[felkel]

I am thinking of starting a background check business, does anyone know where I can obtain more information on how to get started, and how to market to entities such as apartment complexes?

[Clough]

What is the place where you will be wanting to operate this business, please? What sort of methods will you be using in order to conduct background checks on people? Knowing those things will help people to answer your question.

I can help you a lot with marketing. But, I think that those two questions that I posted would need to be answered first. Some laws where you will be intending to operate may come into play here.

[felkel]

I will be conducting the business in North Carolina, and I would primarily be using internet sites to obtain the information.

[Clough]

I would think that what you are asking about would fall under the category of being a private investigator.

The quote below is from the following site: How to become a private investigator

Overview of the Private Investigation Occupation

A private investigator, or PI, is a person who undertakes investigations, usually for a private citizen or some other entity not involved with a government or police organization. Licensed Private Investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases or on behalf of a defense attorney. Many licensed private detectives work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims. Many private investigators are hired obtain proof of adultery or other illegal conduct to establish grounds for a divorce. Collecting evidence of adultery or other "bad behavior" by spouses and partners is still one of the most profitable activities that licensed private investigators perform.

Many jurisdictions require PIs, or private eyes, to be licensed, and they may or may not carry firearms depending on local laws. Some investigators are ex-law enforcement officers. Investigators typically keep detailed notes during each case and often testify in court regarding their observations on behalf of their clients. Licensed private detectives take great care to remain within the law (e.g. being forbidden to trespass on private property or break into homes) is also required, on pain of losing their licenses as well as facing criminal charges. Irregular hours may also be required when performing surveillance work (e.g. outside someone's house during the early hours of the morning).

Private detectives also undertake a variety of work that is not usually associated with the industry in the public's view. For example, many PIs are involved in process serving, the personal delivery of summons, subpoenas and other legal documents to parties in a legal case. The tracing of absconding debtors can also form a large part of a PIs work load. Many agencies specialize in a particular field of expertise. For example, some PI agencies deal only in tracing. Others may specialize in technical surveillance countermeasures, which is the locating and dealing with unwanted forms of electronic surveillance (for example, a bugged boardroom for industrial espionage purposes).

Increasingly, modern Private Investigators prefer to be known as "professional investigators" rather than "private investigators" or "private detectives". This is a response to the negative and seedy image that is sometimes attributed to the profession and an effort to establish and demonstrate the industry to be a proper and respectable profession.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics published a useful article in the 2004-2005 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook for Private Detectives and Investigators. The guide describes the nature of private investigation work, working conditions, qualifications, employment, training and advancement, earnings, job outlook, and related occupations. If you want to become a private detective, this is a great place to begin.

The following are links to sites concerning becoming a private investigator in North Carolina that will be of help to you in your pursuit.

Home

North Carolina Department of Justice

North Carolina Private Investigators and Private Investigation Agencies

[Clough]

As far as marketing yourself to any particular kind of entities, you would do that as any business might do. Post in the Yellow Pages of the phone book, newspaper and other news media. Personally hand your business card and an information sheet to potential customers about the services that you provide. You could also mail the forgoing information, but when trying to sell yourself as to the services that you provide, nothing beats in-person the personal contact. Bring up in casual conversation what you do for a living. Develop a website.

Like any small business it really helps if you have some kind of business plan. The following site can be very helpful in learning how to develop one.

http://www.sba.gov/