Starting a Security Company
Starting a security company has many rewards and can have many pitfalls. When thinking of starting a security company you need to know what is all involved so that you are able to reduce your chances of failure and increase your chances of success. Before you get started you should ask yourself some of these questions and do a little soul searching, if you have already done this then feel free to go down the page to the next steps of starting a security company. Why do you want to start a security company? Have you worked in the security business before? If not do you have the financial means to hire security guards right from the start? Have you ever started any other business before? Do you have a strong support group at home with your friends and family? Are you willing to work long hard hours for very little pay in the beginning stages? That way you can reap the rewards that those who are not willing to do will never reap.
The reason I have you ask yourself these questions is so that you are well grounded and not with your head in the clouds when starting any sort of company. So many people will start a company then fail simply because they did not have the work ethic, the skills, or run out of money before the company is in the profits. Let’s get started.
Starting a Security Company Step 1
The first step to starting a security company is planning out what your long term goals will be with the company. By starting with some sort of a plan you have a better chance at staying on track and succeeding. Your goals can be based on income in 1,3,5,10 years or based on the size of the company in that time frame with the number employees you will have. Keep your head out the clouds and be realistic. If you think you are going to become the largest security business in your city within 1-2 years then you better have deep pockets to blanket your potential clients with ongoing advertising. Don’t get me wrong, you can be successful without being the largest company. In fact, you can be successful with just a few small contracts. If that is your goal.
Starting a Security company Step 2
If you read some of the other articles for the different companies I talk about starting you might see there is a different order to starting a company. In actual fact the order is not such a huge deal as long as you have a business license, insurance and talked with a lawyer before you have your first contract.
First decide on a business name. I have come up with a few different names, but out of the 9 companies I have started 5 were using my last name with the industry. You can go this route or make up another name. Then you might have to get the name registered with your state or province. Check with the city you are in for more information.
You will need to get a business license and follow the rules and regulations that your city and or state/province expects from you with a security company. Once you have been approved by your local licensing department you will want to look into the types of insurances that you might need. Every state or province is slightly different when it comes to this so you might have to do a little digging. Now get all of your office requirements out of the way. Do you need a new phone or cell phone? Will you need a new computer, fax machine, desk, or other place to work. Will you work from home or are you setting up an office with a shop?
Next you will want to create a simple web page, and some business cards. If you do not have enough money for a webpage you can start with a free service. I don’t recommend using a free service as all the link building you do will be gone out the window once you have your own domain. And speaking of domains, go buy yours now with your company name.
Do you need a vehicle or multiple vehicles? Are you hiring right away or are you waiting until you have enough clients before you hire. Or are you going to subcontract employees? Make sure you know the rules on security checking for employees and do this with each employee you hire.
Starting A Security Company Step 3
Now you need to make some money. To be able to make money you need to have clients and to get clients you need to do some marketing. Marketing can be done on many different levels and cost different amounts for each level. If you do not have much money then start with a lot of networking. I still go to networking meetings each and every month. Some of these are free and some cost a little bit of money. For some great free meetings in pretty much every city in the world can be found through meetup.com. And if there is not one there then you can start one and those that are interested will be automatically invited. BNI and the Better Business Bureau as well as the Chamber of Commerce are great places to network as well. Marketing a security company is very similar to marketing any other type of business. The one exception is in most cases you will be marketing to other businesses where as some other companies market directly to the end consumer. In one sense you are luckier as finding just a couple of small contracts will be all you need when you get started since you will be seeing these people day after day or week after week. I know there is also one off customers that might just use your services for an event that is just one time, but most likely even that company will use you again in the future.
Marketing a Security Company for Profit
One of the key elements to marketing a security company is how you use the words in your marketing. This form of writing is called copywriting, and can either make or break your marketing efforts or take something that brings in a half a percent jump to 2-3%. This is important if you are advertising in a trade journal, online, in a radio, TV, or on a postcard or any other form of marketing. Including the yellow pages or any printed ad, but before going into the yellow pages make sure there are others advertising there. If not then most likely other companies have tried this before and this did not work.
This is a great start for you when starting a security company. There is a little more to learn about running and managing a security company, but this will get you going. And remember to go over everything with your lawyer just to make sure you are doing everything the right way.
Thanks, Kelly
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