Budgeting for an Investigative Report

Cost Structure of Investigative Reporting

The cost of an investigative report reflects the labor required to produce credible, defensible journalism. Unlike a press release or marketing article, an investigative piece demands original research, multiple source interviews, document analysis, fact-checking, and often legal review before publication. Each of these stages takes time, and time is the primary cost driver.

At Mymspgoat, project fees cover the full scope of work from initial research through final delivery. This includes the journalist's reporting time, editorial oversight from managing editor Sarah Mitchell, two rounds of revision, a fact-check memo, and delivery in multiple formats (Word, plain text, and PDF). If the project requires documentary video segments, videographer David Lavoie's time is quoted separately. Media distribution consulting with Priya Sharma is also available as an add-on.

We do not bill by the hour for editorial projects. Flat-fee pricing gives you cost certainty from the start and removes any incentive for the journalist to pad timesheets. The fee is scoped based on the complexity of the story, the number of sources required, and the expected duration of the reporting phase.

Factors That Affect Pricing

Several variables determine where a project falls within our pricing range. Understanding these factors helps you scope your request and manage expectations during the quoting process.

• Number of sources: A report based on three to four interviews costs less than one requiring ten or more, especially if sources are geographically dispersed or difficult to reach.
• Document complexity: Financial records, court filings, and regulatory documents require specialized analysis that adds time to the research phase.
• Timeline pressure: Rush projects (delivery needed in under two weeks) carry a surcharge of 25 to 40 percent above the standard rate.
• Sensitivity and legal risk: Stories involving potential defamation exposure, whistleblower protection, or sealed records may require legal review, which is billed at cost.
• Multimedia requirements: Adding video, photography, or interactive data visualizations increases the project scope beyond text-only reporting.
• Confidentiality agreements: NDA-covered projects require additional administrative handling, though this does not significantly affect the overall fee.

Price Range by Project Scope

The following table provides representative pricing for investigative projects at Mymspgoat. All figures are in Canadian dollars before applicable taxes. Actual quotes may vary based on the specific factors outlined above.

Project scope	Duration	Starting price (CAD)
Short investigation	1-2 weeks	$2,800
Standard investigation	3-4 weeks	$5,500
In-depth investigation	6-8 weeks	$10,500

Short investigations typically involve a focused question with a limited number of sources and a well-defined document trail. Standard investigations cover broader territory and may involve Freedom of Information requests, financial analysis, or cross-referencing multiple databases. In-depth investigations are long-form projects that often span multiple jurisdictions, require extensive source development, and produce feature-length reporting of 3,000 words or more.

The minimum project value at Mymspgoat is $500 CAD, which applies to smaller editorial assignments such as fact-checking existing content or conducting a single expert interview with a written summary.

Deposit and Payment Terms

All projects require a 30% deposit before work begins. The deposit secures your place on our production schedule and covers initial research and scoping costs. The remaining 70% is due upon delivery of the final manuscript.

For business clients with established credit, we offer Net 30 payment terms from the invoice date. This means you have 30 days from receiving the invoice to remit payment, which is standard practice for B2B professional services. Net 30 terms are available upon request and subject to a brief credit review.

Payment methods include bank transfer, cheque, and major credit cards. We issue itemized invoices that break down the project fee, any approved expenses (such as travel or document retrieval fees), and applicable taxes. This transparency makes it straightforward for your accounting team to process the payment and allocate costs to the correct budget line.

Cancellation Policy

Plans change, and we have built our cancellation terms to be fair to both sides. The policy works as follows:

• 14 days or more before the scheduled start date: Full refund of your deposit. No questions asked, no fees charged.
• Fewer than 14 days before start, or after work has begun: A 50% kill fee applies to the total project value. This covers the journalist's committed time, any research already conducted, and the opportunity cost of having reserved capacity for your project.

If we cancel or are unable to complete the project for any reason on our end, you receive a full refund regardless of timing. Any work product completed up to the point of cancellation is delivered to you along with the refund.

In practice, cancellations are rare. The scoping phase exists precisely to ensure both parties are aligned before money changes hands. If you are uncertain about moving forward, we recommend starting with a paid scoping session rather than committing to the full project.

Getting a Quote

We provide written quotes within 48 hours of receiving a project inquiry. To help us quote accurately, include the following in your initial message:

• A brief description of the story or topic you want investigated
• Your target audience and publication channel
• Any known sources, documents, or data sets
• Your preferred timeline and any hard deadlines
• Whether you need multimedia deliverables beyond the written report
• Any confidentiality requirements

The more detail you provide upfront, the more precise our quote will be. Vague requests result in wider price ranges, which helps no one. You can reach us through our contact page or by calling (613) 555-0184 during business hours.

Our companion guide on working with an independent journalist covers the collaboration process in detail, including how to write an effective brief and what to expect at each stage of the project.

HST and Tax Considerations

Mymspgoat Inc. is registered for the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in Ontario. All quoted prices are before tax. The applicable HST rate is 13%, which is added to the invoice total. Our HST registration number is 741852963 RT0001.

For clients outside Ontario but within Canada, the applicable tax rate depends on your province of registration. For clients outside Canada, HST generally does not apply to exported services, but we recommend consulting your tax advisor for specifics related to your jurisdiction.

Invoices include a clear tax breakdown showing the subtotal, HST amount, and total due. If your organization is tax-exempt, provide your exemption certificate before the first invoice is issued so we can apply the exemption from the start.

Comparing Quotes from Different Providers

If you are soliciting quotes from multiple journalists or agencies, consistency in your brief is essential. Send the same scope description to each provider so you are comparing equivalent proposals. Beyond the headline price, look for these elements when evaluating quotes:

• What is included: Does the fee cover research, interviews, writing, revision, and fact-checking, or are some of these billed separately?
• Revision rounds: How many are included? Additional rounds can add 10 to 20 percent to the project cost if not specified upfront.
• Expenses: Are travel, document retrieval, and database access fees included in the flat fee or billed at cost on top?
• Rights transfer: Does copyright transfer on payment, or does the journalist retain rights? Licensing arrangements can add ongoing costs.
• Archive retention: How long does the provider keep project files? At Mymspgoat, we retain all materials for 36 months.
• Insurance: Does the provider carry professional liability insurance? This matters for sensitive reporting.

The cheapest quote is not always the best value. A provider who includes fact-checking, two revision rounds, and copyright transfer in a slightly higher fee may save you money compared to one who charges less but bills these as extras. Read the scope of work carefully and ask questions before signing.

Ready to discuss your project? Get in touch for a detailed, no-obligation quote, or explore our full range of investigative reporting services.