2001-08-25 A simple guide on how to set up a PI's business

The first thing to note about this short paperback is that it does not aim to instruct in how to carry out investigative work. The book, as its title suggests, covers the basic requirements for setting up a Private Detective's business eg. office, equipment, regulatory background, marketing, firearms, photography and report writing. It achieves this with sensible advice and is an easy read, but you have to learn HOW TO DETECT elsewhere. The book is largely USA oriented with some 25% relating to material not needed in the UK eg. use of firearms " go for high stopping power." What the book lacks is advice on legal practise in the UK and advice on business planning and cash flow projections to see if you will ever recoup the substantial investments the author suggests. This is an important omission given that the book is primarily aimed at young people. There are useful warnings that the PI's job is not all excitement and glamour, and that all operations should be legally done to avoid evidence that is useless, or worse a jail sentence. I liked the assignments at the end of each chapter and would cautiously recommend it to younger readers.