There is a growing demand for security guard companies in United States and the rest of the world as they help introducing crime rates. There are many requirements one must meet in order to start a security guard company. These requirements also greatly from one state to another and a careful study of the requirements is needed.
We have done the bulk of the work for you already by collecting the main requirements for each state. Click on the image below to go to a state-by-state requirements page.
Let us take a closer look at some of the common requirements of various states in United States. This will give you a basic understanding of what it takes to get off the ground with the security company.
Certification and licenses
In most states the proprietor is required to have either a background in law enforcement or as a security guard. You must also have completed the required training and obtain the required licenses. Such training is typically offered by state approved schools and private schools. Often there is a requirement to have a clean record which is verified using fingerprint testing and records the DOJ and FBI.
Work experience requirement
As stated earlier, many states require that you have at least one year of experience working in the security services industry. For example, California requires an applicant to have at least 2000 hours of paid service. This experience may be waived if one has a background in law enforcement.
Documentation and paperwork
To apply for your private security provider license your application may require some or all of the following documents.
- A copy of your drivers license.
- Documentation showing the registration of your company.
- Passport size photographs.
- Documentation showing your experience.
- Documentation showing completed training.
- Documentation showing your background check.
- Application processing fees. Application fees can be from anywhere in the move hundreds up to a few thousand dollars.
Insurance requirements
This is one area where each state has set a different minimum requirement for insurance. For example, California requires at least $500,000 for any single incident of injury or death and another $500,000 for any single incident of loss due to destruction of property or injury. New York State requires a bond of $100,000 per incident and the $300,000 in aggregate along with certain terms and conditions.
General skills
In order to successfully run a security company you will need latest technical and soft skills. Most of the technical skills can be gained by completing the training and meeting the documentation requirements set forth by the state. However there are other skills such as marketing, people management, business management, etc. that are equally important to the success of your venture.
Over and above the requirements stated about, the security firm in general is required to conduct background checks on their employees, ensure they are trained and properly skilled. The proprietor is also responsible to ensure that all the license requirements are met as per the specification lead down by the state. Security is not an easy business to be in but there are definitely opportunities in this space to capture.
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