Having your own security company can be very rewarding. Financially, there is great potential, and it feels good to know that you are helping people feel safe and secure. Below are necessary steps that must be taken as well as certain considerations that you may want to ponder before taking the first steps toward opening your own security guard company:
TESTING AND LICENSE Most states require written testing. One can inquire about exact state requirements by finding out which state run department oversees private security where you live. In California, for instance, it is the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services who are in charge of all the rules, regulations, and requirements pertaining to private security. Most states will send you study material, if you ask. The testing take a few hours and the costs vary. In California it costs close to 00 dollars to get fully licensed. Before the license is issued you must, of course, pass the test. Also, you must send in mock of drawings of what your security guard patches will look like. Every security company has their own patches which their officers must wear on their uniform.
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REGISTERING YOUR BUSINESS: Before you start your business, you must register it with the State. A tax I.D. and DBA should be completed before you even begin marketing your business. Fortunately, it is not expensive to register your new security company.
LEARN YOUR MARKET: Before you market your new security company you should get familiar with your current market. You should know, for instance, what a competitive rate is for security officers where you plan to work since that is what you are going to market.
Security guards in Los Angeles have different rates, for example, than officers in San Diego. Also, Learn about your competition. Before you enter the field, figure out what you specifically can add to the security guard industry that is different and will give you a leg up on the competition.
WEBSITE AND MARKETING: If you already have contacts to market your new security guard company then you are ahead of the game. Many new security company owners do no realize that it takes a great deal of time, thought, and money to development their business. Many markets are extremely competitive. Again, thinking about how you will market your security guard company before you actually have one is wise. Numerous local and state agencies can help you conceptualize your new business. There are security industry trade publications, various affiliations, and other relevant resources that you can find out about by researching online or visit your public Library. Your local chamber of commerce is also a good place to start.
INSURANCE AND WORKERS COMPENSATION: To employ armed security guards most stares require that you carry liability insurance. The exact amount varies. Workers compensation for all your employees is also generally required, but the good news is you can wait until you have your first client before putting out this expense. But it make practical sense to price out what minimal policies will cost you ahead of time. Usually, it's between two and three thousand dollars for most policies. The more officers you have, the more expensive it is, of course. Without an established track record in the security guard industry, almost all insurance companies will charge higher rates, but, again, you don't have to put any money up until you have signed on a client.
OFFICE EXPENSES: Starting small is always best. Many new security companies work out of their home initially. It's important to get all your security guard company forms in order. There are about a dozen security guard forms that you will need such as post logs, incident reports, and a company manual. Forms can also be found on the internet or at your local library.
GUARDS: You may want to start meeting security guards or running free ads to establish yourself in the business. New Security guard companies must network and prepare their staff, even if they are not hired yet. Knowing how to screen and recruit talented, reliable security staff is quite an art and takes experience so you may as well get exposed to it as early as possible. Put yourself out there and meet others in the community that may one day utilize your services. The more prepared you are, the better.
How To Start Your Own Security Guard Company
Mr. Scott Dinnerman is President of Excalibur Agency, a Los Angeles based security company serving a wide array of clients, including several Fortune 500 companies as well as smaller, local businesses. With over twenty years of experience, Mr. Dinnerman has worked for the largest security firms in the country, both as an officer and in security management. Mr. Dinnerman has hired hundreds of security officers in Los Angeles and is always striving to make our community a safer place to live and work.
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