Although it may seem like a substantial amount to the newly initiated, $300 is not an unreasonable fee,�all the more so if�you can get some assurance this is the real thing and not a tail chase in the end. If part of the deal is�the delivery of a small cache of records documenting your family antecedence in Bavaria, you may want to consider it a sum well spent. Professional services do not come cheap,�and there are understandable reasons for this. If this were something that you needed, you wouldn't think twice of spending such an amount. Being that it is something you merely want, it takes on a different shade. Human nature in all its glory, only it is something that we're all guilty of it (at least more often than we care to admit). Odd how we'll pay a lawyer or�tax preparer�in times of need without a second thought, but hedge our bets on other things like family history�which in the end might�render far more weight and lasting substance.
Now if you love the thrill of the chase, dive right in and start paddling, only prepare yourself as much of it will be upstream. You'll soon see that the amount of time and effort expended will make a fee of $300 seem rather tawdry. I don't even want to think of all the hours I've spent chasing down leads and�navigating upon snaky trails. Fortunately most of this can be overlooked - indeed justified - when such activity brings the adventurer some degree of pleasure, and can be�deemed a hobby or constructive diversion. Naturally whenever you can do much of the legwork on your own, you're way ahead of the curve. However I'm not sure there are going to be professional researchers to be had for�considerably cheaper, short of "lucking out" on locating one. Never hurts to try though, and Bj�rn is being very nice here to spread the word. But in the end it may�come down to how much that 'want' borders on 'need'. Things that matter most in life rarely come cheap. We all discover this sooner or later.
With all the time and expenses I've put out on these types of pursuits over the years, I myself am reluctant to fork out�large sums of money at this point whenever I can help it. Only to get to where I have, I already have done so (!) and then some; in fact it is almost a prerequisite in taking up this kind of pastime. There's no real way around it, whether it be for acquiring government or private records, or obtaining microfilms and photocopies, or the endless nicks of postage and ink and research materials. Then there's the expenditures related to travel, to grave digging (sic), to cousin visiting, and all the shades in between. The headiest expenditures in the end are those of the man hours involved. That alone could make angels weep. Thank my lucky stars indeed I derive at least some satisfaction and pleasure through the accompanying trials and torment. 
lol
Understand I'm playing devil's advocate here,�having my own reasons for being reluctant�at forking out big dough likewise. We all know money does not spring from trees, and budgets are budgets. But in other ways you could also look at this as a reality check, as at times there is simply no�more reasonable way short of doing the work - in whatever ways and means that demands - on your own. In this regard, to each their own! When you do it all yourself I say pack plenty of nutrition bars. You're going to need them!
Wishing you much luck. Jb