Commercial databases are pricey, but they can save a lot of time and money in the long run. Professional investigators rely heavily on commercial information databases, which gather online public records for their in-house, proprietary databases. AutoTrack, which prepares a comprehensive report for clients, is popular among law-enforcement types. Lexis-Nexis is a favorite among librarians and corporate researchers. And Background-Us is owned by Kroll Associates, the famed private investigation firm.
Commercial sites charge flat monthly rates of several hundred to several thousand dollars a month.
Study hands-on guidebooks to online searches. Each researcher has a different style, approach and methodology. In the end, your success at online background searches will depend on tools, experience and brainpower.