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A private investigator is someone engaged by a company or an individual to carry out an investigation or to perform research in exchange for payment.  Private investigators are often engaged by other law enforcement officers, attorneys, insurance companies and businesspeople as well as, of course, a suspicious spouse.

The types of activities a private investigator will engage in include surveillance (tailing, stakeouts, videography, photography, audio recording); detection of listening devices and cameras; undercover and covert operations; corporate espionage and competitive intelligence; background checks; locating missing persons; relationship, marital and custody investigations; skiptracing; locating missing heirs and witnesses; conducting injury or wrongful death investigations; investigating accidents, fires, property damage; locating assets and stolen property; providing security services; evidence gathering for legal proceedings; and process serving.

Not all private investigators do all these things, of course.  Most will specialize in a few areas.  Some focus exclusively on marital infedility cases, others on insurance fraud.

Licensing requirements for private investigators vary from state to state.  Most states require PI's to be licensed but some have no licensing requirements whatsoever. The first step is to ask your State Department's Division of Licensing for their current requirements of professional investigators.  These requirements will also include educational prerequisites.  You should be prepared to undertake a course of study to qualify for your license.

Despite a popular misconception, most private investigators do NOT come from a law enforcement background.  The most important qualities to possess are being streetwise and being able to get out and gather information.  Experience and the capacity for logical reasoning are two other important qualities.

The areas you decide to specialize in will determine what equipment you'll need.  At a minimum, you'll need badges (which you'll be able to obtain once you satisfy your state's licensing requirements), laminated ID, business cards, cell phone, cameras (still and video), binoculars and tape recorders.

To begin with, you can expect to be paid $15.00 an hour. Once you gain experience and a good reputation, you can, of course, increase your rates.  Keep in mind that investigators who specialize will always demand a higher rate than a general investigator.

Useful sites:

How To Investigate
Infoguys.com
National Association of Investigative Specialists
National Association of Legal Investigators
PI Mall

Recommended books:

-> How to Make $100,000 a Year as a Private Investigator
     by Edmund Pankau

-> Introduction to Private Investigation: Essential
     Knowledge and Procedures for the Private Investigator
     by Joseph Travers

-> Undercover Operations: A Manual for the Private Investigator
     by Peter Anderson

-> Serious Surveillance for the Private Investigator by Bob Bruno

-> Mega-Marketing for the Private Investigator: How to
    Drastically Increase Your Agency Business with Effective
    Mega-Marketing Techniques by Ralph Thomas
    Private Detective and Investigator Course by Max Dabbah