Bodyguards, also called executive protection agents or close protection specialists, are hired by executives, public figures, families, and event hosts to provide personal security. Solo agents and small protection firms bill for hourly or daily coverage, advance work, armed or unarmed posts, driving, and travel costs. Invoices need to show exactly who worked, when, and in what role, because clients often have to justify the expense to a company or insurer.
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Most bodyguards bill hourly, with a minimum shift length of 4 to 8 hours, or a day rate for 10 to 12 hour assignments. Armed agents, agents with advanced training or prior federal or military protection experience, and drivers with security training charge more than unarmed or entry-level guards. Overtime past 10 or 12 hours, nights, weekends, and holidays usually carry a premium of 1.25x to 2x. Multi-day or travel details are often quoted as a daily rate plus expenses (airfare, hotel, meals, ground transport) billed at cost or with a small administrative markup. Advance work, such as route surveys, venue walk-throughs, and threat assessments, is billed separately by the hour or as a flat fee. Ongoing clients may move to a monthly retainer with a guaranteed number of hours. Firms that subcontract agents typically bill the client a higher rate than they pay the agent, so solo agents should price from what the client will pay, not what an agency pays its staff.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Unarmed bodyguard (event or personal escort) | per hour | $40-85 |
| Armed executive protection agent | per hour | $75-150 |
| Protective driver / security driver | per hour | $50-110 |
| Full-day protection detail (10 hours) | per day | $600-1,500 |
| Advance work and route/venue survey | per hour | $60-125 |
| Threat or risk assessment report | flat fee | $500-3,000 |
| Overnight or residential security post | per hour | $35-80 |
| Travel detail day rate (plus expenses) | per day | $800-1,800 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance work: venue walk-through and route survey (Mar 11) | 3 hours | $85.00 | $255.00 |
| Armed executive protection, 2-day corporate conference (Mar 14-15), 10 hrs/day | 20 hours | $95.00 | $1,900.00 |
| Overtime, Mar 15 (hours 11-12 at 1.5x) | 2 hours | $142.50 | $285.00 |
| Protective driving, airport transfers and venue shuttles | 6 hours | $70.00 | $420.00 |
| Mileage in personal vehicle (IRS-rate based, 118 miles) | 118 miles | $0.70 | $82.60 |
| Parking and tolls, receipts attached | 1 lump sum | $64.00 | $64.00 |
| Total | $3,006.60 | ||
Notes: Net 15. Payment by ACH or check payable to the business name above. Late balances are charged 1.5% per month after the due date. Expense receipts are attached. Services performed under the signed protection agreement dated March 1.
Many states require private security and executive protection providers to be licensed, and clients or their insurers often ask for proof.
Armed posts carry a higher rate, and the invoice should match the role in the contract.
Hours worked are the main charge, and clients need a record of who was on post and when.
Different roles bill at different rates, and separate lines prevent questions about the total.
Showing the premium multiplier ties the charge to the rate in the agreement.
Corporate clients usually require receipts to reimburse or deduct the costs.
Accounts payable departments often won't process an invoice without a PO or agreement reference.
Bodyguards commonly require a deposit or retainer before a detail starts, often 25% to 50% of the estimated total or a minimum number of prepaid hours, especially for new clients and travel assignments. Repeat corporate clients are often billed net 15 or net 30, while private individuals and event hosts are usually asked to pay in full before or right after the event. Many agents bill weekly on long assignments. Late fees of 1% to 1.5% per month are common if stated in the contract. Payment is usually by ACH, wire, check, or card. Cancellation terms, such as a charge for short-notice cancellations under 24 to 48 hours, should be in the agreement, since agents turn down other work to hold the date.
A 4 hour minimum is common even for a 2 hour job. Travel to the post, preparation, and the blocked day make short bookings unprofitable without one.
Route surveys, venue contact, medical facility mapping, and itinerary planning take real time. List them as their own line items so they are not treated as free.
Details run long. Put the overtime trigger (for example after 10 hours) and the multiplier in the agreement so the extra hours on the invoice are not a surprise.
Airfare, hotel, and rental cars come out of your pocket first. Ask for an expense deposit or have the client book and pay directly.
Clients value privacy. Use generic descriptions like 'protective services' and limit detail about locations and principals on invoices, while keeping internal logs of hours and expenses.
Hourly works for short events and variable shifts. A day rate fits fixed 10 to 12 hour details and travel. Many agents use a day rate with defined hours and charge overtime by the hour beyond that.
Yes, if your agreement says so. Some agents bill at cost, and others add 5% to 15% for booking and administrative time. Whatever you choose, state it before the job and attach receipts.
In many states, private security or personal protection work requires a license or registration, and armed work usually requires additional permits. Rules vary widely, so check with your state's licensing agency before taking paid work.
It depends on the state. Some states tax security services and others do not. Check with your state revenue department or a tax professional, and show any tax as its own line if you collect it.
Include a cancellation clause in the agreement, such as charging the minimum shift or 50% of the booked hours if cancelled within 24 to 48 hours. Then bill it as a separate line item referencing that clause.
Send a Bodyguard estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Bodyguard estimate template