In our previous two articles in an on-going series on what to expect hiring a private investigator if you are an individual, we discussed making initial contact and having clear goals, as well as red flags when dealing with individuals who aren’t private investigators but are calling themselves such.
In this installment of our series, we will be discussing different aspects of pricing.
What Will It Cost?
This is, of course an important aspect to hiring an investigator as an individual. Much like other legal/professional services, these can vary depending upon the agency, and how that agency structures its pricing. Some will have an hourly rate, in which they will charge additional fees on top depending on the case work. Others will have a more all-inclusive pricing.
Non-inclusive pricing will have the investigator tell you an hourly rate, and then charge additionally for other items and services related to the case. This can include things like telephone calls, photocopying, travel time, meals, etc. So while the hourly rate may seem lower, additional fees can drive up the cost.
Inclusive pricing is just that – a set price per hour (or potentially day or week if required by the case) that does not charge as many, if any additional fees. Gilliam Burke Investigations, for example, offers inclusive pricing, so the hourly rate quoted is what the client can expect to be charged. It avoids potential surprises for the client when the invoice is given at the end of the case.
Have Your Budget In Mind
Do not be shy about telling the investigator your budget. This will help the investigator design a case plan that best suits your needs and resources. Come to the consultation with your budget in mind, and the investigator will discuss with you the feasibility of the budget in respect to your case.
Working With A Retainer
Most investigators, like law firms, work on a retainer basis. This means the client and investigator discuss their needs and budget, and then the investigator quotes a base price that will be payable up front before work commences on the case.
The investigator(s) then works towards that retainer. When the retainer is reached, if the case is not completed, additional funds will be required to continue.
If the case is concluded, then the file is closed, and information or items obtained from the case, as well as a final report, are provided to the client.
If the case is completed and the retainer funds are not all used, most reputable agencies will provide the remainder of the funds back to the client.
However, it is important to note, that each agency will have its own retainer policy, and it is important for the client to ask for this information. Most often, when the contract is signed, there will be a stipulation in the contract saying how the retainer funds are used.
A detailed account of how Gilliam Burke Investigations uses your retainer can be found here.
At Gilliam Burke Investigations, we work with inclusive pricing, within the client’s budget, and we return funds in the retainer not used back to the client (or can provide a credit on their account if our services will be utilized again in the future).