Investigation Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average investigation services business in the United States generates $1.0M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 3,814 investigation services businesses in the U.S., employing 40,025 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $59K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Investigation Business Actually Do?
Private investigators — infidelity investigations, corporate fraud, background checks, insurance fraud, missing persons.
Who buys: Individuals (personal PI work), law firms, insurance companies, corporations.
Average Revenue
$1.0M
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$100K
per year
Total Businesses
3,814
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$84K
small business avg
Labor Cost
55.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$59K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Investigation Services Charge?
Private investigators charge hourly plus expenses for surveillance, background checks, forensic work.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
PI hourly rate | $75–200/hour |
Surveillance package (typical) | $1,500–7,500 |
Background check (comprehensive) | $50–500 |
Corporate fraud investigation | $5,000–150,000 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete investigation business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a investigation services business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the investigation services industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct service costs | $7 | $78K | Cleaning supplies, uniforms, equipment consumables — depends on service type. |
Wages & benefits | $55 | $576K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $58K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $39K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $20 | $213K | Insurance, background checks, training, transportation, admin. |
Net profit | $8 | $84K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
10.72%
openings/year
Closure Rate
8.92%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+4.51%
annual
Businesses Closed
1,757
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Investigation Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
21 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a investigation services business do?
- Private investigators — infidelity investigations, corporate fraud, background checks, insurance fraud, missing persons. Individuals (personal PI work), law firms, insurance companies, corporations.
- How much do investigation services charge?
- Private investigators charge hourly plus expenses for surveillance, background checks, forensic work. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average investigation services make per year?
- The average investigation services business generates $1.0M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $84K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many investigation services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 3,814 investigation services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 40,025 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a investigation services business?
- Startup costs for a investigation services business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the investigation services industry?
- The average employee in the investigation services industry earns $59K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The investigation services industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 4.5% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (10.7% entry vs 8.9% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 63% of investigation services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 1,757 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the investigation services industry earns $59,183/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 5,754 establishments employing 40,511 people, the typical business has about 7 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The investigation services industry has grown 23% since 2000 (from 15,525 to 19,038 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Investigation Services revenue with other industries: