Book excerpt: Book & CD-ROM. Did you spend your childhood reading detective novels, imagining how amazing it would be to start your own agency? Have you recently retired from your current job in the police, military, or other investigative agency? Do you want to start your own company? If so, consider owning and operating your own private investigation business. With a massive upside and potential for growth, the industry has been booming for years. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics' Occupational Handbook for 2010-2011, numbers are projected to increase as the demand for private investigators increases in a time of heightened security, employee background checks, cyber crime, and increasing litigation. The BLS projects 22 percent growth in the field over the next decade. Now is the perfect time to break into the private investigation industry. This book was written for anyone who has considered working in the field of private investigation and decided that it would be ideal for them. How to Open and Operate a Private Investigation Business will teach you everything you need to know about the profession, starting with the basics of what you can expect and which preconceptions are just Hollywood fancy. You will discern the key differences between a private investigator and a police officer and why those who want to be the latter should consider all their options before getting into private work. You will learn how to choose a niche of investigation and how to think critically. You will pick up tips on how to investigate a case and perform all of your necessary functions legally. Whether you will be working out of your home or are looking to buy or rent office space, this book will provide a wealth of start-up information, from forming and naming your business to deciding if it will be a solo or joint venture. Several chapters are devoted to explaining how to form a partnership, LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship, as well as the legal implications for each type of business. This comprehensive manual will arm you with everything you need to operate your business, including sample business forms; contracts; worksheets and check lists for planning, opening, and running day-to-day operations; lists; plans and layouts; and dozens of other valuable, time saving tools of the trade that no business owner should be without. Giving detailed instruction and examples, the author leads you through every step that will attract success. You will learn how to draw up a winning business plan using the companion CD-ROM with an actual business plan you can use in Microsoft Word. You will familiarise yourself with basic cost control systems, copyright and trademark issues, branding, management, legal concerns, sales and marketing techniques, and pricing formulas. Understand how to hire and keep a qualified professional staff, meet IRS requirements, manage and train employees, generate high-profile public relations and publicity, and implement low-cost internal marketing ideas. You will learn how to build your business by using low- and no-cost ways to satisfy customers, as well as methods to increase sales and have customers refer others to you. This book imparts thousands of insider tips and useful guidelines, including case studies of real world successful private investigation businesses. Discover how to hire contractors and attract clients. Determine which licenses, liability insurance, contracts, and forms you will need, such as privacy agreements. You will find out what tools you need, including the right camera and lenses. Employ modern computer equipment to accent your investigations and use the internet to search through public records, private databases, and courthouse records to speed up the process. Learn how to perform background investigations, interviews, and surveillance and the basics of each type of investigation. For anyone who is considering or has ever considered starting his or her own private investigation business.