Detectives.com

What Detectives.com does

Detectives.com is a nationwide network of licensed private investigators operating as a division of PI Bizness, Inc., headquartered in Algonquin, Illinois, with a Chicago office and listed presence in 18+ US metro markets. Founded in 1990, the company connects individual consumers, businesses, insurance carriers, and legal professionals with vetted local investigators, including former FBI professionals, law enforcement officers, and trained security specialists, across a claimed 700+ destinations in the United States and internationally.

The platform offers 14 core service lines (surveillance, background checks, asset location, missing persons, corporate intelligence, insurance investigations, litigation support, process service, etc.) and more than 50 specialty services spanning computer forensics, TSCM/bug sweeps, executive protection, bounty-hunter recovery, underwater investigation, and counter-espionage. Service delivery follows a franchise-style affiliate model — the Detective.com Network Program — in which independent investigator agencies join the network and receive exclusive geographic territories, branded websites, and marketing support. A MyCase.com-based client portal handles intake and case management, while operational technology is described in qualitative terms ("modern investigative tools," "professional-grade equipment") with no disclosed proprietary software stack.

The company monetizes primarily through quote-based professional services billed per case, with contingency fees applied to debt/judgment collection engagements. Customer acquisition is sales-led, driven by inbound phone calls (1-888-888-9011), website case-submission forms, and organic search traffic captured by the premium Detectives.com domain. No external funding, VC backing, M&A activity, or institutional investment is disclosed.

Name

Detectives.com

Legal name

PI Bizness, Inc.

Website

https://detectives.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Detectives.com is a nationwide network of licensed private investigators operating under PI Bizness, Inc., connecting individuals, businesses, insurance carriers, and legal professionals with vetted local investigators across 700+ US and international destinations on a quote-based, per-case billing model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Investigation Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611), Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services (56161)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAKAEAG

Domestic/Family & Matrimonial Investigations

Business & Public Services/Security & Investigations Services/Private Investigation & Background Screening

SECONDARYBPAIAGAI

Criminal Investigations & Forensics (Detectives, Crime Labs, CSI)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Law Enforcement & Public Safety (Police, Fire, EMS)

SECONDARYBPAHAAAN

Criminal Defense

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Legal Services

Keywords

• Private investigation services
• Corporate intelligence investigations
• Insurance fraud investigation
• Missing persons location
• Surveillance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investigative Services: Professional investigation services billed on a per-case or hourly basis. The company provides customized quotes based on case complexity and requirements. Services span surveillance, background checks, asset location, missing person searches, fraud investigations, and corporate intelligence. Pricing is quote-based and varies by service type and duration.
2. Debt/Judgment Collections: Debt collection services where investigators receive a percentage of the judgment recovered, providing a contingency-based revenue model for debt recovery cases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Detectives.com operates a nationwide network that connects individual, legal, insurance, and corporate clients with licensed, vetted private investigators delivering 14 core service categories and over 50 specialty investigation offerings. Service delivery is routed through an affiliated-investigator network with exclusive territorial assignments, supported by a client portal (detectives.mycase.com), 24/7 phone intake (1-888-888-9011), and rush-dispatch capability across 700+ destinations in the United States and internationally.

Product overview

Detectives.com is a nationwide network of licensed private investigators offering a comprehensive portfolio of investigative services across the United States and internationally. The company operates as a platform connecting clients with vetted investigators including former FBI professionals, law enforcement officers, and trained security experts. The core service offering includes 14 main service categories: Assets Locating, Background Investigations, Corporate Intelligence Investigations, Criminal Investigations, Domestic/Marital Investigations, Cheating Spouse/Partner Investigations, Identity Theft Investigation, Insurance Investigation, Internet Fraud Investigation, Litigation Support, Locate Missing Persons, Probate Investigations, Process Service, and Surveillance. Beyond these core services, the company provides over 50 specialty investigation services including Bug Sweep TSCM, Computer Forensics, Commercial Investigations, Financial Investigations, Fraud Investigations, Forensic Investigations, Employee Theft Investigation, Electronic Surveillance, Executive/Personal Protection, Elder Abuse Investigation, Accident Investigations, Auto Investigations, Counter Espionage, Computer Security, Child Custody Investigations, Child Retrieval, Criminal Defense Investigation, Bounty Hunter Services, Due Diligence, Witness Interviews, Video Depositions, Video/Photo Surveillance, Threat Management, Trademark Violation Investigation, Undercover Investigation, Underwater Investigation, White Collar Crime Investigation, Workers Compensation Investigation, Wrongful Death Investigation, and more. The Detective.com Network Program enables member agencies to join an international alliance with exclusive territories, marketing support, and branding resources. Services are delivered through a network of local investigators who are licensed, insured, and bonded, with decades of experience across federal, law enforcement, and specialized investigative fields.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surveillance (Video/Photo) Professional covert surveillance using trained investigators with professional-grade equipment to deliver legally compliant video and photographic documentation for personal, legal, insurance, and corporate matters.
• Background Investigations Comprehensive background checks covering criminal history, federal warrants, lawsuits, sex-offender records, assets, work history, address history, relatives/associates, hidden properties, online profiles, due diligence, and political screening.
• Assets Locating Search and verification of banking, brokerage, real property, corporate ownership, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, judgments, liens, bankruptcies, investments, offshore accounts, hidden employers, and corporate assets for individuals or businesses.
• Locate Missing Persons Multi-phase locate process including database research, digital/online review, field verification, analysis, and reporting. Used to find old friends, past flames, business associates, runaways, debtors, witnesses, loved ones, missing heirs, missing vehicles, and skip traces.
• Corporate Intelligence Investigations Internal investigations to identify fraud, misconduct, and theft within organizations, including suspected fraud, executive investigations, employee theft, surveillance, monitoring, computer forensics, no-compete, and corruption matters.
• Cheating Spouse / Partner Investigations Infidelity investigation services with flexible surveillance packages ranging from short-term assignments to extended weekly or monthly monitoring, including video and photographic evidence documentation.
• Domestic / Marital Investigations Investigation services for relationship concerns including infidelity, marital issues, and child custody matters, utilizing surveillance and evidence documentation.
• Criminal Investigations Investigations covering kidnapping, wrongful death, murder, theft, sexual assault, evidence collection, interviews, forensic investigation, interrogations, and corruption cases.
• Insurance Investigations Insurance defense and fraud investigation services focused on identifying and documenting fraudulent or exaggerated claims, including claimant investigations, background checks, surveillance, assets, court records, criminal, internet presence, injury history, witness locates, and process service.
• Litigation Support Legal investigation support for family law, corporate disputes, insurance claims, and related legal proceedings, including surveillance, background investigations, witness statements, locate services, and process service.
• Identity Theft Investigation Investigations to uncover how personal or financial information was compromised and identify the source of misuse, helping clients understand what happened and protect against further damage.
• Internet Fraud Investigation Investigation of online fraud including undelivered products, fake services, deceptive investment offers, or misuse of personal information leading to financial loss.
• Probate Investigations Probate and estate investigation services supporting legal proceedings involving conservatorships and guardianships, including uncovering relevant facts, documentation preparation, and informed recommendations.
• Process Service Professional delivery of legal documents such as summonses, subpoenas, or court orders, with investigators trained to locate individuals avoiding service using lawful surveillance techniques.
• Bug Sweep (TSCM) Technical Surveillance Counter Measures including corporate bug sweeps, locating hidden videos, discovering listening devices, counter surveillance, RF detecting, wiretap detection, and eavesdropping device detection using state-of-the-art technology.
• Computer Forensics Data collection and preservation techniques for data recovery, tracing origin, securing evidence, password unlocking, electronic discovery, secure data deletion, email recovery, and divorce computer investigations.
• Commercial Investigations Business-to-business investigations including intellectual property, rights infringements, undercover investigation, background checks, covert surveillance, due diligence, business background investigations, assets tracing, partnership frauds, insurance frauds, investigative interviews, vandalism/mischief investigations, employee monitoring, pre-employment checks, workplace theft, and collections.
• Executive / Personal Protection Security services provided by bodyguards, EP agents, and executive protection specialists to protect the welfare and safety of individuals, extending to company property protection and family protection.
• Debt / Judgment Collections Debt and judgment collection services with contingency-based compensation, using specialists to locate debtors, contact them, and effectively settle debts out of court. Investigators receive a percentage of the judgment recovered.
• Detective.com Network Program International alliance network program for professional private investigators, providing members with exclusive territories, national-level search engine exposure, marketing campaigns, and access to wholesale promotional and branding resources including custom websites with domain names and email service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful missing person location within 7 days of initial contact
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• World Association of Detectives (WAD)minorOthersProfessional industry membership organization for private investigators. Detectives.com displays WAD membership badge indicating affiliation with the international detective community.
• National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)minorOthersProfessional organization for legal investigators. Detectives.com displays NALI membership badge indicating specialization in legal investigation services.
• PI Bizness, Inc.coreOthersParent company and division structure. Detectives.com Network is a division of PI Bizness, Inc., PI License #: 117.001379. Provides corporate infrastructure and licensing for the investigative network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Sterling: Sterling (Sterling Talent Solutions / Sterling Check) is a technology-enabled background screening and identity verification provider. While not a direct competitor in field investigations, it competes for the same employer and corporate buyers on background check and pre-employment screening services that Detectives.com also offers.
• Checkr: Checkr is a tech-first background check platform automating screening for employers and gig economy companies. It overlaps with Detectives.com's pre-employment background check offering and represents the technological direction the broader background investigation market is moving toward.
• Accurate Background: Accurate Background is a background screening provider serving employers across regulated industries. It competes for the corporate screening and due diligence use cases that form part of Detectives.com's portfolio, with a more technology-led delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Pinkerton: Pinkerton is one of the largest global corporate security and investigations firms, offering surveillance, background checks, due diligence, and fraud investigations to enterprise clients. It is comparable to Detectives.com across the entire investigation service stack but operates at vastly larger scale as a corporate-focused incumbent.
• Guidepost Solutions: Guidepost Solutions provides investigations, security consulting, and monitoring services to corporate, legal, and government clients. Its portfolio of background checks, due diligence, and fraud investigations maps directly to Detectives.com's corporate and legal professional segments.
• Hillard Heintze: Hillard Heintze provides investigations, security, and risk management consulting to corporations, law firms, and public sector clients. It is comparable to Detectives.com's corporate intelligence and investigations offerings but with a higher-end enterprise consulting orientation.
• Kroll: Kroll is a global investigations, due diligence, and corporate intelligence firm serving corporations, law firms, and government entities. It overlaps directly with Detectives.com's corporate intelligence, background, and fraud investigation offerings but at enterprise scale and with significantly broader international footprint.
• Control Risks: Control Risks is a global risk consultancy providing corporate investigations, integrity due diligence, and fraud investigations. It competes in the same B2B investigative services category as Detectives.com but with a heavier enterprise and multinational mandate.

Others

• Tracers: Tracers is a public records data aggregator widely used by private investigators for locate, skip trace, and background research. Detectives.com's missing persons and asset location services rely on similar public records data, making Tracers a comparable data infrastructure provider in the investigative services stack.

Direct peers

• PInow: PInow operates an online directory and lead-generation platform connecting consumers with private investigators across the US. It is the closest direct competitor to Detectives.com in business model, target customer (individuals seeking PIs), and acquisition channel (online directory/SEO).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DetectivesDotCom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Detectives.com