NAICS UNIVERSITY · Free research for insurance agents
Investigation and Personal Background Check Services
NAICS 561611 · United States · 2022 edition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing investigation, detective, and personal background check services.
Start with the work promised to the client.
For Investigation and Personal Background Check Services, clarify the services, contracts and consequences of an error. Review professional liability / e&o, privacy and cyber liability, defamation and invasion of privacy. Confirm which professional activities and additional services the proposed coverage actually addresses.
Questions to ask
- What proportion of revenue comes from background/employment screening versus field investigation work?
- Does the firm act as a consumer reporting agency under FCRA, and what compliance practices are in place?
- Do investigators use personal vehicles for field work, or are owned vehicles provided?
- What types of clients are served — employers, law firms, insurers, individuals, or a mix?
- Any prior E&O claims, FCRA complaints, or regulatory inquiries?
- How is sensitive personal data stored, transmitted, and secured?
- For Investigation and Personal Background Check Services, what should the underwriter know about prior e&o, defamation, or fcra-related claims or regulatory actions?
- For Investigation and Personal Background Check Services, what should the underwriter know about high-volume consumer reporting agency operations with large personal data repositories?
Activities described by this code
- Fingerprint services
- Private detective services
- Polygraph services
- Private investigative services (except credit)
Other activities to examine
Census classification reference
For educational purposes only. AI-generated insurance research and automated logic can contain errors. Independently verify classification and coverage decisions.
Compare another operationInsurance operations research — draft
Establishments in this class provide investigative services including private detective work, surveillance, subject interviews, background and criminal record checks, fingerprinting, and polygraph testing. Clients are typically businesses, attorneys, insurers, employers, and occasionally individuals. Field investigators may conduct mobile surveillance while office-based staff process background screening requests and manage data.
Questions to investigate
- What proportion of revenue comes from background/employment screening versus field investigation work?
- Does the firm act as a consumer reporting agency under FCRA, and what compliance practices are in place?
- Do investigators use personal vehicles for field work, or are owned vehicles provided?
- What types of clients are served — employers, law firms, insurers, individuals, or a mix?
This insurance research was generated in April 2026. It has not received a complete human review. The October 12, 2026 audit checked codes and titles only, not descriptions or coverage assertions.