How to Start a Private Investigation Business in Florida (2026)

By StartBusinessByState·Publisher: Robert Smith·Research process

Last updated: November 3, 2026

Florida licenses private investigators through the FDACS Division of Licensing under Chapter 493. The main credentials are Class CC for an intern, Class C for an individual investigator, and Class A for an investigative agency. A Class C applicant normally needs two years of qualifying full-time experience or an allowed combination of experience and training. Each agency needs a designated manager: a Class C or M licensee can serve without an additional MA license. An agency branch uses Class AA; a branch of a combined investigation/security agency uses Class AB. Armed work adds Class G requirements.

This guide explains the licensing path, agency structure, tax treatment, insurance decisions and firearm rules. Before choosing a specialty, talk with prospective clients about the work they need, their budgets and their vendor requirements. Population size or a city’s business profile does not establish demand for a new agency.

Private Investigator Requirements in Florida at a Glance

Requirement	Agency / Detail	Cost	Timeline
40-hour training for a Class CC applicant	School under the Florida Department of Education’s purview	School-set tuition	Complete before applying for Class CC
Class CC Private Investigator Intern License	FDACS Division of Licensing	$162.75 standard initial fees, before any separate fingerprint vendor charge	Sponsor and training certificate required; 2-year license
Class C Individual Private Investigator License	FDACS Division of Licensing	$177.75 standard initial fees; $70 exam separately	Qualifying experience/training; 2-year license
Private Investigator Exam	FDACS-contracted testing provider	$70	Before applying for Class C, M, or MA
Class A Private Investigative Agency License	FDACS Division of Licensing	$450 license fee plus applicable $50 application and $42 fingerprint fees per principal	Main location; Class AA for a branch; 3-year agency license
Class M or MA Manager License	FDACS Division of Licensing	$177.75 standard initial fees if this credential is needed	Class C can manage a Class A/AA without MA; combined A/B manager needs M
Class G Statewide Firearm License (if armed)	FDACS Division of Licensing	$164.75 standard initial fees plus training/vendor charges	2-year license; required 4-hour requalification each year
LLC Articles of Organization, if choosing an LLC	Sunbiz.org	$125; other structures have different filings	Check current Sunbiz processing times
Liability insurance	Discuss PI operations and client requirements with the insurer	Operation-specific quote	The Class B security-agency $300,000 minimum is not a Class A PI requirement
Local business tax receipt, if applicable	Check county/city requirements and available exemptions	Local fee schedule	Local renewal date
Florida sales tax on covered investigative services	Department of Revenue; exemptions require specific eligibility	6% state tax plus applicable county surtax	Register and collect when making taxable sales

How to Start a Private Investigator Business in Florida (Step by Step)

Step 1: Understand the Florida License Class Structure

These licenses serve different purposes under section 493.6201:

• Class CC: supervised investigative intern, with a designated Class C, M or MA sponsor.
• Class C: individual investigator. A C or CC licensee generally must own or be an employee of a licensed Class A agency or branch. A Class C card alone is not an independent agency license.
• Class A and AA: main investigative agency and its branch, respectively.
• Class MA: investigative-agency manager. A designated Class C or M manager does not also need MA.
• Class M: manager of a combined Class A investigation and Class B security agency or Class AB branch.
• Class G: firearm authorization in addition to the underlying occupational license; it is not a standalone authorization for all security services.

A solo investigator can hold Class C and Class A and be the designated manager without adding MA. Obtain the appropriate branch credential before operating another office.

Step 2: Complete the 40-Hour PI Professional Training

For the Class CC route, complete at least 40 hours of professional private-investigator training, including Chapter 493, through a school under the purview of the Florida Department of Education. Submit the original training certificate with the application. This is an intern requirement, not a substitute for the Class C experience and examination requirements.

Confirm the school’s eligibility and current tuition before enrolling. FDACS does not supply a universal tuition price or guaranteed completion schedule.

Step 3: Apply for Class CC Intern License and Find a Supervising PI

Arrange the sponsor before submitting your Class CC application. Include the original training certificate, required sponsor letter, fingerprints and fees. The standard total is $162.75: $50 application, $60 license, $42 fingerprint processing and $10.75 fingerprint retention. Separate fingerprint collection charges can apply; follow FDACS instructions if fingerprints already on file can be reused.

Work under the direction and control of your designated Class C, M or MA sponsor through a licensed agency. Keep experience records and the required sponsorship documentation for a later Class C application. Licensure and a sponsoring relationship do not guarantee employment, pay or a particular processing time.

Step 4: Accumulate 2 Years of Verifiable Experience

Class C requires two years of lawfully gained, verifiable, full-time experience or qualifying training. FDACS considers investigative work or related work providing equivalent experience, Class CC internship, and the combinations allowed by statute. A job title alone does not establish eligibility.

• Document the actual investigative duties, dates and employer or supervisor verification.
• Law-enforcement, government, military or corporate work may qualify when its duties provide the required experience.
• No more than one year may come from qualifying college coursework in criminal justice, criminology or law-enforcement administration, or qualifying law-enforcement training.

Use the Class C experience criteria to evaluate your particular history before assuming that two calendar years are sufficient.

Step 5: Pass the Private Investigator Exam

The FDACS private-investigator examination covers Chapter 493 responsibilities. The fee is $70. Class C, M and MA applicants generally must pass before applying; the application instructions explain the exception for an applicable license held within the preceding six months. Use the current FDACS examination instructions for scheduling, including available remote testing, rather than assuming an in-person testing center is mandatory.

Step 6: Apply for Class C Individual License

Submit the Class C application with the required experience/training documentation, examination evidence, photograph, fingerprints and fees. The standard initial total is $177.75: $50 application, $75 license, $42 fingerprint processing and $10.75 fingerprint retention. The $70 examination and any fingerprint collection fee are separate. Follow the form’s fingerprint-reuse and fee-exemption instructions when applicable. Class C licenses normally last two years.

Applicants must meet age, work-authorization, background and other eligibility conditions. Criminal history is not resolved by a blanket “all felonies” rule: restoration of civil rights, elapsed time and the nature of the offense can matter. Disclose the required history and use the current Class C application; FDACS determines eligibility.

Step 7: Choose Your Agency Structure

Class A applicants may use a sole proprietorship, partnership or eligible entity. If you choose a Florida LLC, its formation total is $125 through Sunbiz.org. Its $138.75 annual report is due by May 1 beginning the following year. The $125 amount is not a universal corporation filing fee.

Obtain an EIN from the IRS when your structure, employees or tax obligations require it; the IRS does not charge for an EIN. File a fictitious-name registration when required for the name used. Keep the agency application and business records consistent.

Step 8: Apply for Class A Agency License

Class A authorizes the investigative business at its main location. The agency application specifies the documents for your ownership structure.

• Fees: $450 for the license after approval, plus a $50 application fee and $42 fingerprint fee for each required principal: the sole proprietor, each partner, corporate officer or LLC manager as applicable. Apply any permitted fingerprint reuse rather than paying twice automatically.
• Branches: use Class AA for an investigative-agency branch; a combined A/B agency uses AB for a branch.
• Manager: designate a qualified MA, C or M licensee. C or M can replace the need for a separate MA.
• Name and location: report the actual business name and physical location. A home-office plan still needs to comply with applicable land-use and property restrictions.
• Term: agency licenses normally last three years; individual licenses normally last two.
• Insurance: section 493.6110’s $300,000 requirement applies to Class B security agencies, not Class A investigative agencies. Client contracts may still require liability coverage.

Step 9: Class M / MA Manager License

Do not buy an unnecessary MA application solely because you are opening a solo Class A agency. A qualified Class C holder can be its designated manager. If applying for MA, document the two years of qualifying experience or the permitted experience/training combination. Managing both investigative and security operations requires Class M and its combined qualifications. Review the manager distinctions before choosing the license.

Step 10: Class G Statewide Firearm License (If Armed Work)

Carrying a firearm while performing licensed investigative duties requires Class G in addition to the underlying PI credential. It is not limited to work labeled “high risk,” and a concealed-weapon license does not replace it.

• Initial training is normally 28 hours with a Class K instructor, including eight hours of in-person range training; no more than 20 hours may be online. Specific statutory training waivers exist.
• Standard initial FDACS fees total $164.75: $112 license, $42 fingerprint processing and $10.75 fingerprint retention, before separate training/collection charges.
• The license lasts two years, but four hours of requalification are required each year, not just at renewal.
• Follow authorized firearm/caliber and qualification rules. For concealed carrying by a Class C or CC investigator, the age threshold is 21 and the employing agency must authorize carrying for the duties involved.

Confirm the Class G requirements before accepting armed assignments. Class G does not expand your underlying occupational scope into every kind of security service.

Step 11: Insurance, Local Business Tax Receipt, and Setup

• General liability: discuss client requirements and your actual investigative work with an insurer. The Class B security-agency minimum is not a Class A PI licensing minimum.
• Professional liability: ask how the policy treats investigation errors, surveillance and privacy-related allegations. Coverage depends on the policy, exclusions and disclosed operations.
• Vehicle coverage: disclose surveillance and other business use; have the insurer confirm whether the existing auto policy is appropriate or commercial coverage is needed.
• Local requirements: check county/city business-tax receipts, zoning and any applicable exemptions. Fees are local, not a uniform statewide amount.
• Tax registration: covered investigative services are subject to 6% state sales tax plus applicable surtax unless an exemption applies.
• Equipment and records: budget for secure case records, cameras, communications and necessary software. Before using location tracking or recording tools, check the law and obtain any required authority or consent.

The small-agency sales-tax exemption requires three or fewer full- or part-time employees, including leased employees, and less than $150,000 in otherwise-taxable investigation charges during the previous calendar year across commonly owned businesses. It does not apply during the first calendar year of taxable investigative sales. Other transaction-specific exemptions can apply; assess eligibility before omitting tax.

Florida PI Market: Client Segments to Research

These are potential service lines to investigate, not verified demand or earnings forecasts:

Personal injury and insurance defense surveillance. Ask law firms and insurers about vendor onboarding, reporting formats, permissible surveillance methods and coverage requirements. Build a service and pricing plan around actual prospective assignments.

Corporate due diligence and fraud investigations. Consider whether your experience fits business-background, asset-location or fraud assignments. Obtain client authorization, define the lawful scope and estimate the research hours before quoting.

Missing persons, skip tracing, and locates. Decide which clients and cases you can lawfully serve, how you will validate the requester’s purpose, and which information you may access or disclose. Do not assume population movement guarantees a steady caseload.

Retirement-community fraud and elder abuse. Evaluate your training and referral relationships before accepting exploitation or contested-estate assignments. Immediate danger and suspected crimes may require referral to the appropriate authorities; a private investigation does not replace that response.

Domestic and family-related investigations. Agree on a lawful scope, a written budget and reporting limits. Have the client’s attorney address the relevance and permissible use of evidence rather than promising a custody or financial outcome.

Choosing a service area: Compare travel time, prospective-client interviews, competing providers and assignment requirements in the Florida communities you can serve. Use those findings to set your area and prices; this guide does not establish a typical hourly rate or revenue level.

Cost to Start a Florida Private Investigator Agency

Planning for a Solo Class C + Class A Agency

Item	Cost	Notes
40-hour PI training, if using the CC route	Obtain current tuition	Required school eligibility and course content matter
Class CC initial fees	$162.75 standard total	Before separate collection charges; applicable reuse/exemption rules may reduce fees
Experience period	Depends on your employment arrangement	Qualifying documented work/training; no guaranteed wage or job
PI examination	$70	Check whether prior-licensure exception applies
Class C initial fees	$177.75 standard total	$50 application + $75 license + $42 processing + $10.75 retention
Optional LLC; EIN/name filing if required	$125 LLC; IRS EIN free; $50 fictitious-name registration	A sole proprietor does not need an LLC simply to apply for Class A
Class A agency license	$450 plus applicable $50 application and $42 fingerprint fees per principal	License fee due after approval; fingerprint reuse can apply
MA license, only if needed	$177.75 standard initial total	A designated Class C manager does not need an extra MA license
Liability insurance	Obtain an operation-specific quote	Class B’s statutory minimum does not establish a Class A requirement
Applicable local business-tax receipt	Check local fee schedule	Check city/county requirements and exemptions
Surveillance equipment	Price the equipment actually needed	Include secure storage and lawful-use requirements
Vehicle insurance	Quote the disclosed business use	Ask whether existing or commercial coverage fits the operation
Website, marketing and optional memberships	Set your own budget	Evaluate costs and referral value before subscribing
Build your total from the fees that apply to your route and actual business quotes; do not automatically add both CC and C pathways or an unnecessary MA license.

Add Class G Statewide Firearm License

Item	Cost
28-hour firearms training	Obtain current instructor pricing
Class G standard initial fees	$164.75 before separate vendor fees; applicable reuse/exemption rules can reduce the charge
Range qualification and ammunition	Obtain pricing; budget for annual requalification
Duty firearm and equipment	Price only approved equipment needed for the assignment
Class G total depends on training, applicable fees and equipment; this table is not a statewide price estimate.

Related Florida Business Guides

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Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need to be a private investigator in Florida?

Class C is the individual investigator license; Class CC is the supervised intern route. An investigative agency also needs Class A, and a branch needs AA. The agency must designate a qualified manager, but a Class C or M manager does not need an extra MA license. Standard initial Class C fees total $177.75, with the $70 examination separate. Armed duties add Class G requirements.

How long does it take to become a Class C private investigator in Florida?

Class C requires two years of qualifying full-time experience or an allowed combination of experience and training. Relevant prior investigative work may count. No more than one year may come from the specified college coursework or qualifying law-enforcement training. FDACS evaluates the documentation; simply holding CC for two calendar years is not proof of qualifying experience.

Do I need to work for an agency as a Class CC intern?

Yes. A CC intern works through a licensed investigative agency under the direction and control of a designated Class C, M or MA sponsor. The sponsor letter is required with the application. An intern cannot operate an independent investigative agency on the strength of a CC license alone.

Is PI work taxable in Florida?

Covered investigative services are taxable at 6% plus applicable county surtax unless an exemption applies. The small-agency exemption requires no more than three full- or part-time employees, including leased employees, and under $150,000 in otherwise-taxable investigation charges in the prior calendar year across commonly owned businesses. It is unavailable in the first calendar year of taxable investigation sales. Check other transaction-specific exemptions before deciding whether to collect tax.

What insurance does a Florida PI agency need?

The $300,000 liability minimum in section 493.6110 is for Class B security agencies, not Class A investigative agencies. A client can still require coverage. Discuss general liability, professional liability and vehicle use with a provider that accepts your actual operations; policy wording and exclusions determine coverage.

How much does it cost to start a PI business in Florida?

Use the current FDACS fee schedule for your particular route, then add actual training, equipment, local filing and insurance quotes. Standard initial fees are $162.75 for CC and $177.75 for C; the PI exam is $70. Class A has a $450 license fee plus applicable per-principal application and fingerprint fees. A Class C agency manager does not also need MA. Class G fees and training are additional for armed work.

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