Industry Statistics and Rankings
How does this industry perform in France compared to Europe?
Country Benchmarking
Industry Data France
Ranking are out of 37 European countries for which IBISWorld provides country-level factsheets.
Revenue
#7 In EuropeBusiness
#5 In EuropeEmployees
#6 In EuropeWages
#5 In EuropeThe private investigations industry covers both investigations for individuals and corporate clients, which make up the bulk of revenue. A weakening trend in M&A activity has led to a slump in demand for corporate investigations in Europe. Companies usually hire corporate investigators to conduct due diligence prior to a potential merger or acquisition. However, from 2019 to 2023, M&A activity in Europe slumped, which is attributed to high interest rates in the UK and Eurozone, making it difficult for companies to fund high-value deals. According to data from Kroll, 2023 saw European target M&A plummet to a ten-year low, restricting opportunities for investigation firms in corporate intelligence, fraud risk assessment and asset tracing. Overall, investigation services revenue is projected to dip at a compound annual rate of 0.3% over the five years through 2025, alongside an expected hike of 1.5% in 2025, reaching €1.2 billion.
Enterprises
Number of businesses in 2025
Biggest companies in the Investigation Services in France
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 | Profit (€m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Clifford Chance LLP | 2,945.6 | 1,160.8 | 39.4 | |
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 2,569.6 | 781.0 | 30.4 | |
Kroll LLC | N/A | N/A | N/A |
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Investigation Services industry in France in 2025?
The market size of the Investigation Services industry in France is €62.6m in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Investigation Services industry in France in 2025?
There are 681 businesses in the Investigation Services industry in France, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.7 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Investigation Services industry in France grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Investigation Services industry in France has been growing at a CAGR of 2.9 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Investigation Services industry in France over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Investigation Services industry in France is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Investigation Services industry in France?
The biggest companies operating in the Investigation Services industry in France are Clifford Chance LLP, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Kroll LLC
What does the Investigation Services industry in France include?
Corporate investigations and Private investigations are part of the Investigation Services industry in France.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Investigation Services industry in France?
The company holding the most market share in the Investigation Services industry in France is Clifford Chance LLP.
How competitive is the Investigation Services industry in France?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Investigation Services industry in France.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
Domestic industries
Competitors
Complementors
International industries
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Operators in this industry conduct investigation and detective service activities. The industry encompasses activities of all private investigators, independent of the type of client or purpose of investigation.
Related Terms
Due DiligenceBackground CheckCorporate EspionageWhat's included in this industry?
Corporate investigationsPrivate investigationsCompanies
Clifford Chance LLPFreshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLPKroll LLCIndustry Code
803 - Investigation activities in France
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Performance
Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2025 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue
- Employees
- Business
- Profit
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Investigation Services in France industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Investigation Services in France industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Investigation Services in France industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Investigation Services in France industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
M&A downturn hits corporate investigation demand. The lull in European merger and acquisition activities, driven by low business confidence and high interest rates, is diminishing the need for corporate investigations.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Investigation Services in France industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Investigation Services in France industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Investigation Services in France industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Total Imports into France
- Total Exports into France
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
The industry is highly fragmented. There are many PIs that offer services to just the local area. Corporate investigation is a more concentrated, with legal firms offering investigation services across multiple countries.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Establishments by Region (2025)
Data Tables
- Number of Establishments by Region (2025)
Charts
- Share of Establishments vs. Population of Each Region
Analysis
What regions are businesses in the Investigation Services in France located?
Companies
Data Tables
Top 4 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit margin (2025)
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
Some countries require private investigators to obtain licenses. A few countries in Europe require private investigators to obtain licenses to operate, which may involve fees, training and qualification requirements.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Investigation Services in France industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Investigation providers rake in profit. This is due to their ability to charge premium prices for specialist services in a competitive market, while maintaining low costs.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Investigation Services in France industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
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