How much does skip tracing cost in Australia?
Across the Australian market, a comprehensive skip trace commonly costs $350 to $500, with complex matters quoted higher — advertised ranges run from $300 to $1,500 per case, and some firms charge $660 and above.
Our skip tracing starts from $100, quoted as a fixed fee once we understand the matter. Process serving starts from $120, company and asset searches from $150, and bulk files from $50 each.
Every quote is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
Our pricing
| Service | From | Turnaround | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skip Tracing | $100 | 7–10 business days | Details → |
| Debtor Tracing | $100 | 7–10 business days | Details → |
| Locate a Person | $100 | 7–10 business days | Details → |
| Process Serving | $120 | Quoted per matter | Details → |
| Bankruptcy, Title, Company & Asset Searches | $150 | 24 hours | Details → |
| Datawashing & Bulk Skip Tracing | $50 per file | Quoted per matter | Details → |
| Fraud & Catfish Investigations | $100 | Quoted per matter | Details → |
| Surveillance & Field Investigations | $100/hour | Quoted per matter | Details → |
Indicative starting prices, excluding GST. Prices vary with location, complexity and urgency — regional and remote attendances in particular. Your written quote states the full amount before you instruct us.
On price
Why our pricing is lower — and what that does not mean
Our rates sit below the market average. That is worth explaining, because in professional services a low price is often read as a warning.
The reason is efficiency, not abbreviation. Two decades of established database access, internal systems built specifically for this work, and investigators who do it daily mean a straightforward trace takes us less time than it takes a firm that handles them occasionally. We pass that through rather than charging what the market will bear.
What it does not mean is a thinner service. Every result is verified before it is reported, every report records the searches performed, and complex matters are quoted at what they actually cost — we do not pretend every file is a $100 file.
What affects the price
How much you already know
A full name and date of birth traces faster than a surname and an initial. Better starting information means a lower quote.
How recent the trail is
Someone who moved last year is cheaper to find than someone last recorded a decade ago.
Whether the subject is avoiding contact
Deliberate concealment takes longer and is quoted accordingly.
Location
Regional and remote attendances carry travel time. Metro field calls are cheaper.
Urgency
Matters with a court deadline can be prioritised, which is quoted separately.
Volume
Bulk and ongoing work is priced per file and falls well below individual matter pricing.
How we quote
- 1
Tell us what you have
No cost, no obligation. Send the details through and we will assess them.
- 2
We tell you if it is viable
If the information is too thin to work with, we say so rather than taking the fee and failing.
- 3
You get a fixed fee in writing
The amount and the expected turnaround, confirmed before anything starts.
- 4
No surprises
Tracing does not run on open-ended hourly billing. Field work is hourly by necessity, with expected duration agreed upfront.
Pricing — frequently asked questions
How much does skip tracing cost in Australia?
Across the Australian market a comprehensive skip trace commonly costs between $350 and $500, with complex matters quoted higher — some providers charge $660 and above, and ranges of $300 to $1,500 per case are advertised. Our skip tracing starts from $100, quoted as a fixed fee once we understand the matter.
Why is your pricing lower than other providers?
Because the work is efficient, not because it is abbreviated. Two decades of established database access, internal systems and experienced investigators mean a straightforward trace takes us less time than it takes a firm doing it occasionally. Complex matters are quoted accordingly — we do not pretend every file costs $100.
Is the price fixed or does it change?
Fixed, and confirmed in writing before work begins. The exception is field work and surveillance, which is charged hourly because duration genuinely varies — there we agree expected hours upfront and check in rather than accumulating time silently.
Do I pay if you cannot find the person?
Tracing is charged for the work performed, not on a no-find-no-fee basis. What we do instead is tell you honestly at the assessment stage whether the information you hold is enough to work with — so you are not paying for a search we already expect to fail.
How much does process serving cost?
Legal document service starts from $120, including an affidavit of service. Regional and remote attendances, urgent service and repeat attempts are quoted on the specifics of the matter.
How much do company and asset searches cost?
Bankruptcy, title ownership, company, director and asset searches start from $150, with results typically returned within 24 hours. Search disbursements are included in the quoted fee.
How is bulk work priced?
Per file, from $50. We assess a sample of your data before quoting so you see a realistic hit rate before committing a full ledger. We can also work to a set budget.
Are your prices inclusive of GST?
Prices shown are indicative starting points excluding GST. Your written quote will state the full amount payable before you instruct us.
Get a fixed-fee quote
Tell us what you know. We'll confirm the cost and the turnaround before you commit to anything.
Licensed by Victoria Police · 20+ years' experience · Australia-wide