Knowing how to vet a security guard company before signing a contract can save many service problems, liability concerns, high quality guard performance, and costly surprises. While it might look formalized on the Internet, the contract, insurance coverage documents, training requirements, and supervision process are the true indicative of a security provider.
This choice is typically made in the interests of customers, increasingly in the interests of employees, and always for sensitive property, event risk, or a heightened customer experience. For investigating or surveillance activities, safety concerns may coincide with surveillance activities, so investigate legal limits of activities (such as stalking) before putting someone on a surveillance task.
Also, Read more: can private investigators be charged with stalking?
Vet a Security Guard Company Before Signing a Contract
Make sure the basics are covered: Do they have a license in the service areas where they will be provisioning services? Request business license, guard license requirements, proof of insurance and workers’ comp coverage. Never confirm information by verbal means. If a provider is legit, they’ll be able to provide you with documentation promptly.
Then ask that person who will be supervising the guards. There are numerous issues with services that occur because after the person is hired, no one is really monitoring its performance, but it is promised under the contract.
Review Training, Screening, and Supervision
The security company you hire should also have a security guard screening, training, assignment and evaluation plan in place. Confirm if the guards get site-specific instructions before the start. A different judgment is needed for a warehouse, hotel, construction site, retail store, or corporate lobby.
Ask these questions:
- What background checks are performed?
- Are guards trained in de-escalation and incident reporting?
- Who handles late arrivals or call-offs?
- How often does a supervisor visit the site?
- Will we receive daily activity reports?
- How are complaints investigated?
Compare Scope, Price, and Accountability
Not all of the quotes that you receive will be the best. Compare the elements of each proposal. Some companies might cover supervision, reporting software, emergency replacement guards and account management. There is one that could charge more for every item.
It is important to remember contracts make different provisions for specific duties before signing. The word “security” is too generic. Patrols, access control, pass checks for visitors, alarm response, parking checks, report writing and emergency procedures are better described by better word.
A good agreement will also define the boundaries between a minor violation and a major violation. It is important for an understanding of the difference between security infraction vs security violation, in order to respond fairly when issues arise.
Contract Red Flags to Watch For
When the company proves elusive about answering insurance questions, you won’t hear about guard training, or the company won’t have a name for a supervisor, or they give vague pricing, or they promise anything the security provider cannot guarantee. Discuss cancellation policies, rate hikes, indemnity provisions, overtime penalties, holiday pricing and incoming service level.
If the provider has subcontractors, ask who is responsible for their licensing/quality assurance, insurance coverage and incident reporting. Not all subcontracting is evil, but never underhand.
Pre-Signing Checklist
Before signing, confirm:
- License and insurance documents are current.
- Guard duties are written in plain language.
- Pricing includes all expected services.
- Supervision and reporting are defined.
- Emergency replacement coverage is available.
- Termination terms are reasonable.
- Liability and indemnity clauses are reviewed by qualified counsel.
- The company understands your site risks.
Final Thoughts
How to vet a security guard company before signing a contract? The key to choosing a security guard company before signing security guard contracts involves documentation, clarity in services, and accountability. Check references, check insurance policies, make sure that you know what they’re trained, all the actual work done, and read the contract carefully. The right provider should be able to elaborate on what they do and how they supervise guards and handle areawide issues when something goes wrong.