| Having your own security company can be very | | | | it takes a great deal of time, thought, and money |
| rewarding. Financially, there is great potential, and | | | | to development their business. Many markets are |
| it feels good to know that you are helping people | | | | extremely competitive. Again, thinking about how |
| feel safe and secure. Below are necessary steps | | | | you will market your security guard company |
| that must be taken as well as certain | | | | before you actually have one is wise. Numerous |
| considerations that you may want to ponder | | | | local and state agencies can help you |
| before taking the first steps toward opening your | | | | conceptualize your new business. There are |
| own security guard company: | | | | security industry trade publications, various |
| TESTING AND LICENSE Most states require | | | | affiliations, and other relevant resources that you |
| written testing. One can inquire about exact state | | | | can find out about by researching online or visit |
| requirements by finding out which state run | | | | your public Library. Your local chamber of |
| department oversees private security where you | | | | commerce is also a good place to start. |
| live. In California, for instance, it is the Bureau of | | | | INSURANCE AND WORKERS COMPENSATION: |
| Security and Investigative Services who are in | | | | To employ armed security guards most stares |
| charge of all the rules, regulations, and | | | | require that you carry liability insurance. The exact |
| requirements pertaining to private security. Most | | | | amount varies. Workers compensation for all your |
| states will send you study material, if you ask. | | | | employees is also generally required, but the good |
| The testing take a few hours and the costs vary. | | | | news is you can wait until you have your first |
| In California it costs close to $1500 dollars to get | | | | client before putting out this expense. But it make |
| fully licensed. Before the license is issued you | | | | practical sense to price out what minimal policies |
| must, of course, pass the test. Also, you must | | | | will cost you ahead of time. Usually, it's between |
| send in mock of drawings of what your security | | | | two and three thousand dollars for most policies. |
| guard patches will look like. Every security | | | | The more officers you have, the more expensive |
| company has their own patches which their | | | | it is, of course. Without an established track |
| officers must wear on their uniform. | | | | record in the security guard industry, almost all |
| REGISTERING YOUR BUSINESS: Before you start | | | | insurance companies will charge higher rates, but, |
| your business, you must register it with the State. | | | | again, you don't have to put any money up until |
| A tax I.D. and DBA should be completed before | | | | you have signed on a client. |
| you even begin marketing your business. | | | | OFFICE EXPENSES: Starting small is always best. |
| Fortunately, it is not expensive to register your | | | | Many new security companies work out of their |
| new security company. | | | | home initially. It's important to get all your security |
| LEARN YOUR MARKET: Before you market your | | | | guard company forms in order. There are about a |
| new security company you should get familiar | | | | dozen security guard forms that you will need |
| with your current market. You should know, for | | | | such as post logs, incident reports, and a |
| instance, what a competitive rate is for security | | | | company manual. Forms can also be found on the |
| officers where you plan to work since that is | | | | internet or at your local library. |
| what you are going to market. | | | | GUARDS: You may want to start meeting |
| Security guards in Los Angeles have different | | | | security guards or running free ads to establish |
| rates, for example, than officers in San Diego. | | | | yourself in the business. New Security guard |
| Also, Learn about your competition. Before you | | | | companies must network and prepare their staff, |
| enter the field, figure out what you specifically can | | | | even if they are not hired yet. Knowing how to |
| add to the security guard industry that is | | | | screen and recruit talented, reliable security staff |
| different and will give you a leg up on the | | | | is quite an art and takes experience so you may |
| competition. | | | | as well get exposed to it as early as possible. Put |
| WEBSITE AND MARKETING: If you already have | | | | yourself out there and meet others in the |
| contacts to market your new security guard | | | | community that may one day utilize your |
| company then you are ahead of the game. Many | | | | services. The more prepared you are, the better. |
| new security company owners do no realize that | | | | |