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

Last updated: April 2, 2026

Georgia is one of the more straightforward states for getting a PI agency off the ground — but “straightforward” does not mean unregulated. The Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies (under the Secretary of State, governed by O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 38) operates a two-tier licensing system that many first-time applicants misread: there is a company license for the business entity and a separate individual employee registration for each investigator who performs PI work. If you are starting a solo agency, you need both. If you are hiring investigators, every one of them needs their own registration before they can work a case.

I’ve run a private investigation firm in Florida and have worked cases across Georgia, so I can tell you how Georgia’s framework compares in practice. California requires 6,000 hours of qualifying experience before you can even apply for a license. Florida requires a state exam, a fingerprint background check, and a significant insurance threshold. Georgia sits in a sensible middle: two years of relevant experience (or a criminal justice degree) to qualify for the company license, a state exam through PSI Services, a $25,000 surety bond or $1M general liability policy, and a reasonably priced fee structure. Colorado, by contrast, has no PI licensing requirement at all — which tells you something about the floor. Georgia’s licensing creates a real barrier to entry that protects legitimate operators from fly-by-night competition.

This guide covers every license, fee, bond requirement, legal restriction, and market opportunity you need to know before opening a PI agency in Georgia.

Private Investigator Requirements in Georgia at a Glance

Requirement	Details	Agency / Portal
Company (agency) license	2 years PI or law enforcement experience OR 4-year criminal justice degree; state exam required; $100 application + $300 license fee	GA Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies — GOALS portal
Individual employee registration (unarmed)	18+, background check, 70-hour training course; $45 fee	GA Board — GOALS portal (employer submits within 30 days of hire)
Individual employee registration (armed)	Same as unarmed + Board-approved firearms training, 80% range qualification; $70 fee	GA Board — GOALS portal
Surety bond OR insurance	$25,000 surety bond OR $1M general liability insurance policy	Licensed surety/insurer
Company license renewal	$300 (timely), $400 (late); June 30 of odd-numbered years	GOALS portal
Individual registration renewal	$65; August 31 of odd-numbered years	GOALS portal
Continuing education (employees)	16 CE hours every 2 years	Board-approved providers
Georgia Weapons Carry License	Optional (constitutional carry applies) but recommended for cross-state work; county probate court, $30 fee, 5-year validity	County Probate Court
Workers’ compensation	Required at 3+ employees (includes owners/officers)	State Board of Workers’ Compensation
Business entity / EIN	Register LLC; obtain federal EIN	GA SOS; IRS.gov

What Makes Georgia Different: The Board’s Two-Tier Structure

The distinction between the company license and the individual employee registration is the most important thing to understand before you apply. These are not interchangeable.

The company license is issued to the business entity. It authorizes the entity to contract for and provide private detective services in Georgia. To obtain it, the designated responsible individual must meet the experience or education threshold, pass the state exam, and provide financial security (bond or insurance). The company license is what allows you to bill clients and operate as a PI business in Georgia.

The individual employee registration is issued to each investigator who actually performs PI work. Even the owner of the company needs an individual registration in addition to the company license. Employees must complete a 70-hour Board-approved basic training course and pass a background check. The employer (the agency) submits the employee’s registration application within 30 days of their hire date. The registration fee is $45 for unarmed investigators and $70 for armed investigators.

A solo operator starting their own agency needs: one company license + one individual registration. An agency with three investigators needs: one company license + three individual registrations. There is no provision for operating a Georgia PI agency without registering each investigator individually.

Company License: Experience, Exam, and Application

Experience Requirements

To qualify as the responsible individual for a company license, you must meet at least one of the following:

• 2 years full-time experience as a registered private detective employee at a licensed PI agency
• 2 years full-time law enforcement experience at a federal, state, county, or municipal agency
• A four-year degree in criminal justice or a closely related field from an accredited institution

The law enforcement path is the most commonly used. Former law enforcement officers who want to transition to private investigation will find that Georgia’s Board accepts their prior service directly — no additional PI work experience required before applying for the company license. The criminal justice degree path (without experience) is available but less common; the Board may scrutinize applications where the degree substitutes for practical investigative experience.

The State Exam

All company license applicants must pass the Georgia Private Detective Agency Examination, administered by PSI Services. There are no exemptions for prior licensure in other states — Georgia does not recognize reciprocity with any other state’s PI licensing system. If you hold a valid PI company license in Florida, Texas, or any other state, you still must take and pass the Georgia exam. The exam covers legal and ethical standards, surveillance protocols, evidence handling, case management, and Georgia-specific statutes. The exam fee is $125 for the private detective exam alone, or $250 for the dual private detective and security exam.

Financial Security Requirement

Before the company license is issued, you must provide proof of one of the following:

• A $25,000 surety bond from a licensed surety company. Annual cost for a $25,000 bond typically runs $250–$500 depending on your credit profile.
• A $1,000,000 general liability insurance policy. Annual premiums for a PI agency with $1M GL coverage generally run $1,200–$2,500 depending on the scope of work and claims history.
• Certified financial statements showing $50,000 or more in net worth (less commonly used).

Most new agencies choose the surety bond route for cost efficiency. However, the $1M GL policy provides broader protection and is increasingly required by corporate clients and law firms that hire PI agencies — so if your target market includes institutional clients, the insurance path may be the better strategic choice from day one.

Application Fee Structure

License / Registration Type	Initial Fee	Renewal Fee	Renewal Date
Private Detective Company License	$100 application + $300 license = $400 total	$300 (timely), $400 (late)	June 30, odd years
Dual Detective + Security Company License	$100 application + $700 license = $800 total	$700 (timely), $800 (late)	June 30, odd years
Individual Registration (Unarmed)	$45	$65	August 31, odd years
Individual Registration (Armed)	$70	$65	August 31, odd years
PSI Exam (Private Detective)	$125	N/A	N/A
PSI Exam (Dual License)	$250	N/A	N/A

Individual Employee Registration: The 70-Hour Training Requirement

Every investigator employed by a Georgia PI agency must complete a 70-hour basic training course from a Board-approved provider before working cases. This is not a soft requirement — the employer submits the registration application with proof of training completion, and the Board will not process registrations without it. The training covers Georgia law governing PI work, surveillance techniques, report writing, evidence handling, and professional standards.

Several providers offer this training in Georgia, including in-person and online formats. Georgia PI Training (gapitraining.com) is one Board-approved provider. Costs typically run $200–$500 for the full 70-hour course.

After registration, individual investigators must complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain their registration. Armed investigators have the additional requirement of annual firearms requalification — achieving a minimum 80% score on the range each year.

Armed PI Services: Firearms Rules in Georgia

If you or your investigators will carry firearms while working cases, Georgia’s rules are more permissive than many states — but there are real distinctions to understand:

• Constitutional Carry applies in Georgia (SB 319, effective April 2022). Most adults 21 and older can carry a concealed firearm without a permit. This technically applies while working as a PI. However, armed employee registration ($70) is still required from the Board — the carry legality and the Board registration are separate questions.
• Armed registration requires Board-approved firearms training and an initial range qualification score of at least 80%. Armed investigators must requalify annually.
• A Georgia Weapons Carry License (WCL) is not required under constitutional carry, but it is worth obtaining anyway. The WCL costs $30 from your county probate court and is valid for 5 years. It provides reciprocity when working across state lines — 38 states recognize Georgia’s WCL. For PI agencies that take cases in neighboring states (Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina), the WCL is effectively essential.
• Georgia PIs have no special authority over private citizens. While Georgia case law has recognized some detention rights for licensed private detectives in limited circumstances, PIs generally operate with the same rights as any private citizen regarding use of force. Firearms are for self-defense only — not for detaining subjects or executing civil process.
• Standard firearm restrictions still apply. Government buildings, courthouses, school grounds, polling places, houses of worship (unless permitted by the establishment), bars and restaurants with alcohol-only licenses, and other restricted locations remain off-limits even under constitutional carry.

What Georgia PIs Can and Cannot Do Legally

Understanding the legal boundaries of PI work in Georgia is critical before you take your first case. Crossing these lines risks criminal charges, civil liability, and license revocation.

What Georgia PIs Can Do

• Conduct surveillance from public spaces. A PI on a public street, in a public park, or in any location open to the general public can observe and document subjects without consent or a warrant. This covers the vast majority of surveillance work — workers’ comp fraud, domestic cases, insurance investigations.
• Access public records. Court filings, property records, vehicle registrations, business filings, and most government records are legally accessible. Georgia’s open records laws are reasonably PI-friendly for business and asset investigations.
• Conduct interviews. PIs can interview witnesses, neighbors, and other third parties. Subjects are not required to speak with you, but you can ask.
• Work with attorneys. PI agencies frequently act as agents of attorneys, which can extend some protections under attorney-client privilege to investigation materials. Attorney-retained PI work is a major revenue source in Georgia given Atlanta’s large legal services industry.
• Record in public spaces. Georgia is a one-party consent state for audio recording. In a conversation where you are a party, you can record without notifying the other party. Surveillance video in public spaces requires no consent.

What Georgia PIs Cannot Do

• Record in private spaces without consent. Recording a person in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy — a private home, a hotel room, a private backyard not visible from public space — without their consent violates Georgia law regardless of your license status.
• Trespass on private property. A PI license confers no special right to enter private property. Entering posted land, a fenced property, or a building without permission is criminal trespass in Georgia.
• Intercept electronic communications. Wiretapping, accessing email without authorization, or using any method to intercept digital communications without consent violates both Georgia law and the federal Wiretap Act. This prohibition is absolute.
• Impersonate law enforcement. Using law enforcement credentials, badges, or titles to gain cooperation or access is a criminal offense and an automatic license revocation ground.
• Access restricted databases without authorization. NCIC, DPPA-protected DMV records (outside lawful purposes), financial records, and medical records are all restricted. Misuse of data broker access or pretexting (using false pretenses to obtain records from institutions) is illegal under both Georgia law and federal statutes.

How to Start a PI Business in Georgia (Step by Step)

Step 1: Verify Your Qualifying Experience

Before anything else, confirm you meet one of the Board’s three qualification paths. Former law enforcement officers have the cleanest path — gather your separation documentation and service records. PI agency employees seeking to start their own firm should obtain a verification letter from their prior employer confirming dates and full-time status. Criminal justice degree holders should have official transcripts from an accredited institution. Gather these documents before applying; missing documentation is the most common reason for application delays.

Step 2: Form Your Business Entity

Register your LLC with the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division at sos.ga.gov. The filing fee for a Georgia LLC is $100. Obtain a federal EIN from IRS.gov (free, immediate online). The company license is issued in the name of the business entity, so your entity must exist before you submit the license application. Most solo PI agencies operate as single-member LLCs for simplicity and liability protection.

Step 3: Secure Your Bond or Insurance

A $25,000 surety bond from a licensed surety company typically costs $250–$500 per year and is the most common choice for new agencies. A $1M general liability policy runs $1,200–$2,500 per year but opens more doors with institutional clients. Get quotes for both before deciding — the cost difference is often smaller than expected, and the GL policy is a more versatile credential. Have the certificate ready when you submit the license application.

Step 4: Pass the PSI State Exam

Register with PSI Services and schedule the Georgia Private Detective Agency Examination. Study Georgia’s governing statutes (O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 38), the Board’s administrative rules (GA Board Chapter 509), surveillance law, evidence handling standards, and professional ethics. No reciprocity exemptions exist — this exam is required for every applicant regardless of experience or out-of-state credentials.

Step 5: Apply for the Company License

Submit through the GOALS portal at sos.ga.gov. Include experience documentation, business entity filing information, bond/insurance certificate, exam passing score, and $100 application fee. Once approved, pay the $300 license fee (detective-only) or $700 (dual detective + security). The company license renews on June 30 of odd-numbered years; the next renewal after initial licensure falls in 2027.

Step 6: Register as an Individual Investigator

Complete a Board-approved 70-hour basic training course (available online or in-person; approximately $200–$500). Submit your individual registration through GOALS with the training completion certificate and fingerprint background check results. As the agency owner, you need this registration in addition to the company license — the company license alone does not authorize you to personally conduct investigations. The $45 unarmed or $70 armed registration fee applies. Individual registrations renew August 31 of odd-numbered years.

Step 7: Insurance, Operations, and Hiring

Set up professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance — particularly important if you take domestic or child custody cases where litigation risk is elevated. Build your written services agreement, client intake forms, and evidence chain-of-custody protocols before taking your first case. When you hire investigators, each one needs their own 70-hour training and individual registration before working a case. Georgia requires workers’ compensation insurance when you reach 3 employees, including yourself as an LLC member.

Cost to Start a PI Business in Georgia

Expense	Low Estimate	High Estimate
LLC formation (GA SOS filing fee)	$100	$100
Company license (application + license fee)	$400	$800 (dual license)
PSI state exam fee	$125	$250 (dual)
Individual employee registration	$45 (unarmed)	$70 (armed)
70-hour basic training course	$200	$500
Surety bond (annual)	$250	$500
General liability insurance (annual, if chosen instead)	$1,200	$2,500
Professional liability / E&O insurance (annual)	$800	$2,000
Surveillance equipment (cameras, GPS trackers, binoculars)	$1,000	$5,000
Vehicle (surveillance use)	$0 (existing)	$15,000 (used purchase)
Office setup / home office	$200	$1,500
Case management software (annual)	$300	$1,200
Working capital (3 months)	$3,000	$5,000
Total estimated startup cost	$5,000	$20,000

Note: The low end assumes a home-based operation, existing vehicle, bond rather than insurance, and no employees. The high end assumes a vehicle purchase, full insurance program, office space, and equipment for multiple investigators.

Georgia Market Context: Why Atlanta Is a PI Business Hub

Georgia’s PI market is driven by Atlanta’s economic profile in ways that are specific to this state:

• Fortune 500 and major corporate concentration. Atlanta is headquarters to Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, UPS, NCR Voyix, Intercontinental Exchange, and dozens of other major corporations. These companies maintain large legal, compliance, and HR departments that routinely hire PI agencies for internal investigations, background checks, due diligence on acquisitions, corporate espionage investigations, and fraud examinations. A PI agency positioned to serve corporate clients in Atlanta is tapping a different revenue tier than domestic-case-only agencies in smaller markets.
• Workers’ compensation fraud is a major Georgia market. Georgia’s State Board of Workers’ Compensation actively investigates fraud, and insurance carriers routinely contract PI agencies to conduct surveillance on claimants. The volume of workers’ comp cases in a large manufacturing and distribution economy (Georgia has significant logistics infrastructure around the port of Savannah and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson distribution network) translates to consistent demand for surveillance work. Workers’ comp fraud surveillance typically generates higher billing rates than domestic cases and produces repeat-client relationships with insurance carriers.
• Legal services support is a growing niche. Atlanta’s large legal community — including major national law firms with Atlanta offices — regularly retains PI agencies for witness location, asset investigations, process service, and background investigations for litigation. Being listed with the Georgia Association of Professional Private Investigators (GAPPI) and building referral relationships with civil litigation attorneys is one of the fastest ways to build a sustainable client base.
• Insurance fraud broadly, not just workers’ comp. Georgia’s large population, active real estate market, and substantial auto insurance market create demand for staged-accident investigations, property claim investigations, and medical billing fraud cases. Insurance carriers that hire PI agencies for one case type will often consolidate vendors — building a track record with one carrier creates opportunities across multiple fraud types.
• Domestic and family law cases remain steady but competitive. Domestic cases (infidelity investigations, child custody documentation, divorce asset investigations) are the entry point for most new PI agencies and remain a consistent market. However, domestic work is also the most competitive segment — most new PI agencies start here, and pricing pressure is significant. Building toward corporate and insurance work is the path to stronger margins.

Georgia-Specific Traps for New PI Agencies

• The individual registration is not optional for the owner. Some applicants assume the company license authorizes the owner to work cases personally. It does not. You need your own individual registration ($45–$70) even as the sole owner of the company. Working cases without your individual registration while the company license is active puts both licenses at risk.
• No reciprocity means no shortcuts. Georgia does not recognize PI licenses from any other state. If you have a valid license elsewhere and take Georgia cases without a Georgia license, you are operating illegally in Georgia regardless of your credentials. The Board takes this seriously.
• Employee registration deadlines are on the employer. When you hire an investigator, you must submit their registration application within 30 days of their start date. If you miss that window, your investigator has been working cases while unregistered — a violation that can expose your company license to sanctions.
• Surveillance on private property requires more than good intentions. New PI investigators frequently cross the line between public surveillance and trespass without realizing it. Entering a gated community behind a resident to conduct surveillance, following a subject through a private parking garage, or setting up a camera on a fence post on neighboring private property are all legally problematic. When in doubt, stay public — the surveillance value of public-space observation is substantial, and the legal risk is zero.
• One-party consent has limits. Georgia is a one-party consent state for audio recording — but only in conversations where you are a participant. Placing a recording device to capture a conversation you are not part of is illegal interception regardless of your license. Clients sometimes request this; the correct answer is no.

Related Georgia Business Guides

• Starting a Business in Georgia: Complete Guide

← Back to all Georgia business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What experience do I need to get a Georgia PI company license?

You must meet at least one of three qualifying criteria: two years of full-time experience as a registered private detective employee at a licensed Georgia PI agency; two years of full-time law enforcement experience at a federal, state, county, or municipal agency; or a four-year degree in criminal justice or a closely related field from an accredited institution. The law enforcement path is most commonly used. There is no partial experience credit — the two-year threshold applies in full.

What is the difference between the company license and the individual registration?

The company license authorizes the business entity to contract for and provide PI services in Georgia. The individual registration authorizes a specific person to actually perform investigative work. If you start a solo PI agency, you need both: one company license for the business and one individual registration for yourself personally. If you hire investigators, each one needs their own registration before they can work a case. The company license alone does not authorize any individual — including the owner — to conduct investigations.

What bond or insurance does a Georgia PI agency need?

Before the company license is issued, you must provide proof of one of three alternatives: a $25,000 surety bond from a licensed surety company (typically costs $250–$500 per year), a $1,000,000 general liability insurance policy (typically $1,200–$2,500 per year), or certified financial statements showing $50,000 or more in net worth. Most new agencies use the surety bond for cost efficiency, but the GL policy is worth considering if your target clients include corporations or law firms that require insurance certificates.

Can a Georgia PI carry a firearm while working cases?

Yes, with the proper registration. Georgia’s constitutional carry law (SB 319, effective 2022) allows most adults 21+ to carry concealed firearms without a permit — this applies while working as a PI. However, the Board’s armed investigator registration ($70 vs. $45 for unarmed) is still required separately from the carry question. Armed investigators must complete Board-approved firearms training and achieve a minimum 80% range qualification score initially, with annual requalification. Obtaining a Georgia Weapons Carry License ($30, county probate court) is advisable for cross-state reciprocity even though it is not legally required in Georgia itself.

Does Georgia offer PI license reciprocity with other states?

No. Georgia does not recognize PI licenses from any other state and does not offer reciprocity agreements. Every applicant for a Georgia company license must take the PSI Georgia Private Detective Agency Examination regardless of how long they have been licensed elsewhere. This applies to applicants from Florida, Texas, California, and every other state. The exam fee is $125 for the detective exam or $250 for the dual detective and security exam.

What is the market opportunity for a PI agency in Atlanta?

Atlanta is one of the strongest PI markets in the Southeast for several specific reasons: it is home to the headquarters of Coca-Cola, Delta, Home Depot, UPS, and dozens of other Fortune 500 companies whose legal and compliance departments routinely hire PI agencies; Georgia’s large workers’ compensation market generates consistent insurance investigation demand; and Atlanta’s large legal community creates a steady flow of attorney-referred investigative work. Agencies that build relationships with insurance carriers and civil litigation attorneys typically achieve stronger margins and more predictable revenue than those focused exclusively on domestic cases.

How much does it cost to start a private investigation business in Georgia?

Expect $5,000–$20,000 to start a Georgia PI agency. The main costs: company license ($400 for detective-only, or $800 for dual detective and security), PSI exam ($125 or $250 for dual), 70-hour basic training course ($200–$500), individual employee registration ($45 unarmed or $70 armed), LLC formation ($100), and either a $25,000 surety bond ($250–$500/year) or a $1 million general liability policy ($1,200–$2,500/year). Professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance adds $800–$2,000/year. The low end assumes a home-based solo operation with an existing vehicle and surety bond. The high end assumes an office, vehicle purchase, full insurance program, and surveillance equipment for multiple investigators.