Business Background & Due Diligence Research
Conduct business background checks and due diligence research
Overview
Due diligence researchers generate $120,000-$1,000,000 annually with 75-90% margins.
In 2025, verifying business information prevents costly mistakes.
Revenue from business background reports ($500-$5,000 per company), due diligence research for M&A ($5,000-$75,000), vendor and partner vetting ($1,000-$10,000), executive background research ($500-$3,000), litigation and regulatory research, and fraud investigation support.
Successful researchers access public records and databases, verify business and financial information, investigate ownership and corporate structure, identify legal and regulatory issues, and compile comprehensive background reports.
Businesses, investors, lawyers, and lenders as clients.
Marketing through business networks, investment firms, law firms, lending institutions, due diligence credentials, and research accuracy reputation.
Required Skills
- Business Research
- Public Records Access
- Due Diligence Methodologies
- Financial Analysis
- Report Writing
- Investigative Skills
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Critical for business transactions and partnerships
- Can charge premium for thorough research
- Diverse clients across industries
- Leverage research across similar requests
- Growing due diligence requirements
Cons
- Access to databases and records costly
- Research thoroughness time-intensive
- Liability concerns for missed information
- Client time pressures for fast turnaround
- Need to stay current on data sources
How to Get Started
- Build due diligence research expertise
- Access business databases and public records
- Develop background research methodologies
- Market to investors, lawyers, and businesses
- Conduct comprehensive background research
- Verify and cross-reference information
- Compile due diligence reports and findings
Explore More Information Brokering Ideas
Discover additional business opportunities in this category.
View All Information Brokering Ideas →