Swiss & Global | Private Investigators & Detectives

We strongly believe that the quality of information defines its value. In decision analysis, the value of information is the improvement in the outcomes of our actions that we would expect if we could reduce or eliminate uncertainty before making a decision. In some investigator firms, the initial consultation for your case is not free. We offer 30 minutes of free consultation only for complex cases. Our investigations are structured for cost-effectiveness.

On some of our investigation services a fixed fee is possible.  Background Check or Business Intelligence Report is an example of this where a fixed fee is paid. Other services such as covert surveillance, crime investigation, asset tracing, due diligence, dormant accounts investigation... on the other hand don’t lend well to a fixed fee as it is not known how many hours and travel Km will be needed to gather the evidence you need.  To help you with this, you can block book our hours, so that costs are affordable. Sometimes, without a primary investigation, it is not possible to provide a flat fee, project costs or definitive time frame. The scope of a primary investigation may be very restricted or may constitute the entire investigation. A primary investigation is critical to the success of any subsequent investigative efforts. The primary investigation costs between CHF 1'500.- and CHF 3'500.- within 15 working days.

The typical Retainer Fee for investigators and detectives could be anywhere from CHF 1'000.- to CHF 50'000.- which depends on what kind of case you have and whom you have selected as your investigator. A private investigator's office retainer fee can be the initial down payment toward your total bill, or it can also be a type of reservation fee to reserve a private investigator's office exclusively for your services within a certain period of time. 

As a general rule, we charge for our services on the basis of hourly rates, which vary depending on the seniority of the investigator or investigative team on your case and the relevant investigative subject, and complexity of the case we should work on. For our investigators, the hourly fees are between CHF 90.-/hour to CHF 180.-/hour + VAT, depending on the case, expertise, and the number of project or mandate hours. Head and Lead Investigators, as well as hourly fees of Cyber & Blockchain Investigators, are higher.

However, the agreed hourly rate has nothing to do with the effectiveness of the investigative office. An investigative office that ultimately needs 20 hours for a case and charges CHF 115.00 per hour is more expensive than an investigator's office which charges CHF 180.00 but only needs 10 hours. Billing is usually in time units (Min. 6 minutes). 

The success fee can be agreed upon. The success fee can be agreed and owed only in addition to the agreed fee if the 'success' also occurs. For example: If we find or locate CHF 1'500'000.-, then we will receive a success fee of 13% of the sum that exceeds CHF 1'000'000.-

Express orders (On-Call Service / Pikettdienst) within 24 hours will be charged additionally CHF 250.- excl. VAT, and express orders (on-call service) within 48 hours will be charged additionally CHF 175.- excl. VAT, and express orders (on-call service) within 72 hours will be charged additionally CHF 125.- excl. VAT. Payment according to Art. 7. GSTC.