When engaged in the business of furnishing, for hire, fee or reward, private detective services, including locating individuals, and investigating damage or crimes, a license is required.  Contact the Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Bureau of Commercial Services at (517) 241-8205 for licensure information or visit our website at www.michigan.gov/privatedetectives. 

Other Possible License(s):

"Capital Finders" charge other companies a fee to locate sources of capital, investors. A license is required with the Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation; (517) 241-6350.

"FHA Finders" locate people who are owed money by the FHA on mortgage insurance policies. There are several variations: (i.e., dormant account finders, etc.). A license is required with the Department of Labor & Economic Growth at(517) 241-5645.

"Investment Finders" is one who participates in the offer to sell, the sale or the purchase of securities or commodities by locating, introducing or referring potential purchasers or sellers. A license is required with the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation; (517) 241-6350.

"Tracers" of people or property; locate people who are owed money, property or goods, or who, on behalf of a person(s), locate property or money are required to be licensed with the Department of of Labor & Economic Growth at (517) 241-5645.

"Skip Tracers" refers to the use of electronic databases to track down people; users of skiptracing are generally debt collection agencies seeking debtors who have skipped out, hence the name.  Bounty hunters and private investigators also make use of skiptracing.  The growth of the internet, of course, has made available many online resources for skiptracing, which raise some private concerns.  Third party debt collectors are licensed with the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth at (517) 373-7353; www.michigan.gov/collections.

Revised: 07/2008