Digital forensics pricing

Three ways to work with SleuthX

Pick the way that fits your situation. Run the AI forensic tool yourself for $995 once, have us do the work for you in a done-for-you device package, or run a team on Enterprise. Anything that falls outside a package — extra devices, complex multi-actor cases, litigation, expert-witness work — bills at one flat $400/hr rate. Most consumers start with the self-serve tool; most attorneys start with a done-for-you package. Both are scoped on the free first call.

Done-for-you device packages

When you want us to run the investigation for you, we package the work by the number of devices. Each package is a flat total that already includes the $995 lifetime tool license — no separate charge. We start at the package that matches your situation, scope it in writing on the free triage call, and only escalate with a written scope update you authorize first.

Need a different number of devices? 4, 6, or more devices, or anything beyond a 5-device package, is scoped per case at the flat $400/hr rate on the free triage call — there is no cliff between packages.

$400/hr flat — for everything else

One rate, every service that falls outside a package. $400/hour for additional devices, open-ended forensic and advisory time, breach-counsel support, and every bracket of expert-witness work — case review, deposition prep, deposition, trial testimony. No surge, after-hours, or rush multipliers, and no premium for expert-witness work: the methodology, senior-practitioner involvement, and court-admissible documentation overhead are the same across every case, so the rate is the same. Hourly engagements without a retainer carry a 4-hour-per-session minimum.

Complex & litigation cases

The largest cases — identity-theft rings, multi-actor harassment, layered scams (romance-to-crypto, executive sextortion, pig-butchering rings) coordinated across multiple devices, accounts, and jurisdictions — run $15,000–$50,000, scoped per case at the $400/hr rate and often coordinated with breach counsel and law enforcement. If litigation is on the table, expert-witness case review, deposition, and trial testimony all bill at the same rate.

Payment

All standard payment methods are accepted via Stripe — credit card, debit card, and ACH bank transfer for US clients. For larger engagements we prefer ACH or wire transfer to keep processing costs down for both sides. The self-serve tool ($995 one-time) and Enterprise ($20,000/mo) check out in-app; prepaid usage top-ups are handled there too. Done-for-you engagements collect a $5,000 refundable retainer before any billable work begins; payment instructions go out in the engagement letter.

Cross-cutting policies

Free first call

The 30-minute consultationis free, NDA-protected, and confidential. If your case can be handled with the self-serve tool, with the free version of SleuthX, or with a referral to a different specialist (police, IC3, a licensed Florida PI, breach counsel, the platform's own recovery process), we will tell you that and decline the engagement. We do not take cases for billing reasons. We take cases where forensic work is actually the right answer.

Written scope before any billable work

Every engagement is scoped in writing before any retainer is collected. The estimate names the device package or hour range, the deliverables, and the milestone gates where scope is reviewed before additional time bills.

Refundable retainer

Done-for-you engagements use a $5,000 refundable retainer (proportional for larger work). The retainer is held against the flat rate; unused balance is refunded at engagement close. We do not bill outside the written scope without a scope update you authorize first.

Sliding scale for survivors

Domestic-violence survivors, active-threat cases, and victims of cyber crime where money is a barrier are eligible for sliding-scale pricing applied during the first call. No paperwork required. We do not publish the reduced rate publicly because it depends on the case. Tell us during the consultation and we will work it out. No survivor will be turned away for cost.

Attorney volume

Attorneys with 3 or more active cases per quarter receive floor pricing on subsequent personal-side cases (internal volume policy).

Need B2B, enterprise, or federal pricing?

SleuthX is the consumer-facing brand. Enterprise DFIR, vCISO, MDR, managed cybersecurity, SOC 2, CMMC, FedRAMP, HIPAA, ISO 27001, ITAR, red team, pentest, and federal advisory work runs through our sister brand at varcoe.ai. Same legal entity (SleuthX, Inc.), same Quinn, different brand voice for the B2B audience. The full B2B rate card lives at varcoe.ai/pricing.

What we will not do

• Bill for work outside the written scope without a scope update first
• Quote a low rate for senior-practitioner work and then deliver junior work
• Take a case where simpler steps (police report, IC3 filing, platform-native recovery, the self-serve tool) would resolve the situation
• Promise outcomes we cannot guarantee
• Add surge, after-hours, or rush multipliers to the flat rate

How to schedule

1. Free first call. 30 minutes. NDA-protected. Book on Calendly or call (239) 241-8095.
2. Written scope and estimate. Within 24 hours of the call, you receive a written engagement letter naming how you're working with us (self-serve tool, done-for-you package, or hourly), the price or device package, deliverables, and retainer.
3. Retainer + start. Done-for-you engagements start with a $5,000 refundable retainer (proportional for larger work). Unused balance is refunded at engagement close. The self-serve tool starts immediately — purchase once at sleuthx.ai/app and begin.
4. Investigation, report, optional testimony. Court-admissible methodology, written report, expert testimony coordination if your case ends up in court.