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Security services for businesses

Security Guard Services in California

Find the right security partner for your property.

CALIFORNIALos Angeles requ…9:20 AM CALIFORNIA · STATEWIDE

Request security coverage in California. Describe your property, schedule, duties, and requested start date so potential providers can explain their capabilities, availability, and proposed terms.

Request a Security Quote

One quick step. Tell us what you need in California.

Please don’t include alarm codes, passwords or access credentials.

Requesting a quote is free and doesn’t book service. Each provider confirms its availability, price and start date in writing.

Starting rates. Your price depends on the site, schedule and duties, and comes from the provider’s written proposal.

Security in California

Security services across California

  • Anaheim
  • Bakersfield
  • Fremont
  • Fresno
  • Irvine
  • Long Beach
  • Los Angeles
  • Oakland
  • Riverside
  • Sacramento
  • San Diego
  • San Francisco
  • San Jose
  • Santa Clarita
ANAHEIM BAKERSFIELDBAKERSFIELD FREMONT
Security in California

Choose your California city

Each city page covers local planning, every security service, and answers for California buyers.

Licensing

California provider requirements.

LICENSE LOOKUP · CALIFORNIA License statusACTIVE SECURITY OFFICERGuard card

For ordinary contracted guard services, ask for the California BSIS Private Patrol Operator, or PPO, license. An individual guard card does not authorize a company to operate as a PPO.

Armed or unarmed?

Most security posts are unarmed. Armed coverage is a decision you make with the provider, based on your site, your risks and your policies.

Unarmed officers

BSIS-registered guards

  • Access control, front desks and lobbies
  • Patrols of buildings, parking and grounds
  • Guard card plus required training hours
  • Usually the lower-cost option
Armed officers

BSIS firearms permit

  • Banks, cash handling and high-value goods
  • Sites with a higher risk of violent crime
  • Guard card plus a BSIS firearms permit
  • Costs more for licensing, training and insurance

What goes in post orders

Post orders are the written instructions officers follow at your site. Good ones remove guesswork and make proposals easy to compare.

  • Where officers stand and which routes they patrol
  • Hours, breaks and shift changes
  • Who may enter, and how to check them
  • What to do for alarms, incidents and medical emergencies
  • Who to call, and when
  • Which reports to file and how fast

What security costs in California

Every quote depends on your site, schedule and duties. These starting rates help you plan before proposals arrive.

ServiceStarting atNotes
Unarmed officerFrom $25 an hourStanding posts, access control, patrols
Armed officerFrom $32 an hourGuards with a BSIS firearms permit
Event securityFrom $30 an hour per officerOften with a minimum of about 4 hours per officer
Personal protectionFrom $70 an hourProtection agents from licensed companies
Fire watchFrom $25 an hourPatrols while fire systems are out of service
Mobile patrolPriced per visitDepends on visits per night and drive time

Starting rates. Billing rates cover the officer’s pay plus payroll taxes, insurance, licensing, supervision and company overhead. Your price depends on your site, schedule and duties, and comes from the provider’s written proposal.

What changes the price

Armed or unarmed

Armed posts cost more because of licensing, training and insurance.

Hours and schedule

Overnight, weekend and holiday hours, and 24/7 coverage, raise the total. One 24/7 post needs about 730 officer hours a month.

Number of posts

Each additional post or patrol adds officer hours, and large sites may need a supervisor.

Contract length

Ongoing contracts are usually priced lower per hour than one-day or short-notice coverage.

Duties and risk

Specialized duties, high-value goods or busy public sites can raise the rate.

What’s included

Supervision, reporting software, vehicles and equipment may be included or billed separately.

Choose with confidence

How to choose a security company.

California licenses security companies and sets separate rules for their officers. Check both before service begins.

Vetting providers in California
  1. LicenseBSIS lookup · PPO licenseActive
  2. OfficersGuard card · firearm permit for armedConfirmed
  3. InsuranceGeneral liability · Additional insuredOn file
  4. References2 property clients near CaliforniaCalled
  5. SupervisionSupervisor visits every 2 hrs · overnight shiftsAgreed
  6. In writingProposal covers: post orders · staffing and overtimeSigned
0 of 6 checked
  1. 1

    Check the company license

    Look up the company’s BSIS Private Patrol Operator license on the BSIS verification page, and match the legal name, number and status.

  2. 2

    Check guard registrations

    Ask for each guard’s BSIS guard card and training records (8 hours before the card, 32 within six months, 8 every year). For armed posts, confirm a current BSIS exposed firearm permit.

  3. 3

    Ask for a certificate of insurance

    Request proof of general liability and workers’ compensation coverage, and ask whether you can be named as an additional insured.

  4. 4

    Ask for references

    Talk to clients with similar properties, and ask how long they have used the company.

  5. 5

    Ask about supervision

    Find out who checks on officers, how often, and who you call at 2 a.m. when something goes wrong.

  6. 6

    Get it in writing

    Make sure the proposal covers post orders, staffing, rates for holidays and overtime, how absences are covered, reporting, and how to end the contract.

Frequently asked questions

46 answers for California buyers, grouped by topic.

How does Guardix help me find a security company?

Describe your property, schedule, responsibilities, and requested start date. Guardix helps connect that request with potential security providers. Each responding company confirms its capabilities and availability and explains the services it can offer.

Who actually provides and supervises the security officers?

The selected security company provides the officers and manages the agreed service. Its proposal should identify the business responsible for staffing, supervision, insurance, reporting, and delivery. Confirm the contracting parties before signing.

Does submitting a quote request book security coverage?

No. The form requests contact and proposals. Staffing, price, duties, and the start date must be confirmed through the necessary provider arrangements and service agreement before coverage begins.

How many proposals will I receive, and how quickly?

Responses depend on provider participation, location, requested duties, timing, and availability. Guardix does not promise a fixed number of quotes or an immediate response. Include a realistic deadline and the best contact method.

Who receives the information in my quote request?

Your request is shared with Guardix and security companies being considered for the assignment, as explained when you submit. Review the privacy notice and request-sharing acknowledgment. Keep alarm codes, passwords, and sensitive personal records out of the initial form.

Ready when you are

Secure your California property.

Tell us what your property needs in one quick step. Guardix helps connect your request with licensed security companies, and each one answers in writing.

  1. RequestZIP, service, start date
  2. MatchedLicensed providers
  3. ProposalPrice and terms in writing
SECURITY PROPOSALCALIFORNIA License verifiedInsurance on fileSchedule confirmedRate in writing READY

Guardix helps connect quote requests with potential security providers. The selected provider delivers the agreed security service. Availability, qualifications, pricing, reporting features, and service terms must be confirmed for the actual assignment.