How Much Does a Private Investigator Cost in Colorado?
One of the first questions people ask when considering a private investigator is: “How much will this cost?” It’s a reasonable question—investigative services represent a significant investment, and you deserve transparent pricing information before making a decision.
This comprehensive guide breaks down private investigator costs in Colorado, including hourly rates, flat fees, additional expenses, and factors that affect pricing. At Rocky Mountain Eagle Eye, we believe in transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
Average Private Investigator Costs in Colorado (2025)
Private investigator costs in Colorado vary based on the type of service, complexity of the case, and the investigator’s experience level. Here are typical price ranges:
- Hourly Rates: $75 – $200 per hour
- Average Hourly Rate: $100 – $150 per hour
- Minimum Retainer: $1,500 – $5,000
- Flat Fee Services: $50 – $500 (for specific services)
Keep in mind that these are general ranges. The actual cost for your specific case will depend on several factors we’ll discuss below.
How Private Investigators Typically Charge
Most private investigators in Colorado use one of three pricing models:
1. Hourly Billing
This is the most common pricing structure for investigative services:
- Standard surveillance: $100-$150/hour
- Complex investigations: $125-$175/hour
- Digital forensics: $150-$200/hour
- Senior investigator rate: $150-$200/hour
- After-hours/weekend rate: May include 1.5x premium
Important: Billable hours include active investigation time, travel to/from surveillance locations, report writing, and case documentation.
2. Flat Fee Services
Some services are offered at predetermined flat rates:
- Basic background check: $75-$150
- Comprehensive background check: $200-$500
- Employment verification: $50-$100 per employer
- Process service: $50-$150 per serve
- Skip tracing (basic): $150-$300
- Public records search: $75-$200
Flat fees provide cost certainty for straightforward services where the scope of work is well-defined.
3. Retainer-Based Billing
Most investigations require an upfront retainer deposit:
- Typical retainer: $2,500-$5,000
- Minimum retainer: $1,500
- Large cases: $10,000+
The retainer is deposited into a trust account and drawn against as billable hours accumulate. Any unused portion is refunded at case completion. Additional retainers may be required for extended investigations.
Cost Breakdown by Service Type
Let’s look at specific costs for common investigative services:
Surveillance Investigations
Cost Range: $500-$5,000+ depending on duration
- Single-day surveillance: $800-$1,200 (8-10 hours)
- Multi-day surveillance: $2,500-$10,000+ per week
- Two-investigator teams: Add 80-100% to costs
- Video documentation: Usually included in hourly rate
Surveillance is one of the more expensive services because it’s labor-intensive and often requires extended hours. Learn more about our surveillance investigation services.
Background Checks
Cost Range: $75-$500
- Basic criminal check: $75-$150
- Employment background: $150-$300
- Comprehensive background: $300-$500
- Executive-level screening: $500-$1,000+
Costs vary based on the depth of research and number of databases accessed. Our professional background check services include comprehensive reporting.
Digital Forensics
Cost Range: $1,500-$10,000+
- Basic device analysis: $1,500-$3,000
- Comprehensive forensic exam: $3,000-$7,000
- Complex data recovery: $5,000-$15,000
- Expert testimony: $200-$300/hour additional
Digital forensics requires specialized tools and expertise, which affects pricing. Visit our digital forensics page to learn more.
Infidelity/Cheating Investigations
Cost Range: $2,000-$10,000
- Basic investigation: $2,000-$4,000
- Comprehensive surveillance: $5,000-$10,000
- Weekend/evening surveillance: Higher rates may apply
Infidelity investigations typically require multiple days of surveillance to establish patterns. Learn more about our discreet infidelity investigation services.
Corporate Investigations
Cost Range: $3,000-$25,000+
- Employee misconduct: $3,000-$8,000
- Fraud investigation: $5,000-$15,000
- Due diligence: $2,000-$10,000
- Intellectual property theft: $10,000-$50,000+
Corporate cases often involve multiple investigators and extensive documentation. See our corporate investigation services.
Process Service
Cost Range: $50-$150 per serve
- Standard service: $75-$100
- Rush service: $125-$200
- Difficult serves: $150-$300
- Multiple attempts: May incur additional fees
Process service is one of the most affordable PI services. Learn about our professional process serving.
Additional Expenses Beyond Hourly Rates
In addition to hourly fees or flat rates, you may incur additional expenses:
Travel Expenses
- Mileage: $0.50-$0.65 per mile (IRS rate)
- Out-of-area travel: Hotels, meals, airfare if required
- Parking and tolls: Actual costs
Database and Records Searches
- Public records searches: $10-$50 per search
- Specialized database access: $25-$100 per search
- Court filing fees: Actual costs
Equipment and Technology
- GPS tracking equipment: $100-$300
- Specialized surveillance equipment: Usually included
- Forensic software licensing: May be passed to client
Report Preparation
- Standard reports: Usually included in hourly rate
- Detailed written reports: 1-3 hours of time
- Court-ready documentation: May require additional preparation time
- Expert testimony: $200-$300/hour for court appearances
Factors That Affect Private Investigator Costs
Several variables influence how much you’ll pay for investigative services:
1. Case Complexity
- Simple cases: Lower hourly rates, fewer hours required
- Complex investigations: More time, higher expertise required
- Multi-jurisdictional cases: Additional coordination and travel
2. Investigator Experience
- New investigators: $75-$100/hour
- Experienced PIs: $125-$150/hour
- Specialized experts: $150-$200/hour
- Former law enforcement: Often command premium rates
At Rocky Mountain Eagle Eye, our team consists of former law enforcement professionals with 10+ years of experience.
3. Urgency and Timeline
- Standard timeline: Regular rates
- Rush investigations: 25-50% premium
- 24/7 surveillance: Significant cost increase
- Flexible scheduling: May reduce costs
4. Geographic Location
- Metro Denver/Boulder: Higher rates ($125-$175/hour)
- Colorado Springs/Fort Collins: Moderate rates ($100-$150/hour)
- Rural Colorado: Lower rates but higher travel costs
5. Number of Investigators Required
- Single investigator: Standard rates
- Two-person teams: Nearly double the cost
- Multiple investigators: Required for complex surveillance
How to Budget for a Private Investigator
Here are practical tips to manage investigative costs:
1. Get a Detailed Written Estimate
Before hiring, request:
- Hourly or flat fee rates
- Estimated total hours required
- Retainer amount needed
- Anticipated additional expenses
- Total estimated cost range
At Rocky Mountain Eagle Eye, we provide transparent cost estimates during our free consultation.
2. Understand What’s Included
Clarify what the hourly rate covers:
- Investigation time
- Travel time
- Report preparation
- Phone consultations
- Photo/video documentation
3. Set Budget Limits
Communicate your budget constraints:
- Request notification at specific spending milestones
- Approve expenses over certain amounts in advance
- Set a maximum investigation budget
- Receive regular billing updates
4. Provide Complete Information Upfront
Help your investigator work efficiently:
- Share all relevant background information
- Provide photos, addresses, vehicle descriptions
- Explain specific objectives clearly
- Disclose any previous investigation attempts
The more information you provide, the less time (and money) will be spent on basic research.
5. Consider Phased Approaches
For large investigations, consider:
- Phase 1: Initial research and background checks
- Phase 2: Limited surveillance to establish patterns
- Phase 3: Extended surveillance if needed
This approach allows you to evaluate progress and results before committing to extensive surveillance.
Payment Methods and Terms
Most Colorado private investigators accept:
- Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
- Cash: For retainers and flat fee services
- Checks: Business or personal checks
- Wire transfers: For large retainers
Typical payment terms:
- Retainer due before investigation begins
- Invoicing weekly or bi-weekly for ongoing cases
- Final invoice due upon case completion
- Refund of unused retainer within 15-30 days
Are Private Investigators Worth the Cost?
The value of hiring a professional investigator depends on your specific situation:
When PIs Provide Excellent ROI
- Legal cases: Evidence that wins your case or supports settlement
- Insurance fraud: Saving thousands by identifying fraudulent claims
- Business investigations: Preventing significant financial losses
- Child custody: Protecting your children’s welfare
- Due diligence: Avoiding bad business deals or investments
What You Get for Your Investment
- Professional expertise: Former law enforcement knowledge
- Legal evidence: Court-admissible documentation
- Specialized equipment: Professional-grade surveillance tools
- Database access: Resources unavailable to the public
- Time savings: Efficient investigation by experienced professionals
- Peace of mind: Definitive answers to your questions
Learn more about how to hire a private investigator and what to expect from professional investigative services.
Red Flags: Pricing That’s Too Good to Be True
Beware of investigators who:
- ❌ Charge significantly less than market rates ($40-50/hour)
- ❌ Offer “guaranteed results” for a flat fee
- ❌ Require full payment upfront with no refund policy
- ❌ Have vague or unclear pricing structures
- ❌ Cannot provide written fee agreements
- ❌ Add numerous unexpected “administrative fees”
Extremely low prices often indicate:
- Unlicensed investigators
- Lack of proper insurance
- Inadequate training or experience
- Use of illegal investigative methods
- Poor quality work or incomplete investigations
Questions to Ask About Costs
During your consultation, ask these important questions:
- What is your hourly rate?
- What does that rate include?
- How much retainer do you require?
- What additional expenses should I expect?
- How often will I receive invoices?
- Can you provide a cost estimate for my specific case?
- Will you notify me before exceeding the estimated cost?
- What is your refund policy for unused retainer funds?
- Do you offer payment plans for large investigations?
Rocky Mountain Eagle Eye: Transparent Pricing
At Rocky Mountain Eagle Eye, we believe in honest, transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Our approach includes:
- • Free consultations to discuss your case and provide cost estimates
- • Written fee agreements before starting any work
- • Competitive rates for the Denver/Boulder metro area
- • Detailed invoicing showing exactly how time was spent
- • No surprise fees – all costs discussed upfront
- • Refund of unused retainer at case completion
- • Regular cost updates throughout your investigation
Get a Free Cost Estimate
The best way to understand what your investigation will cost is to discuss your specific situation with an experienced investigator. We offer free, confidential consultations to:
- Understand your investigative needs
- Explain what services we recommend
- Provide a detailed cost estimate
- Answer all your questions about pricing
- Develop a budget-conscious investigation plan
Contact Rocky Mountain Eagle Eye today:
- 📞 Phone: 303-381-4585
- 📧 Email: Info@RockyMountainEagleEye.com
- 📍 Office: 18475 W Colfax Ave Ste 132, Golden, CO 80401
- 🌐 Schedule Online: Request Free Consultation