How much does a security service business make? (2026)
A realistic look at the money in a security service business — revenue, what it costs to run, and what the owner actually takes home. This is a B2B sales business. Contracts come from a target list and persistent follow-up, and they renew for years if you staff them well.
What it costs to start
$5,000–$30,000
Where the first customers come from
Property managers, construction GCs, event venues, and retail loss-prevention managers.
Where the customers come from
Property managers & construction firms
Low costConstruction sites, vacant properties, and events all need coverage. Build the list, pitch, follow up.
Event venues & HOAs
Low costRecurring event and community-patrol work. One HOA contract is a steady monthly base.
Referrals from past customers
FreeAsk directly, every time, right after a job goes well. A simple 'if you know anyone who needs this, I'd appreciate the intro' converts far better than any paid click.
Google Business Profile + reviews
FreeFree, and the single highest-ROI channel for almost every local service. Verify it, add photos and every service, then ask every happy customer for a review the day you finish. Ten real reviews beats any ad.
Turn this into your plan
FirstBearing builds a step-by-step roadmap for your exact business and city — formation, licenses, taxes, filled-in forms — then a 12-week plan to grow it, one move a week. $99/month, cancel anytime.
Build my plan Or try the take-home calculatorFrequently asked
How much can you make owning a security service business?
$150,000–$700,000+/yr as guard/patrol hours scale across contracts. Solo owner-operators land in the lower half; adding a crew or recurring contracts moves you up. After costs, a working owner typically takes home a solid middle-class income.
Is a security service business profitable?
20–35% gross per billable hour; the model is volume of hours and guard retention. The owners who do best price by the job (not the hour), keep costs tight, and build recurring or referral revenue so they're not starting from zero every month.
How long until a security service business replaces a full-time income?
6-12 months to a stable book of contracts; licensing and insurance are the entry gate. Getting there faster is mostly about how aggressively you ask for reviews and referrals in the first 90 days.
How do you price security service work?
Hourly bill rate per guard, by post type and hours. Long-term contracts with minimum hours.
What's the fastest way to get customers for a security service business?
Start with the free channels: Referrals from past customers, Google Business Profile + reviews. Add paid only once your reviews and offer are solid.
Figures are commonly-cited ranges for a US owner-operator, last reviewed 2026-01. Your market, crew size, and pricing will move them a lot — this is orientation, not a projection. Educational information, not financial advice.