HOW I STARTED MY PRIVATE INVESTIGATIVE CAREER

I initially obtained my PI license while still an active LAPD police officer more as a lark the anything else.  I never thought about using it, especially while I was still on the job.  It was more along the lines of an interesting topic of conversation.  One day while I was a detective I was sitting at the prosecution table as the investigating officer on a case.  During the pause in the preceding, I happened to pull out my newly arrived PI license.  The Assistant District Attorney who was prosecuting the case was one whom I had assisted in a number of cases throughout my career and knew my abilities.  When she asked me about it, I told her I had just gotten my license.  She then asked me if I was going to use it.  I told her I really hadn’t thought much about actively using it while I was still on the job.  She then went on to tell me that her husband was the senior partner in a Los Angeles civil law firm that had trouble finding any good private investigators.  She told me she was going to have him contact me.  Sure enough, a few days later, he called me and asked if I would be interested in working with him on a large civil case.  From that point on I received a steady flow of civil cases and referrals to other attorneys.  Divine intervention, fate, luck, whatever you want to call it, my life was changed in a fateful moment.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS FROM THE BUSINESS END 102

You’re a newly licensed PI, and now you’re looking for clients.  Of course you get nice business cards and letterhead done (Hint:  Use good bonded paper and have it done by a professional printer).  Start reading books and articles about running a small business.  Read up on marketing and advertising.  Join one of your state’s professional investigative associations.  Attend their meetings and networking with experienced investigators.  Most are only too willing to help out a new person in the field.  Join the association’s List Serve. It’s an invaluable way to gain knowledge and also to ask questions about issues that com up in your work.  Attend your association's seminars.  You will not only learn a great deal, but it's another way to network with other investigators.  When starting out and things are slow, try to gain sub-contract work from a reputable, experience PI.   Once you’ve established your work with them, ask them if they wouldn’t mind helping you learn the business end of the work.  I was fortunate after I retired to have two PIs mentor me.  One is flamboyant, colorful, larger than life, and the best business mind I know in this field.  He is also a very under rated investigator.  The other runs a large firm and has an extremely professional operation.  Both were very generous of their time in teaching me the business end of private investigations.  Lastly, have ethics in this business.  When someone helps you as a mentor, don’t be a dog and then turn around and try to steal their clients.