Ben Pearson was a 38-year-old Kuna resident last spring when he opened Counterpoint LLC, a consulting firm that he says helps clients protect their personal and professional interests.

The franchise does everything from running background checks and serving court documents to surveillance and infidelity investigations. He expects to turn a profit in the first year of business. Pearson’s is the third Counterpoint branch in Idaho.

Pearson started his career in a quick-deployment unit of the U.S. Army Infantry that could be deployed anywhere in the world in 72 hours. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering technology and a master’s degree in construction engineering management. He worked in construction for a while, but he found a new passion and obtained a license to be a private investigator.

While working in construction, “I noticed a need for the protection of personal and professional interests for people in all walks of life and for businesses in every industry,” he says.

Pearson charges an hourly rate of $70 for some services and $35 each for others like background checks. He offers some bulk discounts for services like skip tracing and background checks.

His biggest challenge so far has been getting his company’s name out there — making sure it doesn’t stay a secret.

Audrey Dutton: 377-6448