ATLAS INVESTIGATIONS (SAN JOSE-MODESTO) CA

What ATLAS INVESTIGATIONS (SAN JOSE-MODESTO) CA does

Atlas Investigations is a full-service California private investigation agency headquartered in San Jose with a second office in Modesto, serving law firms, private companies, employers, and individuals across the Bay Area and Stanislaus County. Founded in 1996 by Frank Estrella (CEO and Owner), the firm operates under California Private Investigator License PI-25991 and is a Certified Vendor of the County of Santa Clara and an approved vendor for the Independent Defense Offices (IDO) of Santa Clara County, providing institutional access to county-referred criminal defense work. The practice is staffed by approximately five licensed investigators and support staff delivering evidence gathering, surveillance, witness interviews, process serving, asset searches, background and tenant screening, insurance fraud investigation, missing persons work, and armed executive protection.

The service catalog spans criminal, civil, family law, corporate, and protective services, with methodologies that combine traditional physical surveillance and witness interviews with digital forensics, electronic evidence collection, social media analysis, GPS tracking, and database-driven skip tracing. Specialized team credentials include PTCM executive protection training, Police Academy Level-4 Evasive Driving, and Weapons/Counter Terrorism training from the CAL SEC Institute, enabling armed bodyguard and secure transport work for at-risk or high-profile clients. Compliance frameworks (FCRA, HUD Reg.24CFR, FEHA, Prop. 64, DOI) support employer, landlord, bail bond, and cannabis dispensary background-screening mandates.

Revenue is generated through usage-based hourly billing ($100-$200/hour for general investigative services; $500+/hour for specialized cases), standalone digital forensics engagements ($1,500-$5,000), and bundled comprehensive investigation packages ($3,000-$10,000), with executive protection delivered as professional services. The go-to-market is direct and consultative, anchored by a free confidential consultation, 24/7 availability, attorney referral networks, and a multi-channel web and social presence, with the firm earning a 4.9-star Google Reviews average and BusinessRate #1 Private Investigator in San Jose designations in 2024 and 2025 alongside an Expertise.com 2025 Best PI recognition.

Name

ATLAS INVESTIGATIONS (SAN JOSE-MODESTO) CA

Legal name

Atlas Investigations

Website

https://atlassrvs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Atlas Investigations is a California-licensed (PI-25991) full-service private investigation firm headquartered in San Jose with a Modesto office, serving law firms, corporations, employers, and individuals across the Bay Area and Stanislaus County with surveillance, digital forensics, background checks, and executive protection.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Investigation Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Litigation Support & Civil Investigations (Witness/Asset/Skip Tracing) (BPAKAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Domestic/Family & Matrimonial Investigations (BPAKAEAG), Digital/Online Investigations & OSINT (Non-cyber) (BPAKAEAF)

Keywords

• Private investigation services
• Surveillance and background checks
• Digital forensics investigation
• Executive protection services
• Family law investigations

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investigative Services - Hourly Billing: Primary revenue stream from hourly billing for investigative services including surveillance, background checks, witness interviews, and evidence collection. Rates typically range from $100 to $200 per hour for general services, with specialized cases exceeding $500 per hour.
2. Digital Forensics Services: Digital forensic analysis services for infidelity and fraud investigations, typically priced between $1,500 to $5,000 depending on complexity.
3. Comprehensive Investigation Packages: Bundled packages combining surveillance, digital forensics, and background checks, typically costing between $3,000 and $10,000.
4. Executive Protection Services: Armed bodyguard and protective services including risk assessment, threat monitoring, secure transportation, and crisis management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Atlas Investigations is a licensed private detective agency offering a comprehensive suite of investigative services including criminal investigations, family law investigations, surveillance, background checks, process serving, civil investigations, corporate investigations, asset search and recovery, executive protection, insurance fraud investigations, and digital forensics. The firm specializes in pre-litigation and pre-judgment investigations for law firms, private companies, and individuals throughout the San Jose, Modesto, and broader Bay Area regions of California.

Product overview

Atlas Investigations is a full-service private investigation agency offering a comprehensive suite of investigative services. The company operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform with modules. Core services include criminal investigations, family law investigations (divorce, custody, alimony), corporate investigations, surveillance, background checks, asset search and recovery, armed protective services, and insurance fraud investigations. The firm specializes in pre-litigation and pre-judgment investigations for law firms, private companies, and individuals, with digital forensics and cybersecurity increasingly integrated into traditional investigative methods. Services are delivered through licensed investigators with specialized expertise across different investigation types.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Criminal Investigations

Quantifiable outcome

• Conducting hundreds of background checks each year for corporate, businesses, rental housing, and legal communities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI)coreOthersAtlas Investigations is a member of the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI), a professional industry organization. Membership provides credibility, professional networking, and industry standards alignment.
• County of Santa ClaracoreOthersCertified Vendor of the County of Santa Clara, enabling the firm to provide investigative services to county agencies and departments.
• Independent Defense Offices (IDO) of Santa Clara CountycoreOthersApproved vendor for the Independent Defense Offices (IDO) of Santa Clara County, providing criminal defense investigative support services. This vendor status is significant for accessing criminal defense case referrals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bishop Investigative Group: A licensed California PI firm providing surveillance, background checks, civil and criminal defense investigations, and family law support to attorneys and individuals. Matches Atlas in niche, customer base, and statewide licensing model.
• AOE Investigations: A California-based full-service private investigation firm offering criminal defense, family law, surveillance, and background check services across Northern California. Directly comparable to Atlas in service mix, customer segments (attorneys and individuals), and geographic territory.

Regional players

• National Business Investigations: A multi-state licensed private investigation firm specializing in workers' compensation fraud, surveillance, and insurance investigations for carriers and attorneys. Comparable on insurance fraud investigation, surveillance methodology, and law-firm-driven GTM.

Emerging players

• Checkr: A technology-led background check platform automating FCRA-compliant employment screening at scale. Competes directly with Atlas on its employer background screening line, but uses an API/software model rather than manual field investigations.

Broad incumbents

• FTI Consulting: A global consulting firm with a dedicated forensic and litigation services practice providing expert witness, investigations, and asset tracing support to law firms. Comparable as a scaled, professionalized version of Atlas's litigation support business.
• Kroll: A global risk consulting and investigations firm offering corporate due diligence, litigation support, fraud investigations, and asset tracing. Compares as the enterprise-tier scaled version of Atlas's pre-litigation and asset-search practice.
• Pinkerton: A historic corporate security and investigations provider (now part of Concentric) offering background screening, executive protection, and corporate investigations globally. Overlaps with Atlas on screening, executive protection, and corporate investigation services.
• Control Risks: An international risk consultancy delivering corporate investigations, due diligence, and asset tracing for legal counsel and corporations. Overlaps with Atlas on the corporate due diligence and asset search use cases.
• Sterling Check (Sterling): A large global background screening and identity verification firm serving employers and consumer reporting agencies. Comparable as a scaled, regulated-screening counterpart to Atlas's FCRA-compliant employer background check practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=687WRbrKBo8
• Facebookfacebook.com/atlasinvestigations.sanjose
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atlas-investigations

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 ATLAS INVESTIGATIONS (SAN JOSE-MODESTO) CA