Customer Reviews

How To Make $100,000 A Year As A Private Investigator

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

There is nothing in this book to help you make that kind of money. The technology that is described in this book is out dated by almost 10 -15 years. in my opinion the only way he is making $100,000 a year is luring people with the appealing title of this book. Save your money and look for other books to suit your needs, or check this book out at your local library if you must read it for yourself.

As a licensed private investigator and college instructor of private investigation courses, I have the utmost respect for the late Mr. Edmund J. Pankau, CLI, CPP, DABFE and his contributions to the private investigation profession, and was saddened to learn of his recent passing. Mr. Pankau has written some books of value regarding private investigation, and this one is of some (emphasis added) value.

If you are new to the profession and looking to explore the different investigative services (specialties) offered within the profession... If you are looking for general information to assist in founding a private investigation firm... If you are looking for some general ideas about marketing private investigation services... Then this book should be helpful.

If you are expecting to read this book and make "$100,000 A Year As A Private Investigator", you're going to be very disappointed. If you are experienced in this profession or experienced at running a business (including general marketing strategies), then this book might not suit your needs. For the price however, if this book gives you just one new effective marketing strategy (as it did for me), then the small price of this book could prove to be a great investment.

If you are looking for details regarding private investigation techniques/procedures, you will not find them here. If you are looking to enter the profession and are desperately seeking a title to quench your thirst for knowledge, then I would highly recommend (emphasis added) "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Private Investigation" by Steven Kerry Brown (ISBN: 0028643992). Brown's work is a must-have for anyone entering or attempting to enter the private investigation profession.

As always, check with your local library or bookstore to see if you can read/review this or any title before deciding to make a purchase. This method has effectively allowed me to make the most of my investigative library budget.

I hope you found this review helpful. If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me via email at (...)

This is not in any way a business plan, but rather an introduction to the common sense approach anyone will require when entering the PI field. I don't think there are any 'biggies' in this book that will take anyones breath away. In that sense another title would have been appropriate. It's just (introductory) practical advice from someone who has been in the industry for many years and has a reasonable ability at writing books. Paladin Press, the publishers, tout this title as their 'Best Seller' in the PI section of their own catalogue. That's really hard to believe, but maybe it's true. Pehaps Paladin just get more PI text orders from newbies than they do from the seasoned readers who are looking for the more in depth material. Anyway, happy reading everyone, whatever you buy.

I am a "newbie" in this field and this book was very vague in helping someone like myself. It seemed to have very few really good ideas, and when it did, it didn't explain how to get to square B with it. I wasted my money on this book.

No joke. This book is a stinker. Mr Pankau should be ashamed of himself for literally peddling low level cheap intro material, as if in some way it's supoosed to introduce people to the real nuts and bolts of what it takes to not only become a PI but to actually start up an agency.

As far as I'm concerned the life and work of a PI is serious business, and people starting out just shouldn't have to be distracted by writers like Pankau who do no more than suppliment their annual income with the writing of cheap books. This practice also cheapens the industry as a whole.

Ed's book has quite a bit of insight on the extra efforts one should be putting into their Investigative business. Building a customer base is not an easy task, but Mr. Pankau has put forth some excellent examples of gaining new clients that have worked for me. If you are new to the Investigative world, or are an experienced Investigator looking to build your business, YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.

I have read Mr. Pankua's book, "How To Make A $100,000 A Year As A Private Investigator". I have found it to be an excellent resource of information on marketing, promoting, and operating an investigative agency. Mr. Pankua has been there and done it. He speaks from experience and I for one am grateful that he has chosen to share his wealth of knowledge and experience on this subject. I would highly recommend this book to anyone starting up or operating a private investigative business.

This book was a rip-off when it was first published and is even more of a rip-off with the passage of time. There is NOTHING of value in this book.

This book is extremely outdated. It was outdated in 1993 when it was printed. The forms in the back of the book look like Genealogy forms. If you need a contract for service hire a attorney don't use his contract for service.

I have been a private detective for the last 20 years.

Building your library section of this book was a just paper use. Outdated phone books? Why? Microfilm? I am not looking for my family history.

Some of the stories are funny. They seem like big fish stories.

He did not touch on the fact that in some states you need to be licensed by the state. You also need experience with working for a private detective agency to obtain the licensing. Some states even require you to take a test.

It seems that Mr. Pankau made most of his money writing books.

... As an experienced private investigator with many years in the field and having survived the years of "growing" to become successful, I have to say that Mr. Pankau's book, together with his seminars, have been a great help. In our small PI community Mr. Pankau is an icon. He is in the top 5% of all private investigators in the world. This book was not written for someone who has been in the field for years and years but for the many new starters who hopefully can learn from the introductory texts Mr. Pankau has published. For the amateurs who love to watch Dan Tanner reruns and after reading a book on private investigation want to make it big in the profession, it is not a book to read. Gazza and some of the others may need to give it a little time to grow as investigators to understand the broad guidance that is actually represented in the book.