The right questions to ask a security company reveal whether its licensing, staffing, supervision, and contract fit your site. Use this checklist to compare providers, verify claims, and set clear expectations before signing. Start with hiring security guards to understand the basic hiring process.
Which licensing questions should you ask? Start with these questions to ask a security company
Ask the provider to identify its California licenses and explain how it keeps each assigned guard eligible to work. California BSIS, the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, regulates private security licenses and guard registrations.
- Does your company hold an active BSIS Private Patrol Operator license, and what is its license number?
- Does every assigned guard have an active BSIS guard registration, often called a guard card?
- For armed posts, does each assigned guard hold the required BSIS firearm permit and applicable carry permit?
Verify the license and post requirements
Check the company’s PPO license and guard registrations through California BSIS, rather than relying only on a sales presentation. Ask the provider to explain how it confirms eligibility before assigning guards and how it handles a license or permit that expires. Match the service to the post: unarmed security guards and armed security guards have different duties and requirements.
Which training and screening questions should you ask?
Ask for training and screening details that match your property, schedule, and expected incidents. A provider should describe how it prepares guards for their assigned duties, not just provide a general training summary.
- Does your training cover site instructions, emergency procedures, de-escalation, and the specific tasks in my post orders?
- Does your screening process verify identity, work history, and required California BSIS registration before assignment?
- Do armed guards receive role-appropriate firearms training, and how do you document their qualifications?
Match preparation to the assignment
Ask for examples of how the provider prepares staff for your setting, such as an office, residential property, event, or retail site. For high-profile clients and public appearances, ask about specialized experience with celebrity security guards. Request an explanation of how supervisors brief guards on site risks, access rules, and emergency contacts before a shift begins.
Which supervision and reporting questions should you ask?
Ask who supervises each shift, how quickly a manager responds, and what records you receive. A clear chain of command lets your staff report issues and request help without confusion.
- Does each shift have a named supervisor, and how can my on-site contact reach that person?
- Do guards record patrols, incidents, visitor issues, and shift handoffs in a consistent report?
- Does your manager review reports, investigate missed duties, and tell me what corrective action follows?
Set reporting expectations in writing
Agree on report delivery, urgent notifications, and escalation contacts before service starts. Ask to review a sample report with personal information removed, then confirm that its format captures the details your team needs. For incidents involving emergency services, clarify who calls, who notifies your organization, and how the provider preserves a written record.
Which contract and pricing questions should you ask?
Ask for a written proposal that connects each charge to staffing, duties, hours, and contract terms. Compare proposals on the same scope instead of selecting a provider by a headline rate alone.
- Does the proposal list the number of guards, post hours, duties, equipment, and any added services?
- Do quoted charges explain overtime, holidays, schedule changes, cancellations, and extra assignments?
- Does the contract state its term, renewal process, termination notice, and procedure for resolving service problems?
Review service terms before signing
Confirm that the post orders, staffing plan, reporting process, and escalation contacts match the written proposal. Ask who supplies uniforms and equipment, how the company handles an uncovered shift, and whether you can request a replacement guard. Keep approved changes in writing so both parties share the same expectations about coverage and costs.
Compare providers and request quotes
Compare written answers, then request security company quotes based on the same post requirements.