How Much Does Business Security Actually Cost? (And What It Saves You)

Business owners often ask about security cost. Smart owners ask about security return. Here's the honest breakdown of both.

9/12/20261 min read

man in green and blue jacket walking on street during daytime
man in green and blue jacket walking on street during daytime

Business owners ask about security cost. Smart owners ask about security return. Here's the honest breakdown of both.

What you'll typically pay:

Service

Typical Cost

Unarmed security guard~$25–$40/hour

Armed security guard~$35–$60/hour

Mobile patrol (per visit)~$15–$40/visit

Camera/monitoring system $500–$5,000+/install

Access control system $1,000–$10,000+ (depending on # of doors)

(Prices vary by market, hours, and risk level — quotes should always be free and custom.)

What one incident costs:

  • Average commercial burglary loss: $1,000–8,000+ in property alone

  • Vandalism cleanup: $500–3,000 per incident

  • Repeat shoplifting (retail): shrinkage quietly eats 1–2% of total revenue

  • A single break-in at a warehouse: often $10,000+ once downtime and theft are counted

  • Liability or insurance claims: unpredictable, potentially catastrophic

The comparison that matters: a guard posted at a frequently-targeted property costs a few thousand dollars a month. One prevented break-in, one prevented lawsuit, or a few months of reduced shrinkage can exceed that entire cost.

The invisible return: visible security changes behavior. Employees follow procedures when someone's watching. Loiterers move on. Insurance carriers often discount premiums for professionally secured properties.

The right question isn't "what does security cost?"

It's "what is the single most expensive thing that could happen to my property — and what's the cheapest way to prevent it?"

Diversified Protection Services, LLC provides free, no-pressure security assessments. We'll walk your property, identify the expensive risks, and quote exactly what addressing them costs.

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