What does a private investigator cost? How the price of an investigation is set

In brief: a private investigation agency does not work with a fixed price list, because the scope differs per question. At NCRB the first conversation and a short feasibility check are free. After that you receive a defined scope with a fixed price or cost ceiling, in writing, before any work begins. NCRB does not sell guaranteed outcomes: you pay for research and reporting, within the price or cost ceiling agreed in advance.

Who we are, our licence and how we work: About NCRB.

Why there is no price list

Two questions that sound alike can turn out very differently. Checking whether an online seller is who they claim to be can take a few hours. Mapping the corporate structure and assets of a counterparty across three countries can take weeks. With one price for every investigation, simple cases pay for complex ones, or work is left undone on the complex ones. Neither is in your interest.

An hourly rate on its own says little as well: as long as it is unclear how much work your question requires, a rate does not tell you what you will pay in the end. That is why NCRB gives you a price for a defined assignment instead of a rate card.

Fixed price or cost ceiling

After the free feasibility check we agree one of two forms with you, always in writing and before any work begins:

• A fixed price: for a defined question where the amount of work can be assessed well in advance. An example is the Counterparty Check: a standard verification of one individual and one company in the Netherlands or the United Kingdom.
• A cost ceiling: for research whose scope is less certain upfront, for example because a money trail runs through several wallets or countries. You know in advance the maximum you will pay.

In both cases the proposal sets out the research question, the scope, the turnaround, what you receive and the price or ceiling. If more work becomes useful during the investigation, for example because of a new lead or an additional country, we put it to you first. Without your approval the scope does not grow and the ceiling does not go up.

What determines the scope

Four factors determine how much work an investigation requires, and therefore the price:

• The question. A precise question, such as "who is behind this webshop?", is quicker to answer than a broad one, such as "find out everything about this person". During the intake we help turn a concern into a question that can be answered.
• Parties, sources and countries. Researching one person in Dutch registers and open sources is faster than researching several people and companies in several countries, or a money trail across several blockchains.
• Urgency. Urgent work is possible, but it requires dedicated capacity, and that is reflected in the price. Urgency speeds up the work, not the sources.
• Reporting. A factual summary for your own decision is more compact than a fully documented report for the police, a lawyer or a court, with a source, time and confidence rating per finding.

For a small loss or claim we say honestly when an investigation is not proportionate to what is at stake. After a scam involving a small amount, a police report is usually the appropriate step.

• What does an OSINT investigation cost? In depth: the four pricing factors, what a serious quote includes and red flags when comparing investigators

What is free

The first conversation and a short feasibility check are free and without obligation. Briefly tell us what is going on, by form or phone; you do not need to choose a service. Usually within one business day we tell you whether an investigation is useful and lawful.

If it is, you receive a proposal with the scope, the turnaround, what you receive and a fixed price or cost ceiling. If it is not useful or not lawful, we tell you so and, where possible, where you can turn instead, such as the police, your bank or the Dutch Fraudehelpdesk. We only start after you have approved the proposal.

Do I pay if nothing is found?

Yes. You pay for the agreed research and reporting, within the fixed price or cost ceiling. If something "cannot be determined", you also receive that in writing, together with what was checked. The free feasibility check exists precisely to avoid research with little chance of success.

If you want to limit the risk further, ask for a phased approach: after each phase you decide whether the investigation continues, based on what the findings show so far.

Costs per service

What determines the scope differs per service. Each service page answers what that service costs in its FAQ; the service name below links straight to that answer.

OSINT & Person Tracing	How sharp the question is, the number of sources and countries, and the reporting depth. A targeted identity check is more compact than a full person investigation with network mapping.
Insurance Claims Investigation	The question in the file, the number of persons and profiles involved and the period researched. For a well-defined question a first picture is usually available within a few working days.
Fraud & Scam Investigation	The number of persons and leads, such as profiles, websites, bank accounts and wallets, the countries involved and the reporting you need, for example for the police or a lawyer.
Crypto Tracing & Blockchain Analysis	The number of wallets and transactions, the blockchains and the number of hops, such as swaps and bridges, to an exchange or other service provider.
Background Checks & Due Diligence	The number of persons and companies and the countries. A standard verification of one individual and one company in the Netherlands or the United Kingdom (the Counterparty Check) has a fixed price and takes three to five working days; due diligence across several countries usually takes one to three weeks.
Asset Tracing	Private individual or entrepreneur, the number of companies, and whether there is real estate, business interests or crypto abroad. A first indicative picture of a private individual in the Netherlands is often possible within a few working days.
Recovery Research	The opposing party and the size of the claim: researching a private individual in the Netherlands is more compact than researching an entrepreneur with several companies and foreign holdings. For a small claim we say honestly when research does not pay off.
Investigative Support	The part of the investigation you outsource, your deadline and the reporting format, for example in your own house style.
Digital Evidence & Forensics	The number of websites, accounts and messages to be captured, and whether email headers, documents or images also need to be examined. For volatile evidence we can often start the same day after a short intake.

• All investigation services: overview with frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private investigator cost per hour?

An hourly rate says little as long as it is unclear how much work a question requires. NCRB therefore does not publish rates; after the free feasibility check it agrees a fixed price or cost ceiling for a defined assignment. That way you know in advance the maximum you will pay.

When do I know what my investigation will cost?

After the free first conversation and feasibility check. If an investigation makes sense, you receive a defined scope with a fixed price or cost ceiling, in writing. We only start after your approval.

Can an investigation end up costing more than agreed?

Not without your approval. If extra work becomes useful during the investigation, for example because of a new lead or an additional country, we put it to you first. You decide whether the scope is extended.

Is urgent work more expensive?

Urgent work is possible, but compressing a week of research into a few days requires dedicated capacity, and that is reflected in the price. Urgency speeds up the work, not the sources: information that does not exist or is not lawfully accessible does not become available through haste.

How can I keep the cost down?

Have ready what you already have, such as names, screenshots, transaction details and correspondence: organised input saves research time. Be clear about the goal, because a report for your own decision needs less formal depth than one for court. And ask for a phased approach, so that you decide after each phase whether the investigation continues.

How do you recognise an unreliable provider?

By a guaranteed outcome, an upfront fee to "release" frozen funds, promises of access to bank records, telecom data or other protected personal data, and the absence of a licence you can verify. In the Netherlands, a private investigation agency needs a licence from the Minister of Justice and Security (Article 2 of the Wpbr). NCRB's licence (POB 1737) is listed in the public Wpbr register of Justis.

How to spot a fake recovery service →

Can I recover the investigation costs from the other party?

Sometimes, in a Dutch case. Under Article 6:96(2) of the Dutch Civil Code, reasonable costs of establishing damage and liability can form part of the recoverable damage. Whether that works in your case depends on the circumstances; your lawyer assesses it, and ultimately the court. NCRB does not give legal advice.