Choosing the best security guard company in Los Angeles for your house or business is extremely important and can either save you or cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are hundreds of security guard services in Los Angeles, each providing unique services but what really sets apart the great companies from the others? In this article, we will help you learn how to choose the right security company and be confident about your decision.
Step One: Define What You Need
Before choosing a security guard company in Los Angeles, consider the following:
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- Type of service: Do you need unarmed guards? Armed guards? Patrolling? Event security? Loss prevention?
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- Hours/days of coverage: What days and hours do you need security? Do you want 24/7 security? 12 hour night shifts? 9 to 5 during office hours?
Simple right? That is the first step. Once you know the type of security you need and the hours you want the guards, then you move on to step two. If you need help deciding the hours and the type of service, just reach out to a company like Safeguard Security Services that provides free consultations and talk to someone with experience to help you choose the type of service and the hours.
Step Two: Reach Out to Your Local Security Companies
So now that you know the type of service and the hours of operation, call at least three to five local companies and ask for a quote. This is where the real test begins. See which companies are most responsive and provide the most information. The companies that do not send a quote in a timely manner, do not consider their quote. Choose two companies out of the three to five you reached out to and decide between one.
When deciding which company to choose, consider things like: reputation, how comfortable you are with the consultants and the sales team, whether or not the guards are licensed and insured and what type of reporting system they use, if any.
Step Three: Research The Company
If you are going to spend thousands of dollars with a company, make sure you know everything about them. Check for the license, make sure the company is insured, ask for references and have multiple meetings with the managers and sales team. There is no reason to rush, it is better to make an informed decision than to rush and cost yourself financial losses down the line.
Ask the company to provide you a security plan and a case study related to whatever industry you are in. Ask them about different scenarios and see if the managers are experienced enough to answer your questions properly. See if the security company you are hiring is actually the one managing your project and not subcontracting it to other companies. Once you have completed all of this, you are one step closer to hiring yourself a security team.
Step Four: Ask, Ask, Ask
Step one through four should only take a couple hours. Now you have confirmed the type of service and the hours of operation needed for your project, you have confirmed the pricing and researched the company, ask as many questions as you might have. Here are some of the questions we suggest asking:
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- What type of training and license do your guards have?
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- What is the term of the contract?
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- What type of insurance do you carry?
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- What happens in case the guard cannot make it to work?
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- What is included in the service?
Some companies only provide the guard and others go above and beyond to provide quality service. When hiring a company, make sure you have an account manager you can reach out to, reports that you can get access to, and the contact of the security guard on site.
Step Five: Time to Hire!
Now that you have done your due diligence, know what service you are receiving and everything that is included in your service, it is time to hire the company and be confident about your decision. Having security guards for your business or residence brings a lot of peace of mind and is a great investment. Remember to never hire the cheapest company. The irony is that cheap service will always cost you more.