Home-Based tracing and background checks

Solicitors, small businesses, landlords, insurers and private individuals who need facts checked.

Fixed fee per trace or check, or an hourly rate for longer cases. Repeat work from a few solicitors or agents can make income steadier.

• Careful research and attention to detail
• Clear report writing
• Discretion and good judgement on what is lawful

• Private investigators are not currently licensed by the SIA in the same way as door supervisors, but rules can change, so check the current position
• UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018: check whether you must pay the ICO data protection fee and how to handle personal data lawfully
• Never use deception to obtain personal data, as this can be a criminal offence
• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
• Work from home may need permission from your landlord or mortgage lender

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £2,500, depending on training, research tools or subscriptions, insurance and software. These are estimates, so compare real quotes and start with the tools you actually need.

Monthly revenue is typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on the clients you win, the types of case and how many you take on. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit, and it can start from around 8 hours a week.

Check the current licensing position, as private investigators are not currently licensed by the SIA but rules can change. Check UK GDPR duties and whether you must pay the ICO data protection fee. Never use deception to obtain personal data, as this can be a criminal offence.