
Who pays
Law firms, small and mid-sized businesses doing due diligence, landlords' and employers' advisers, and individuals needing a person located.
How it makes money
Fixed fee per report or search package, or an hourly rate for larger research jobs. Regular law firm clients can bring repeat work.
Skills that help
- Careful, methodical research
- Clear report writing
- Knowing how to use public records and online sources
- Confidentiality and sound ethics
Watch out for
- Licensing may apply even to office-based investigation, so check your provincial regulator
- Privacy law and consent rules for background checks, especially for employment or tenant screening, differ by province
- Never obtain records by deceptive means; check what is lawful before taking a job
- Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
- Insurance suited to professional advice, and secure handling of client data
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: home-based investigator: research and background checks
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a home-based investigation business?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the research tools, software and insurance you choose. Costs vary with the type of work you plan to offer and your existing equipment.
How much can a home-based investigator earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many research jobs and background checks you take on and your rates. Estimates suggest at least about 10 hours a week of work.
What rules should I check before offering background checks?
Check whether your provincial regulator requires a licence, even for office-based investigation. Also check privacy law and consent rules for background checks, which differ by province, and whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence.
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