Security guard: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What security guard is

A security guard patrols and monitors your property, controls who enters, watches for problems and reports incidents according to your site rules. Businesses, construction sites, apartment buildings and warehouses hire guards when they need a visible, accountable person on site.

Signs you need it

  • Your site has been broken into, or you have had repeated theft, vandalism or trespassing
  • You need someone to control access at a gate, lobby or loading dock during set hours
  • You are running a construction site or a vacant building that needs watching outside work hours
  • Your alarm system keeps going off and you need someone to check each alarm and report the cause
  • Your staff or tenants have raised safety concerns in the parking lot, entrances or common areas

What the pro does

  • Review the site, the access points, the camera coverage and the rules you want enforced
  • Set the patrol route, the check times and the procedures for each type of incident
  • Check identification and log visitors, contractors and deliveries at the entrance
  • Patrol the property at the set intervals and check doors, gates, lighting and fences
  • Respond to alarms or incidents as the procedure says, and call police or emergency services when required
  • Write an incident report and a shift log, and send them to you or your site manager

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The hours of coverage, including nights, weekends and holidays
  • The size of the property and the number of posts or patrol routes
  • Whether the guard must stand at a fixed post, patrol on foot or drive between sites
  • Whether the guard must control access, check IDs or operate a visitor system
  • Whether the job requires special training, such as for a sensitive site or a specific client
  • Whether you need a supervisor visit, written reports or camera monitoring

What a written quote should spell out

  • The hours covered, the posts and the patrol route for each
  • The duties in writing, including access control, patrols and what to do in an emergency
  • Which company holds the guard's license and insurance, and proof you can ask for
  • How incidents are reported to you, and how quickly
  • The terms for changing the coverage hours and cancelling the contract

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Does the guard hold a current license for this work, and can you show me the proof?
  • Is the guard employed by your company or a subcontractor, and how are they trained?
  • What do guards do during an emergency, and when do they call police?
  • How are incidents reported to me, and what does each report include?
  • What is your policy on guards using their phones or leaving the post?
  • Do you run background checks on guards, and do you carry insurance that covers them?

Red flags

  • Cannot show a license or insurance certificate for the guards who would work on your site
  • Offers guards who are not trained on your site's rules or the emergency steps
  • Pays guards in cash or uses an unclear subcontracting chain
  • Asks for a large payment before the first shift with no written contract

What you can do yourself

You can walk your property at night to check lights, locks and blind spots, and set up cameras or alarm monitoring yourself. Hire a licensed security guard when you need a person on site during set hours, when access control must be enforced or when incidents require a trained response.

Licenses and permits

Security guard work is commonly licensed, and the rules are set by your state or local licensing agency. Check with that agency for the license and registration that apply where the guard will work, and ask the company to show proof that each guard is currently licensed.

Security guard questions

Can a guard detain someone on my property?

The rules on detention differ by state and by what the guard was told to do. Ask the company what its guards are authorized to do, and get your site rules in writing.

Is a guard the same as a camera system?

No. A guard can respond, check identity and make decisions on site. Cameras record and alert, but they do not stop a problem by themselves.

What should I give the guard company before they start?

Give a site map, the access rules, the emergency contact list, the key and code procedures and a list of people who are allowed on site.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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