7 Hot Trends For Private Investigators in 2007

Here is what I feel will either continue to be, or become, the top markets for private investigators in 2007. I have purposefully left out a lot of the "old standards" because I wanted to be more predictive about what I think is going to be several true cash centers for private investigation agencies who are struggling to compete or find business among traditional service offerings.

1. The entire Identity Theft market is a huge source of revenue for private investigators who want to specialize in preventing ID thefts or assisting those who have become a victim of identity fraud.
2. Surveillance while this is a traditional service private eyes have always offered, it will always be a highly lucrative market. Watching people and places accounted for 81% of my total billable hours in 2006.
3. Computer Forensics. As the population becomes increasingly computer savvy, more crimes are being committed with the assistance of a computer. Add to that the prevalence of information left on a computer which may point towards an extramarital affair or dangerous practices by children on the Internet and you have an emerging market which many private investigators have not yet fully realized.
Specialized training in forensic computer examination is required as there are a lot of shysters out there right now claiming forensics. I had a private investigator in Alabama call me the other day and tell me that forensics was one of his specialties. I asked him where he received his training and he told me that he received it in the military. I asked when he received that training and he said, "14 years ago." A lot has changed since then. I think he knew I had called him out on that one as he quickly got off of the phone.
4. GPS Vehicle Monitoring. As the costs come down on GPS tracking units and the reliability improves this service will continue to grow. A large market exists right now for fleet and heavy equipment tracking which is only beginning emerge.
5. Wireless Hotspot Security. Mark my words and I will be the first to predict it here and now... there will be a HUGE opportunity for wireless hotspot security audits and WiFi consulting. States (including NY and CA) are beginning to actually pass laws which require owners of wireless routers to secure them from routine public access. How easy would it be to drive around with a cheap WiFi hotspot finder and then test the signal for access security? You could then easily triangulate the signal to an owner and offer information and a 5 minute service to secure their wireless LAN. Last time I checked, there were at least 4 unsecured WiFi ports in range of my living room!
6. Security Consulting. It goes without saying that the US is becoming uber-security conscious and more people are demanding security both at home and at work. Requests for security services and surveys have risen 14% in my office year after year for the last 4 years and we don't even advertise these types of service offerings. Many of these requests are geared towards helping companies secure their data and information from theft; there must be something to it.
7. Competitive Intelligence. Competitive intelligence is the LEGAL way to gain information on a client's competitors in an effort to give them the edge in the marketplace. I had a case not too long ago where a friend wanted to start a commercial landscaping service and asked me how he could jumpstart his marketing and advertising. The solution was immediately clear- go to the consumers of such services first and offer to do the job better and a little less expensive than the current provider. So he hired my investigation agency to pick 3 commercial landscaping companies to follow and develop a client list. We not only developed an extensive client list for him but obtained copies of their marketing materials, products used, service fees and points of contact (the decision makers). Armed with this information my friend then simply approached the potential clients with a better offer.

Out of the 71 service consumers we identified, he landed 18 of them and had instant start up revenue; 11 of these 18 were clients of the same landscaping company so there was obviously a service problem. We focused our efforts on that one service provider for 2 more days and our client ended up gaining an additional 6 accounts. Our cost to him for services ended up being a little over $5,720 but the 24 accounts he picked up will have paid for our services in less than 2 months. We have replicated this type of service now well over a dozen times and are making this a featured service within my agency.

Do you have a featured market or service you think will be the next big thing for private investigators in 2007? I'd love to hear them.


L. Scott Harrell
CompassPoint Investigations
In Relentless Pursuit of your Success!

Florida * Alabama * Mississippi

Ofc (877) 363-4884
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Florida PI # A 2500251
Mississippi MPIA (1998)
Alabama State Business Licensed