Security services across Texas
- Amarillo
- Arlington
- Austin
- Dallas
- El Paso
- Fort Worth
- Frisco
- Garland
- Grand Prairie
- Houston
- Irving
- Laredo
- Lubbock
- McKinney
- Plano
- San Antonio
Choose your Texas city
Each city page covers local planning, every security service, and answers for Texas buyers.
- AmarilloSecurity services and quotes
- ArlingtonSecurity services and quotes
- AustinSecurity services and quotes
- DallasSecurity services and quotes
- El PasoSecurity services and quotes
- Fort WorthSecurity services and quotes
- FriscoSecurity services and quotes
- GarlandSecurity services and quotes
- Grand PrairieSecurity services and quotes
- HoustonSecurity services and quotes
- IrvingSecurity services and quotes
- LaredoSecurity services and quotes
- LubbockSecurity services and quotes
- McKinneySecurity services and quotes
- PlanoSecurity services and quotes
- San AntonioSecurity services and quotes
Licensing
Texas provider requirements.
Verify the DPS company license and authorized service category through TOPS. An officer’s pocket card or course certificate does not replace the contracting business’s authority.
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.
Non-commissioned (Level II)
- Access control, front desks and lobbies
- Patrols of buildings, parking and grounds
- Construction sites, warehouses and offices
- Usually the lower-cost option
Commissioned (Level III)
- Banks, cash handling and high-value goods
- Sites with a higher risk of violent crime
- Some government and critical sites
- 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 Texas
Every quote depends on your site, schedule and duties. These starting rates help you plan before proposals arrive.
| Service | Starting at | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unarmed officer | From $25 an hour | Standing posts, access control, patrols |
| Armed officer | From $32 an hour | Commissioned (Level III) officers |
| Event security | From $30 an hour per officer | Often with a minimum of about 4 hours per officer |
| Personal protection (PPO) | From $70 an hour | Licensed Personal Protection Officers (Level IV) |
| Fire watch | From $25 an hour | Patrols while fire systems are out of service |
| Mobile patrol | Priced per visit | Depends 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.
Texas licenses security companies and sets separate rules for their officers. Check both before service begins.
- LicenseTOPS lookup · DPSActive
- OfficersLevel II unarmed · Level III armedConfirmed
- InsuranceGeneral liability · Additional insuredOn file
- References3 property clients near TexasCalled
- SupervisionSupervisor visits every 3 hrs · every shiftAgreed
- In writingProposal covers: post orders · staffing and overtimeSigned
- 1
Check the company license
Look up the company in TOPS, the Texas DPS licensing system, and confirm its license is active for guard services.
- 2
Check officer registrations
Ask which officers will work your site and confirm each one’s DPS registration: non-commissioned for unarmed, commissioned for armed.
- 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
Ask for references
Talk to clients with similar properties, and ask how long they have used the company.
- 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
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
56 answers for Texas 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.
How much do security guard services cost?
Pricing depends on the assignment, officer qualifications, staffing level, hours, equipment, supervision, and contract length. Request a written price for your actual requirements rather than relying on a generic city-wide hourly estimate.
How should I compare two hourly quotes?
Compare the same officer count, hours, duties, qualifications, supervision, reporting, equipment, and relief arrangements. Check minimum charges and exclusions. A lower hourly figure may cover a different service or leave important responsibilities outside the price.
Is there a minimum booking period or number of hours?
Each provider sets its commercial terms, subject to applicable law. Ask for the minimum shift, minimum contract period, call-out charges, and any short-notice conditions in writing. Submitting this form does not establish a standard Guardix minimum.
Can overtime, holiday, weekend, or emergency charges apply?
They can depend on the proposal and agreement. Ask how the client is billed for those periods and for extra hours or schedule changes. An officer’s payroll overtime and the rate charged to your business are separate matters.
Are uniforms, patrol vehicles, phones, and equipment included?
Ask the provider to identify included equipment and every separate charge. Clarify fuel, vehicle use, radios, site phones, reporting access, protective equipment, and any agreed camera service before comparing the total cost.
What payment and cancellation terms should I check?
Review deposits, invoice frequency, payment deadlines, disputed-charge procedures, late charges, cancellation notice, early-termination terms, and rate adjustments. Obtain the actual written agreement; a quote request does not establish those terms.
Can I request temporary coverage or an ongoing contract?
Yes. Specify whether the need is one day, an event, a defined project, seasonal coverage, or ongoing service. Give the expected end date or renewal preference so a provider can explain availability and suitable terms.
Can I request overnight, weekend, or 24-hour coverage?
Yes. List every day and time you need covered, including overnight start and end dates. Ask how the provider plans shift handovers, relief, breaks, supervision, and absences so the proposed staffing matches the coverage requested.
Can I request officers to start as soon as possible?
Select “As soon as possible” and provide your requested start time. The provider must confirm lawful staffing and readiness. This form does not dispatch an officer, guarantee same-day service, or replace emergency services.
Can one request cover several properties or cities?
Yes. Identify every site and its duties, schedule, and start date. A provider should confirm which locations it can serve, who supervises each site, and whether pricing and authorization differ across jurisdictions.
Can a security company request subcontract coverage?
You can describe a subcontracting requirement in your request. Identify the principal company, service location, intended responsibilities, and required qualifications. Confirm the lawful company and officer arrangements, insurance, supervision, and contracting terms before any assignment.
Should I request armed or unarmed security?
Start with the property, duties, operating conditions, and risk concerns. Ask a qualified provider to explain its recommendation and the required authorizations. The choice should reflect the assignment and applicable restrictions as well as cost.
What is the difference between a dedicated guard and mobile patrol?
A dedicated post and periodic patrol visits provide different patterns of coverage. Define whether someone must remain continuously at an entrance or property, or whether agreed visits meet the requirement. Ask how visit timing and exceptions are documented.
How many officers should I request?
Describe entrances, occupied areas, patrol routes, operating hours, visitor activity, and responsibilities that must happen at the same time. A provider can propose staffing. One officer cannot continuously occupy two separate posts simultaneously.
What should the written post orders include?
Define the work area, duties, authorized actions, patrols, access procedures, reporting, escalation contacts, shift handover, and restrictions. Have the provider confirm that the instructions are lawful, practical, understood by assigned officers, and consistent with the agreement.
Should a provider visit the property before quoting?
A walkthrough can clarify access points, patrol distances, operating conditions, equipment, and simultaneous duties. Ask whether the proposal is preliminary or based on a site review and how changes discovered later would affect the scope and price.
Are school, healthcare, airport, government, and port assignments different?
They can involve additional screening, training, access credentials, facility restrictions, or legal appointments. Describe the actual site and duties. Ordinary private guard credentials do not automatically establish police, federal screening, medical, or other specialized authority.
Can guards also handle reception, parking, deliveries, or other tasks?
Describe each requested responsibility and ask the provider to confirm lawful scope, training, staffing, and insurance. Clarify priorities when tasks overlap. Additional work must not prevent an officer from maintaining an agreed security post or performing essential duties.
What should I ask about officer screening and training?
Ask how the provider confirms required qualifications, screening, current training, and site readiness. Request appropriate confirmation through a secure process. A client generally does not need an officer’s medical records or full criminal-history report to review a proposal.
What insurance evidence should I request?
Request a current certificate of insurance and discuss required coverage, limits, exclusions, and endorsements with your insurance adviser. If additional-insured status is required, confirm the appropriate endorsement; the certificate alone does not amend the policy.
How can I assess a provider’s experience and service history?
Ask for relevant experience, references it is authorized to share, supervision procedures, and examples of reporting. Check available official licensing or disciplinary information. A license is an authorization, not a guarantee of performance or a government endorsement.
Can the provider send subcontractors or change personnel?
Ask whether subcontracting or personnel changes are permitted and how you will be informed. Identify the business employing and supervising each officer. The agreement should address qualifications, required approvals, confidentiality, insurance, and accountability for the work.
Can a security company guarantee that no incident will occur?
No provider can eliminate every risk. Focus on a clear service scope, appropriate staffing, lawful procedures, supervision, reporting, and escalation. Evaluate the commitments in the written agreement rather than relying on an absolute protection promise.
What happens if an officer is absent or leaves the post?
Ask for the provider’s notification, escalation, relief, and replacement procedures. Agree who contacts your team, how a coverage gap is documented, and how billing is handled. Replacement timing must be confirmed rather than assumed.
How can I confirm that the scheduled officer attended?
Ask what attendance evidence is included, who reviews exceptions, and how you receive a missed-arrival alert. If digital records are offered, confirm their limits, access permissions, and how disputed times are investigated.
Can I request a provider with 24-hour dispatch support?
Yes. Ask who operates dispatch, when it is staffed, what it monitors, and how it escalates incidents or missed shifts. Around-the-clock dispatch support and a guard physically stationed at your property are different services.
What should officers do during an emergency?
Agree emergency contacts, notification thresholds, evacuation responsibilities, and when public emergency services must be called. Security duties must fit the officer’s authority and training. Contact emergency services directly for immediate danger; this quote form is not an emergency channel.
Can I replace my current provider without interrupting coverage?
Request a proposed transition plan and review your existing notice obligations. Coordinate the start date, lawful staffing, post orders, keys, access permissions, emergency contacts, and records. Continuity depends on confirmed arrangements between the relevant parties.
Can I request patrol logs, checkpoint scans, and photos?
Yes. Describe the checkpoints, visit frequency, evidence, and exceptions you want reported. Ask whether the provider supports those requirements and how incomplete rounds are handled. Agree appropriate photography and access rules for the site.
What should an incident report contain?
Agree the required facts, time, location, observations, actions, notifications, and supporting material. Identify urgent notification thresholds and review responsibility. Reports should distinguish direct observations from assumptions and protect personal or sensitive information.
Can I request Guardix client portal access?
Yes. Include that preference in your request. If the selected company uses Guardix and includes client access in the agreement, confirm which reports, site activity, and notifications it will share with your authorized users.
Can I request AI-assisted reporting and security workflows?
You can request a provider using relevant Guardix AI features where available in its setup. Ask which functions are included and who reviews the output. AI assistance does not replace an officer’s observations, provider supervision, or required human decisions.
Can officers use body cameras or share recorded footage?
Discuss the specific equipment, recording purpose, lawful notice or consent, permitted locations, access, retention, and disclosure process with the provider. Availability depends on its service. Do not assume a camera can record every conversation or restricted area.
What company authorization should I check for services in Texas?
Verify the DPS company license and authorized service category through TOPS. An officer’s pocket card or course certificate does not replace the contracting business’s authority.
How should I verify a provider’s Texas credentials?
Use TOPS Search Licensees for the company and, as relevant, individual officers. Match legal names, license numbers, current status, and categories; a submitted application is not the same as approved authority.
What should I check for officers assigned in Texas?
Covered unarmed work uses the non-commissioned category and armed work uses the commissioned category. Confirm actual TOPS status and required company affiliations for assigned personnel.
What Texas training requirements should the provider address?
DPS requires Level II training for the covered officer categories. Commissioned officers also need Level III training, which DPS lists as a minimum forty-five-hour course, subject to authorized exceptions.
What additional checks apply to armed coverage in Texas?
Confirm commissioned authority, current firearms proficiency, and other DPS conditions for armed personnel. A Texas License to Carry does not replace the commissioned-officer process.
What should be confirmed before security work starts in Texas?
Confirm the company’s DPS authority and each person’s actual TOPS status, affiliations, and duty category. A lawful condition for pending unarmed work must not be assumed to permit pending armed work. The additional Texas FAQs explain the ACTIVE pocket-card allowance.
Can I assume the same authorization covers every location in Texas?
The relevant Texas framework follows the actual work and service category. Ask the provider to confirm additional local or facility conditions and any branch or employer updates. A credential from another state should not be assumed to authorize this assignment.
How should I keep Texas authorization checks current during a contract?
Record the provider’s actual credential categories, issuing authorities, expiry dates, and any required personnel or local approvals. Ask for notice of relevant changes and recheck current status through the official Texas resources. Required insurance and firearms qualifications may have separate dates.
What should a Texas company lookup in TOPS show?
Search the provider’s legal name and DPS license number. Review its current company status and the service category relevant to the proposal. A result for an individual officer is not the same as the contracting company’s authorization.
Is a Level II course certificate a security company license?
No. A course certificate documents training. It does not replace company authorization to provide covered services or the officer’s required license or lawful start status. Ask for the company and personnel information appropriate to the assignment.
What do Levels II, III, and IV mean when comparing Texas providers?
DPS identifies Level II training for covered officer categories, Level III for commissioned officers and personal protection officers, and additional Level IV training for personal protection. The proposed personnel and credentials should match the duties, not simply the wording “trained guard.”
Can an ACTIVE commissioned officer work while waiting for the pocket card?
DPS permits commissioned officers and PPOs with ACTIVE TOPS status to work while awaiting delivery of the pocket card, carrying the specified TOPS screenshot or printout. The delivered card must then be carried on duty. This is a limited approved-status allowance.
Is a pending armed application enough for a provider to confirm an officer is ready?
A submitted application, payment receipt, or course certificate does not establish an ACTIVE armed license. Ask the company to confirm the actual status and applicable authority for the proposed duties before treating armed staffing as ready.
Should the provider account for the Texas MMPI requirement?
Yes. DPS requires original and renewing commissioned applicants to satisfy the MMPI requirement and describes use of an existing MMPI for current dual PPO/commissioned licensees. Ask the provider to confirm compliance; do not request an officer’s psychological report in your quote form.
Does company licensing replace a review of our insurance requirements?
No. DPS company guidance addresses current insurance in the licensing process. Your organization should separately confirm the policies, limits, exclusions, and endorsements appropriate to the proposed service and contract.
What does DPS say about independent contractors performing regulated services?
The DPS company FAQ describes contractors licensed as employees and covered by the company’s required insurance, or independently licensed as security service contractors under Chapter 1702. Ask the proposed companies to identify the lawful arrangement and responsibilities.
How does the company’s Texas license renewal affect a long-term contract?
DPS states that company licenses expire annually on the last day of the expiration month. Ask how the provider monitors renewal and insurance status, and recheck authorization during the service term. A renewal application alone is not proof of current authority.
Where can I raise a Texas licensing or regulatory concern?
Use the Texas DPS Private Security Program’s official contact or complaint route for a regulatory concern. Raise service-performance and billing issues with the contracting provider under your agreement. Contact emergency services directly for immediate danger.
Ready when you are
Secure your Texas 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.
- RequestZIP, service, start date
- MatchedLicensed providers
- ProposalPrice and terms in writing
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.