Guides for working investigators.
Practical guides, each with its sources and the date it was last reviewed. General information, not legal advice.
Evidence
- How to Hash and Verify an Evidence File (SHA-256)Hash and verify evidence files with tools built into Windows, macOS and Linux, and why hash values matter when evidence reaches court.
- Managing Surveillance Video and Photos: A PI's GuideHow to name, store, back up and hand over surveillance video and photos so every clip can be found, explained and checked months later.
Reports and templates
Clients and billing
- Onboarding a New Investigation Client: First WeekWhat to do between a signed engagement and the first day of work: welcome message, secure channel, kickoff call, document handover and the plan.
- Client Communication for Private InvestigatorsHow often to update clients, how to deliver bad news, how to handle emotional clients and scope creep, and how to keep every conversation on the record.
- Choosing Secure Messaging for Client CommunicationText, email, iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal or a client portal? How to choose a secure way for PIs to message clients, and what each option protects.
- Working With Insurance Adjusters and SIU as a PIHow PIs win and keep insurance work: authorized hours, daily updates, the report format adjusters expect, video delivery, and staying objective.
- How PIs Can Share Files With Clients SecurelyHow to send investigation reports and evidence to clients and attorneys securely: options compared, what to avoid, and a simple delivery routine.
- Time Tracking and Billing for Private InvestigatorsHow PIs can track time, mileage and expenses accurately, write invoices clients don't dispute, and get paid on time. Practical habits for solo PIs.
Security
- Zero-Knowledge Encryption, Explained for InvestigatorsWhat zero-knowledge encryption means, what it protects, what it doesn't, and the questions to ask any vendor that claims it. A plain-English guide for PIs.
- Password Managers and 2FA for Private InvestigatorsA practical guide for PIs to passwords, password managers, two-factor authentication and passkeys: what to set up first, and what to avoid.
- Protecting Your Laptop in the Field: A PI ChecklistEncryption, screen locks, Wi-Fi, travel and theft: a practical checklist for keeping case files safe on the laptop that lives in your surveillance vehicle.
- Data Breach Readiness for Small PI FirmsWhat a small PI firm should do before and after a data breach: a one-page plan, first-hour steps, who to notify, and how to keep clients' trust.
- Case File Retention for Private InvestigatorsHow long PIs should keep case files and evidence, how to set a retention policy, handle legal holds, and delete data securely when the time comes.
Running the business
- Starting a Private Investigation Business: A ChecklistA checklist for opening a PI agency: licensing questions for your state board, insurance, business setup, equipment, security, pricing and first clients.
- How to Price Your Private Investigation ServicesHow PIs set rates: work out your real hourly cost, choose hourly, flat-fee or retainer pricing, bill mileage and expenses, and explain your price.
- How to Organize a Private Investigator Case FileA case-file structure for PIs: what goes where, naming conventions, notes versus evidence, a running index, and how to close a file you can defend later.
- Subcontracting PI Work Safely: Vetting and SharingHow to hire and work with subcontract investigators: vetting, written terms, sharing only what's needed, getting evidence back, and ending access cleanly.