Starting a security services business can be a very exciting endeavor, but one that requires accountability among employees and clients as you look out for the safety of people and property. Many people consider the entrepreneurial route, but it is a risky road to take, especially if you don't set yourself up for success. You don't have to sell a unique product, but you should offer a one-of-a-kind service.

Anyone can start his or her own security business with the right attitude and financial backing. Competition will be fierce. You can't expect to put your feet up because it's your own business. On the contrary, you should expect to work very hard in the beginning. Before quitting your full time job to launch patrol small business services, ask yourself the following:

1. Are you committed? It takes more than just a good idea to start security business services. It takes time, money and hard work.

2. If applicable, do you have the right partners? Friends are not always good business partners. Vet potential partners as objectively as possible.

3. Have you done your research to make sure there's demand for your product or service? You may have a great idea, but how many others have the same idea?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start your own patrol service with credibility and get licensed

When you start your own security service, you are legally required to obtain some type government license. The business of security services also requires pistol permits, which you and your employees can obtain from local or state law enforcement offices; depending on the extent of your services. Other official documents include federal and state employer tax ID numbers, and trade name certificates. There are many online resources and state departments that can help you file these documents.

I recommend: Business Licenses is a fee-based online service that offers access to the types of licenses and permits you will need to start a security business. FindLaw offers a checklist for new business owners to review.

Join an association and build credibility for your security service

As a new business owner, you don't have to go it completely alone. Consider joining an industry association for support. Organizations bring together professionals with the same goals and challenges. As a member, you'll have access to certification and educational opportunities. Professional organizations also organize networking events, so you can meet industry peers, vendors and suppliers.

I recommend: The National Association of Security Companies and the National Council of Investigation & Security Services both organize a variety of educational and networking events, conferences and membership meetings.

Partner with reliable employees when you open patrol business services

When you own patrol business services, it's imperative that you partner with reliable employees. Your employees must be reliable, accommodating and thorough. You want to build a long-term relationship with your staff, and they must also share your interest in pleasing your clients. In this business, you will also need to insist on background checks for potential employees.

I recommend: ISecureJobs.com offers free registration for first time employers. It also offer instant access for qualified candidates, and cost effective e-recruiting. Security-Jobs.info also provides secure access to employers. Instant People Check is a fee-based service that provides national background checks on potential employees.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Marketing your business is a very significant step as you open a security small business. Consider advertising in trade magazines and newspapers to begin with, and think about publishing a website.

Ever wanted to own your own business? Security guard and patrol services businesses are an increasingly popular choice among start-up entrepreneurs, especially since 9/11 renewed concerns about safety and security. Getting started is relatively simple—you’ll need some licenses and general business acumen, but beyond that, you need only the business skills you’d need in any business—organization, a good work ethic, and the ability to communicate well with clients. Of course, it’s a good idea to have some sort of security background, whether it’s private security, law enforcement, or military. Not only are these credentials that prove your value, but these kinds of backgrounds mean you already understand some of the tools of the trade, including threat assessments, verbal de-escalation, investigations, and physical protection. A security services business can take on many forms, including:

1. A guard-staffing firm that places security officers at predetermined locations, such as a guard shack, a corporate lobby, or a surveillance video-monitoring center.
2. A patrol services model where you put your officers in vehicles to patrol a wide corporate campus, a major retailer, or a number of businesses or residences.
3. Executive protection, such as “bodyguard” services and event security.
4. A mix of these types of services, though this tends to happen as security services companies mature and spread into different markets.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find your employees

The thing about manned security is that it requires people to be present. You need enough employees to cover for sick employees, too. If Officer Jones can’t report for duty, that guard position can’t just go empty like a desk in an office. Hire as you land the business to keep initial costs low.

I recommend: Advertise to your local police department that you’re hiring. Officer.com has a good jobs board for police officers if you want to expand your horizons or if you’re in a town too big to know the local police personally. Keep in mind that some departments have rules on private security jobs for fully sworn police officers. You may also consider going through a national jobs site like CareerBuilder.com or Monster.com. My own site, SecurityInfoWatch.com has a Guard Services forum that includes a free job board as well. Bodyguardcareers.com is a great place to advertise executive protection types of jobs.

Screen your employees

It wouldn’t be good if the guards themselves were committing the incidents your officers are supposed to prevent. So you need to vet your employees. No drugs. No alcohol use on shift. No felonies. Define which misdemeanors you’d allow for potential hires. Then hire a background screening company to do the work for you.

I recommend: First Advantage is a company that can do your screening for you – background, fingerprints, driving records, physical fitness, and so on. Verifications Inc., ChoicePoint, TrueScreen or PreScreen America also can help you in this process.

Research what licenses you need

Security companies typically have to hold a state license. Usually it’s solely the state license that is required, but check with your local government to see if there are municipal requirements as well. Sometimes only the business itself may need the license, and other times each of your employees may need a security license.

I recommend: Every state is different, but I really like the website the State of Texas has put together on this topic. It’s clear and offers everything linked from a single page. I can’t guide you to every state, but here’s what California requires of guards before they get a license: 18 years of age, 40 hours training, fingerprints, background check, and license fee. There are additional licenses you’ll need if your guards will be carrying a weapon. These differ from state to state.

Create an operational policy

Despite common depictions of security guards as lazy (there is a lot of boredom in some positions), security services is serious business and creates issues of liability that you, as an owner, will have to examine.

I recommend: Don’t go through this process alone. A few hours with a consultant like Dickinson & Associates or Hamilton Consulting Services should help get you on the right track and can recommend how to navigate the process, what to put in your business plan as you seek investors, and even now to obtain licenses and handle background processes. A good consultant should also be able to help put together an officer manual and a training program.

Find insurance

Security companies need to carry insurance to protect themselves from liabilities. It’s required by most states, whether they enforce it closely or not.

I recommend: Consider partnering with an insurance company that has direct experience in the industry so they understand the risks and pricing that guard companies are commonly offered. El Dorado Insurance Agency is one such company. Brownyard Programs Ltd. also offers insurance specialized for security and investigation companies. National-level companies also are adept at writing small business policies; The Hartford Group is one such insurance provider. However, security business liability is most often considered “specialty coverage”, so you may not be able to go with traditional providers.

Suit Up

A professional security company will put its guards in professional outfits. Sometimes officers have to pay for their own uniforms and duty belts; sometimes these costs are covered by the employer.

I recommend: UniformsWarehouse.com is a full-service e-shop for guard services equipment and uniforms. Quartermaster is another such provider of uniforms and duty belt equipment for security officers, police, and other such public safety positions. You can turn to a company like Aramark for uniform rentals and leasing if needed.

Create your business contracts

This is another area where that consultant could help you out, or you may have generic contracts as models from previous security work you’ve done.

I recommend: Hire a lawyer to review your contracts, but you can find some example contracts online. Here’s a safe downloadable example of a contract between a security company and a college fraternity for security. Envision SBS’s Business-in-a-Box document compilation includes a number of standards contracts that small businesses may need. ASIS sells a helpful kit of information and contracts you’ll need for working with private security guards.

Do the training

The last thing you want is for your business to get out of control and become a bunch of cowboys running around with badges. Put in the time for the training.

I recommend: Ralph Brislin’s Effective Security Officer’s Training Manual is worth the money. Consider looking for applicants out of a criminal justice program. The Protection Officer Training Manual can be picked up at Amazon and has received solid reviews from industry magazines.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Weapons, cuffs and batons are an entire topic in themselves. Most security companies start up as unarmed because it drops the employee costs as well as insurance costs and gear costs. Many security positions do not require more than “observation and reporting” – meaning that the guards call sworn police officers for assistance. At the very least, going unarmed saves you some costs and you can add those services once you get some clients to give your business a steady base.
• •  Focus on training. Often the difference between retaining a client and losing one is how well you and your officers are trained. Devote the hours; this also translates directly into liability issues for your business.

If you want to open security small business opportunities, the right training is a must. Starting a security services business requires learning about the licensing that is correct for your state. Each state has its own licensing requirements for those who want to open patrol business opportunities. Beyond this, you will need to learn about the security services industry and how to run a small business.

The first step in starting a security services business education and training plan should involve getting your certification. Your state may have specific requirements for the amount of time you must spend in classroom training and even which schools you must train in. Once you have your certification, however, if you want to launch patrol small business opportunities you may want additional training to make clients feel comfortable with your expertise. Consider the following:

1. Understand the licensing requirements for your state before you start your own security business.
   
2. Take the training classes that will be required for many of your employees.
   
3. Become part of industry associations to take part in continuing education programs and conferences.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn the certification requirements in your area for starting your own patrol business

Each state has its own licensing requirements for security services personnel and for security services. As a business owner, you will need not only a security license, but also whatever business licensing is required in your state. This may require you to take classes, pass background checks and satisfy other requirements.

I recommend: Elite CEU provides a list of licensing requirements you will need to know if you want to start security service businesses in your area. The site even provides a list of approved courses and providers for most states. Just click on your state to get started. Business Licenses lists all the business licenses and the security licenses you will need for each state where you want to open you own patrol service.

Look for training courses for security personnel to open security service businesses

The employees of your business will need to take training courses to qualify for employment, but you also will want to take classes yourself, especially if you do not have extensive law enforcement and security experience. Security training courses will teach you the basics and may be needed for certification in your state. Security training will usually include some form of surveillance or investigative training, self-defense training and firearms training.

I recommend: Executive Security International is an established school, offering many different types of courses and programs in security services. Max Security Solutions offers a variety of security service training programs, including courses that teach surveillance, investigation, executive protection and other related subjects.

Join a professional organization to establish credibility before you open security service solutions

Membership in a professional organization for open security business shows that you are a credible business to potential clients and gives you a venue for advertising, since many professional organizations have directories and other marketing opportunities. Professional organizations also give you access to conferences, meetings and other options for continuing education and networking.

I recommend: Join the National Association of Security Companies (NASCO). The group offers support, training events for members and other educational resources. The National Council of Investigation & Security Services offers publications, resources, advertising opportunities and a respected annual conference.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to start your own security business, consider taking a local class about starting your own business. This class will likely be at your community college and will cover the basics of starting any business - not just a security solution - but will be useful in negotiating the mechanics of advertising, securing a business loan, hiring employees and generally conducting your business.

When it comes to starting a security business, there are quite a few terms you should learn so you're speaking the same language as other people in the industry. From gadgets to operating procedures, many of the items you'll be working with or protocols you'll be implementing have specific names. Here's a look at some of popular terms you'll need to know in order to be successful when starting a security business.

Action Steps
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Close-protection officer

A close-protection officer refers to a bodyguard who protects an individual from assault, kidnapping or any other danger that may arise. Close-protection officers are usually assigned by security services to people like celebrities, dignitaries and political figures.

I recommend: Brigade Security Consultants explains the responsibilities of a close-protection officer.

Burglar-resistant glazing

Burglar-resistant glazing refers to any glazing layer added to a window that makes it more difficult to break through. It often contains two layers of plate with a plastic layer on the inside. Security services often recommend and install these types of windows.

I recommend: Global Security Glazing explains what kinds of burglar-resistant glazing it offers.

Canine security

Canine security refers to the use of dogs, usually large dogs, to protect an individual, home or business. Canine security is often used, along with other methods, by security services to make a perimeter secure and discourage invasion.

I recommend: Command Control K 9 explains some options offered in canine security.

Detection range

The detection range refers to the maximum distance that a security instrument can be utilized to detect an intruder or sense an event such as a fire.

I recommend: Security International discusses detection ranges.

Scene analyzer

A scene analyzer refers to an enhanced video motion detector that warns of a potential security breach. It differs from a normal video camera in that when it senses movement or a change in the image it alerts the security personnel who are conducting surveillance. This allows the security team to monitor more screens at one time.

I recommend: ICX Technologies produces scene analyzer hardware and software that security companies integrate into their security-systems installation.

Thermal-imaging device

A thermal-imaging device utilizes the infrared spectrum to detect heat emanations. The heat radiating from a person or animal forms the image on the screen. Security services often use these types of devices because they can detect perpetrators even in darkness.

I recommend: Security Magazine has extensive information on thermal-imaging devices.