As a business owner, the safety of your assets and that of your company, as well as that of your family, is crucial. With a wide range of security companies to choose from, hiring one that meets your security requirements is essential. Contract security offers great benefits for both business owners and homeowners. But there are those who think that hiring security services is like giving the keys and alarm codes of your building to a complete stranger. However, this does not have to be the case if you arm yourself with the right knowledge to choose a good security company. You just have to follow these tips before signing a contract with a security agency.
1. Know what type of security guard you need. You can choose armed or unarmed security guards. Unarmed officers are generally limited, but are perfect if your needs are relatively simple. For example, if you just need someone to closely monitor security camera footage and call the authorities when something happens, hiring an armed officer to do the job is clearly a waste of money. Armed officers are excellent at deterring crime. Although they are not unbeatable, they can make criminals hesitant to enter your building.
2. Create a list of good security agencies. You can get a couple of references from other business owners or search the web for trusted security companies. Either way, it’s important to give yourself a number of options to choose from. Compare their services, performance records and ratings. Check customer reviews and the list of their previous customers. Never base your decisions solely on price because it may not be a good idea to trust the security of your business in the hands of underpaid security guards.
3. Know how long the company has been in the security business. The longer the company has been in business, the better. It is also important to determine if the company has an excellent performance record under its current management. In fact, it doesn’t really matter if the company has been in business for more than fifty years if the new manager only came on board a few months ago. Obtain the director/manager’s credentials and insist on meeting him in person.
4. Know their hiring policies and procedures. It is important to make sure that you can trust the company you are hiring. A reputable security company has extensive policies and procedures when it comes to hiring their employees. These should include extensive background checks, training and licensing requirements, drug screenings, and more.
5. Choose a company that has a detailed contract available. Make sure the contract provisions are fair and reasonable. If the security company cannot provide an adequate and detailed contract, find another company. A reputable and professional security company will not provide services without a formal contract signed by both parties.