brianwolfes

What brianwolfes does

Wolfe's Investigations is a privately held, full-service licensed and insured private investigation firm headquartered in West Hills, California (San Fernando Valley), founded by Brian S. Wolfe in 1998. The firm delivers traditional investigative services — surveillance (sub-rosa), background checks, child custody and infidelity investigations, criminal defense support, missing persons and skip tracing, workers' compensation fraud investigations, executive protection, process serving, and database research — using established field-investigation methodologies rather than proprietary technology platforms. There is no evidence of in-house software, AI tooling, or API-based product surface; service delivery is people-intensive, relying on the experience of the founder (37+ years), investigative assistant Janine McCarthy, and investigator Lisa Perez (15 years in undercover work).

Revenue is generated through hourly billing ($95/hr to general public, $125/hr to attorneys and insurance companies) and flat-fee unit pricing for discrete services such as background checks ($295-$495), DMV/police report searches ($75-$100), and surveillance packages. A 100% retainer is required upfront, with PayPal available for online payment. Customer mix spans three primary segments: individual clients (personal matters such as divorce, custody, infidelity), attorneys and law firms (criminal defense, family law, personal injury), and insurance carriers — most notably the State Compensation Insurance Fund, which reportedly accounts for 70% of business. Go-to-market is primarily direct-to-client via phone (818-340-8663), a website service-agreement portal, professional referrals, and earned-media exposure through national television (Investigation Discovery's 'Cry Wolfe,' premiered 2014) and press coverage in outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Boston Herald, and National Enquirer.

Name

brianwolfes

Legal name

Wolfe's Investigations

Website

https://wolfesinvestigations.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Wolfe's Investigations is a privately held, full-service licensed private investigation firm in West Hills, California, founded in 1998, serving individual clients, attorneys, and insurance carriers (notably State Compensation Insurance Fund) with surveillance, background checks, child custody, criminal defense, and workers' compensation investigations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Investigation Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611), Investigation and Security Services (5616)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigations & Background Screening Services (IMAIAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Domestic/Family & Matrimonial Investigations (BPAKAEAG), Workplace Misconduct, Ethics & Compliance Investigations (BPAKAEAH), Litigation Support & Expert Witness (Valuation-Related) (BPAHANAG)

Keywords

• Private investigation services
• Surveillance services
• Background checks
• Missing persons investigations
• Child custody investigations

Headquarters

HQ city

West Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Hourly Investigation Services: Time-based billing for field investigations, surveillance, statements, travel time, and rush investigations. Standard rates for general public at $95/hour, with higher rates for insurance companies and attorneys at $125/hour.
2. Flat-Fee Investigative Services: Fixed pricing for specific services including background checks ($295-$495), database searches (DMV $100, Police Reports $75), report writing, videotape/photographs ($25), and process serving.
3. Surveillance Services: Surveillance billed at $190 for two-car operations, with hourly rates for single car surveillance and address verification at $95/hour.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, polo shirts, caps, coffee mugs, and pens through their website. 10% of proceeds donated to Homeless Veterans of America.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wolfe's Investigations is a full-service, licensed and insured private investigation agency delivering surveillance, child custody investigations, infidelity investigations, criminal defense support, missing persons location, background checks, and workers' compensation fraud investigations to individual consumers, attorneys, law firms, and insurance carriers. Services are billed hourly ($95 public / $125 commercial) or at flat rates for defined deliverables, with investigations conducted primarily across Southern California and on a case-by-case basis nationally and internationally.

Product overview

Wolfe's Investigations is a full-service, licensed and insured private investigation agency offering a comprehensive suite of investigative services. The company operates primarily from Los Angeles, serving clients throughout Southern California. Core services include surveillance (sub-rosa), child custody investigations, infidelity investigations, criminal defense support, missing persons locating, background checks, and workers' compensation investigations. These services are delivered by experienced investigators who conduct fieldwork, gather evidence, and produce court-admissible reports. The company also offers supplementary services including database searches, executive protection, process serving, and witness location. A television show 'Cry Wolfe' on Investigation Discovery, based on Brian Wolfe's actual cases, serves as a media extension of the brand while merchandise provides additional brand revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Custody Investigations Professional investigative services focused on gathering evidence about child safety, parental behavior, and living conditions for family court proceedings. Includes surveillance, documentation of custody violations, and court-ready reporting for concerned parents and child custody attorneys.
• Infidelity and Cheating Spouse Investigations Confidential surveillance and investigation services to confirm or rule out suspected infidelity, providing clients with documented evidence of spouse activities and behavior patterns. Targeted at individual consumers in personal or divorce-related situations.
• Criminal Defense Investigations Private investigator services supporting criminal defendants by locating witnesses, uncovering overlooked evidence, reviewing police reports, and providing testimony-ready documentation for court proceedings. Targeted at criminal defense attorneys and law firms.
• Surveillance Services (Sub-rosa) Discreet observation and documentation of subject activities using time-stamped notes, photos, and video to support legal, personal, or business decisions. Billed at $190 for two-car operations or hourly for single-car surveillance.
• Background Checks Investigative background research including criminal records, civil lawsuits, address history, employment verification, education checks, and identity verification. Offered as Level 1 Basic ($295) or Comprehensive Report ($495).
• Missing Persons Investigations Services to locate missing adults, runaways, missing children, and abducted children using skip tracing, database searches, social media analysis, and fieldwork. Billed at hourly rates.
• Workers' Compensation Investigations Insurance fraud investigation services for workers' compensation claims including AOE/COE (Arising Out of Employment / Course Of Employment) investigations, surveillance, and activity monitoring. Targeted at insurance carriers and their Special Investigations Units.
• Executive Protection / Bodyguard Services Personal protection services for celebrities, executives, and professional athletes requiring discreet security and protective services.
• Process Serving Legal document service with 2-hour minimum requirement for serving legal papers in connection with investigations and legal proceedings.
• Wolfe's Investigations Branded Merchandise Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, polo shirts, caps, coffee mugs, and pens through the firm website, with 10% of proceeds donated to Homeless Veterans of America.

Named customers3 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Horseman Inc.minorOthersCollaborative relationship with other investigative firms. Wolfe's Investigations has worked with Horseman Inc. to demonstrate quality and competence standards expected from high-level investigation teams.
• TriStar InvestigationsminorOthersCollaborative relationship with TriStar Investigations as part of professional network of investigative firms. Used as benchmark for quality and competence standards.
• Argus West InvestigationsminorOthersCollaborative relationship with Argus West Investigations as part of professional investigative community. Demonstrates awareness of quality standards in the industry.
• State Compensation Insurance FundcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor insurance carrier client - stated to be the largest insurance company in California. Represents 70% of Wolfe's Investigations business. Provides worker compensation investigation assignments including AOE/COE investigations, fraud detection, and claims verification.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bishop & Associates Private Investigations: Licensed private investigation firm offering surveillance, infidelity, child custody, and insurance fraud investigations. Comparable to Wolfe's Investigations in scope and target customer mix.
• The Hetherington Group: Full-service private investigations firm serving legal, insurance, and corporate clients with surveillance, background checks, and due diligence. Similar practice mix and customer profile to Wolfe's Investigations.
• Worldwide Investigative Group: US-based investigative firm providing surveillance, infidelity, child custody, workers' compensation, and background check services to legal, insurance, and individual clients. Directly comparable to Wolfe's Investigations across product mix and customer segments.
• National Investigative Services: Investigative firm offering surveillance, insurance fraud, workers' compensation, and background investigations. Closely comparable to Wolfe's Investigations in core service mix and enterprise insurance-channel focus.
• ASG Investigations: Licensed private investigations firm specializing in insurance investigations, surveillance, workers' compensation, and background checks. Closely comparable in service offering and insurance-carrier customer focus to Wolfe's Investigations.
• ICS - Investigative Consulting Services: Private investigation agency serving attorneys, insurance carriers, and individuals with surveillance, workers' compensation, and background investigations. Directly comparable service portfolio to Wolfe's Investigations, including AOE/COE work.

Emerging players

• Checkr: Technology-led background check and identity verification platform serving employers and consumer-facing customers. An emerging digital alternative competing with traditional PI firms like Wolfe's Investigations on basic background check services.

Broad incumbents

• Allied Universal Investigations: Large security and investigations services provider offering background screening, investigative services, and risk consulting to enterprise clients. Comparable to Wolfe's Investigations on background screening and insurance/corporate investigations but at broader scale.
• Kroll: Global investigations, risk consulting, and background-checking firm serving corporations, law firms, and financial institutions. Comparable to Wolfe's Investigations in offering due diligence, surveillance, and litigation support investigations under a regulated, licensed framework.
• Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations: Large global investigative and security services firm offering surveillance, background checks, and fraud investigation to corporate, legal, and insurance clients. Overlaps with Wolfe's Investigations across insurance investigations and background screening but at significantly broader enterprise scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/bwolfepi
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrianSWolfeOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/960

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 brianwolfes