Public Records Research Service
Search and retrieve public records for legal and business use
Overview
Public records researchers generate $80,000-$500,000 annually with 70-85% margins.
In 2025, accessing public records requires local expertise.
Revenue from court records retrieval ($50-$300 per search), property and deed research ($75-$400), vital records and genealogy research ($50-$250), business and UCC filing research, local government records retrieval, and volume research contracts.
Successful researchers have access to local courthouses and records, understand public records systems and procedures, retrieve records efficiently and accurately, provide certified or notarized copies when needed, and deliver records quickly.
Legal firms, title companies, and businesses as clients.
Marketing through legal networks, title company relationships, court filing services, local records expertise, and fast turnaround times.
Required Skills
- Public Records Systems
- Court Procedures
- Records Navigation
- Document Retrieval
- Local Knowledge
- Customer Service
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Consistent demand from legal and title industries
- Can scale with multiple researchers
- Relatively low startup costs
- Local geographic advantage
- Quick turnaround projects
Cons
- Lower fees per search or retrieval
- Need high volume for significant revenue
- May require travel to courthouses
- Records access rules and procedures vary
- Competition from online records services
How to Get Started
- Learn local public records systems
- Build relationships at courthouses and offices
- Develop efficient retrieval processes
- Market to law firms and title companies
- Receive and process records requests
- Retrieve records from public sources
- Deliver records to clients promptly
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