Security service businesses provide unarmed and armed guards, patrol and alarm response, event security, and sometimes alarm monitoring or camera installation. Owners and small firms bill commercial property managers, construction sites, retailers, HOAs, venues, and private clients. Most invoices are built from guard hours, with extras like patrol checks, response calls, and equipment.
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Most security work is billed hourly per guard, with a bill rate set well above the guard's pay rate to cover payroll taxes, workers' compensation, general liability, insurance, supervision, uniforms, and overhead. Armed guards, supervisors, and specialized posts cost more than standard unarmed officers. Overtime, holiday, and night rates are often higher, commonly 1.5x on holidays or when the guard goes into overtime. Mobile patrols are usually priced per patrol visit or per month for a set number of checks. Event security is typically billed with a minimum shift length, often 4 hours. Alarm response and monitoring are often monthly flat fees with per-call charges for extra responses. Longer contracts are often billed weekly or monthly in arrears, with the rate fixed in a written service agreement.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Unarmed security guard (static post) | per hour | $25-45 |
| Armed security guard | per hour | $40-75 |
| Event or crowd management guard | per hour (4-hour minimum) | $30-55 |
| Mobile patrol | per patrol visit | $20-50 |
| Supervisor or site lead | per hour | $35-65 |
| Alarm response (non-monitored client) | per call | $50-125 |
| Fire watch | per hour | $30-50 |
| Executive or personal protection | per hour | $60-150 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unarmed security guard, overnight post at Riverside Apartments construction site, 10pm-6am, 5 nights (week of 3/10) | 40 hours | $32.00 | $1,280.00 |
| Overtime hours (over 40 hours/week) for relief coverage on Saturday | 4 hours | $48.00 | $192.00 |
| Mobile patrol checks of adjacent staging lot, 3 per night | 15 visits | $25.00 | $375.00 |
| Alarm response and police coordination, 3/13 at 1:40am | 1 call | $75.00 | $75.00 |
| Daily activity reports and incident report (gate left open) | 1 flat fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $1,922.00 | ||
Notes: Payment due within 15 days of invoice date per service agreement dated 1/15. Rates reflect the agreed contract schedule. A 1.5% monthly late fee applies to balances past due. Daily activity reports are available on request.
Clients check hours against their own gate logs and schedules, and clear dates head off disputes about who was on site and when.
Different roles carry different bill rates, so listing them separately shows how the total was calculated.
These premium rates should be broken out and tied to the terms in your contract so they are not seen as surprise charges.
Property managers and corporate clients often require a contract or PO reference before accounts payable will process payment.
Many states require licensed security companies, and showing your license on paperwork supports your legitimacy to clients and their insurers.
Alarm response, police coordination, or extra patrols outside the base contract should be itemized with date and time.
Weekly or monthly billing is common, and a defined period prevents overlap or missed shifts.
Contract security is usually billed weekly or biweekly for small clients and monthly for larger accounts, with terms of net 15 or net 30. Because payroll must be met regardless of when the client pays, many firms ask for a deposit or the first week in advance for new accounts, and event work is often prepaid or billed 50% up front. Late fees of 1.5% per month are common if stated in the contract. Payment is typically by ACH, check, or card, and ACH is the usual choice for recurring contracts. Many firms reserve the right to suspend service after a set number of days past due, which should be written in the agreement.
Start with guard wages, then add payroll taxes, workers' compensation, liability insurance, training, uniforms, supervision, and admin time. Add a profit margin on top. Many new owners underprice by only adding a small markup to wages and then struggle with overtime weeks.
A 4-hour minimum for events and short posts protects you from paying a guard for a full shift while billing only an hour or two. State the minimum on the quote and repeat it on the invoice.
Clients who can see patrol logs and incident reports are less likely to question hours. Keep copies on file in case of a dispute or liability claim.
Set a policy for last-minute cancellations, such as charging the minimum shift if cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, because guards are already scheduled and unavailable for other work.
Check weekly hours per guard before billing so you can apply overtime rates correctly and avoid either absorbing the cost or sending a corrected invoice later.
Staffed posts are almost always billed hourly per guard because costs scale with hours. Flat monthly fees fit mobile patrols, alarm response, and monitoring, where the scope is a set number of visits or services.
Yes, if you state it in your contract or quote beforehand. Holiday premiums of 1.5x are common, and some firms add a smaller differential for overnight shifts. Check that the rates are listed in the agreement so the client expects them.
It depends on the state. Some states tax security or protective services and others do not, and rules can differ for alarm monitoring or equipment sales. Check with your state revenue department or a tax professional.
Bill the actual hours if the client requested or approved the extra time, and note it on the invoice. If the extension was due to a relief guard failing to show up, document it so the client understands the charge.
Follow the late fee and suspension terms in your contract. Send a reminder at the due date, a notice at 10 days past, and give written notice before pausing service. Giving notice and following the contract protects you from claims later.
Send a Security Service estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Security Service estimate template