In brief: there is no fixed price list for serious investigative work, and that is a feature, not a flaw. A credible OSINT investigation is priced on scope, not on promises: you pay for documented research hours, never for guaranteed outcomes. The four factors that drive the price are the sharpness of your question, the number of sources and jurisdictions, the urgency, and the depth of reporting you need. A professional agency tells you what your case will cost before any work begins.
Why there is no fixed price list
Two questions that sound similar can require completely different amounts of work. Verifying whether an online seller is who they claim to be may take hours. Mapping the corporate structure and asset indicators of a counterparty across three jurisdictions may take weeks. A fixed menu price would mean one of two things: either simple cases subsidise complex ones, or the investigator quietly cuts corners on the complex ones. Neither serves you.
That is why NCRB works with a custom quote for every engagement. After a confidential intake conversation you receive a defined scope, a timeline, and a fixed price or cost ceiling, before you commit to anything.
The four factors that determine the price
1. How sharp the question is
The single biggest cost driver. A precise question, such as who is behind this webshop, or does this person have recoverable assets in the Netherlands, can be scoped tightly. A broad question, such as find out everything about this person, cannot. Part of a good intake is turning a broad concern into an answerable question; that alone often halves the work.
2. Sources and jurisdictions
Research limited to Dutch public registers and open online sources is faster than research that spans several countries, each with its own registers, languages, and legal frameworks. Cross-border elements, offshore structures, and blockchain analysis add depth, and with it time.
3. Urgency
Evidence that may disappear, an approaching court date, or an ongoing fraud changes the tempo. Urgent work is possible, but compressing a week of research into two days means dedicated capacity, and that is reflected in the quote.
4. Depth of reporting
An informal findings summary for your own decision-making is quicker to produce than a fully documented report intended for legal proceedings, with source references, timestamps, methodology notes, and evidence appendices. Tell your investigator what the report needs to do, and the scope can be matched to it.
What a serious quote should include
- A defined research question and scope, in writing
- A timeline with agreed update moments
- What the deliverable is: report format, evidence documentation, confidence ratings
- The legal basis of the research and the boundaries that will be respected
- A fixed price or a cost ceiling, in writing, before work begins
Red flags when comparing providers
Be cautious with anyone who guarantees an outcome. Nobody can promise that a person will be found or that money will be recovered, and pricing based on such promises is a warning sign. The same goes for so-called recovery services that ask for upfront release fees to unlock frozen funds: that model is itself a well-known fraud. Finally, check the licence. In the Netherlands, investigative work for third parties requires a Wpbr permit issued by the Ministry of Justice and Security; NCRB holds licence POB 1737.
How to keep the cost down
- Bring everything you already have: names, screenshots, transaction details, correspondence. Organised input saves billable hours.
- Agree on a phased approach: a feasibility assessment first, and only continue if the indicators justify it.
- Be honest about the goal. A report for your own peace of mind needs less formal depth than one for court.
The honest bottom line
The right question is not what an OSINT investigation costs in general, but what your question costs to answer properly. That number exists, it is knowable before you commit, and any professional agency will give it to you in writing. If a provider cannot explain their price, that tells you something about the research you would be paying for.
This article is general information and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different; where necessary, consult a qualified professional.
