Pricing — Deep Roots Historical Research and Genealogy

Base rate

$60 per hour for research, analysis, writing, and most retrieval visits.

Flat packages are listed below for well-scoped work. Complex or open-ended projects stay hourly.

$500 minimum deposit. No research begins until a deposit of at least $500 is received. For hourly work, that deposit is a retainer applied to billed hours (additional blocks are paid in advance). For flat packages of $500 or more, pay 50% to start and the balance before final delivery. Smaller flat items under $500 (such as the $175 eligibility check or a single talk) are paid in full before work or the event.

Packages & rates

Service	Structure	Price
Lineage eligibility check (DAR/SAR/Mayflower, etc.)	Flat	$175 (paid in full up front)
Full lineage society application package	Flat (up to 8 generations; online / Chicago-area records)	$950 (50% deposit)
Lineage hard cases (gaps, AIR, DNA)	Hourly	$60/hr after package scope
Family history research	Hourly + retainer	$60/hr; example blocks: 10 hrs $575 · 20 hrs $1,100
House history — Essential	Flat	$450 (paid in full or as agreed in scope letter)
House history — Full narrative	Flat	$950 (50% deposit)
Record retrieval (in person, Chicago area)	Hourly	$60/hr, 2-hour minimum ($120) per repository
Remote record ordering	Per request	$40 + third-party fees
Family history book (from existing research)	Project	From $2,500 (≈40 pages); research billed separately
Talk (45–60 min + handout)	Flat	$200 (virtual or within 30 mi)
Workshop (2 hours)	Flat	$300

What the deposit covers

Hourly retainers are applied to research and reporting time at $60/hr.
Flat-fee deposits reserve the project and cover early research; the balance is due before you receive the final packet or narrative.
Unused retainer time can roll into a follow-on block by agreement; unused balances on canceled work are handled in the scope letter.

Billed separately (at cost)

Vital-record, certificate, and archive copy fees
Lineage society application and national dues
Subscriptions purchased solely for one client
Postage, parking, and mileage beyond 30 miles (IRS rate)
Out-of-area travel only with a quote you approve first

What you receive

Every research engagement includes a written scope letter up front and a cited report (or society packet) at the end. You pay for professional time and documentation — not a promised outcome. That matches Association of Professional Genealogists norms.

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