Home security companies install and maintain security systems. Some companies charge an hourly rate only, while others charge hourly and flat-fees based on whether they have to travel to the customer’s location. Most security companies hire a team of electricians to perform installations. Owners are either electricians themselves or have a deep understanding of the trade.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.
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DIY: How to Start an LLC
Start a home security business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Home Security Business
- Form your Home Security Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Home Security Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Home Security Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Home Security Business
- Get Home Security Business Insurance
- Define your Home Security Business Brand
- Create your Home Security Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your home security business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Home Security Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a home security business?
Startup costs vary widely depending on the business model you choose. Buying a franchise can cost between $68,000 and $110,000 for a Signal88 Franchise. AmeriCop franchise fees range between $50,000 and $64,000.
If you want to sell to law enforcement, landlords, and businesses, then Background Screeners of America might be the best way to go. The startup costs going this route are less than $20,000.
To start your own independent company may cost less than this, but you will be competing in a highly competitive industry with established players. Most customers want to do business with companies that sell and service hardware as well as provide the monitoring service.
What are the ongoing expenses for a home security business?
Typical expenses for this business are low as far as product is concerned. A one-person alarm business can be started for between $10,000 and $50,000.
This is because the business is primarily a service-oriented business.
The primary expenses are vehicles for the installers, the hardware, and (if you run a monitoring service) phone lines and customer support staff. Once you start staffing a business, costs rise sharply:
- Vehicles: $20,000 to $30,000 per vehicle.
- Labor costs: $200,000+ per year for a small company.
- Overhead: $10,000 to $20,000 for equipment, office supplies, and other related costs.
Who is the target market?
A good client is usually one that has a lot to protect. These are usually upper middle class families with small children. Security companies find it difficult to profit outside of this niche, meaning poorer neighborhoods are not good candidates for services, even though they may benefit from having a security system.
How does a home security business make money?
There are two models for this business: independent and franchised. An independent security company may charge whatever they wish for services (whatever the market will bear) while a franchise operation may dictate minimum and maximum charges for services.
However, average installation costs range between $600 and $1,200. Some companies advertise “free” equipment and then charge a higher monthly service fee to make up for it.
According to A Secure Life, the monthly costs for monitoring range from $10 on the low end to $100 for premium services.
How much can you charge customers?
A typical client pays an upfront installation cost of between $600 and $1,000. Ongoing monthly maintenance costs range from $10 up to $100 for premium services.
How much profit can a home security business make?
Independent alarm businesses can bring in between $100,000 and $1,000,000 in revenue. However, one-person companies typically average between $50,000 and $60,000 per year.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Generating more profit from an alarm company usually involves offering supplemental services like alarm monitoring and premium services like email and text message alerts, remote access and control, 24/7 monitoring for intrusion, fire, environmental hazard, and life safety.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your home security business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your home security business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
In most states, it is necessary to obtain a security installer license. Here is a list of potential state requirements.
In addition, certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a home security services business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
States also typically require you to be at least 18 years old and undergo a criminal background check. Some states, like California, also require you to adhere to strict rules and regulations under their Alarm Company Act.
Seller’s Permits/Resale Certificates
Most states require retail businesses to obtain a seller’s permit. A seller’s permit allows states to record and collect taxes from goods (and sometimes service) sales.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Local Requirements
In addition, certain local licensing or regulatory requirements may apply. For more information:
- Check with your town, city or county clerk’s office
- Get assistance from one of the local associations listed in US Small Business Associations directory of local business resources.
Service Agreement
Home security businesses should consider requiring clients to sign a service agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership. Here is an example service agreement.
Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your home security business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Home Security Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Home Security Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a home security business
Most security companies start by word of mouth. Contact your friends and family to see if they’d like a security system installed. Once you’ve exhausted your “inner circle,” make a list of “friends of friends” and go talk to them. At some point, you’ll need to go door-to-door to make sales. Unlike many industries, the security alarm industry relies heavily on word-of-mouth because security is a very personal matter.
Customers tend to trust companies that have been recommended to them.
How to keep customers coming back
To differentiate yourself from other businesses, offer more value for the money. The security business is highly competitive. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to compete on price.
Most security and monitoring companies find new clients through referral marketing. A company might ask for existing customers’ email addresses to follow up with promotions and referral incentives. Outside of that, companies typically try a variety of marketing strategies that complement referral marketing, like social media marketing and email or newsletter initiatives.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
This business is ideal for people who want to work flexible hours but can also work odd hours. You must have a special interest in home and personal security, understand how various security systems can be defeated, and how to install systems so that they resist detection by criminals. This business can only be run by those with high ethical standards, as strict licensing is required, and for the obvious fact that the security business exposes a home or business’s vulnerabilities.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a home security business?
Key day-to-day activities include monitoring customer accounts, installing new systems for clients, handling incoming service calls, and reducing attrition. In the home security business, it’s much cheaper to save a client account than it is to find a new one. So, a lot of time and money is spent on loss retention. A typical day may include several installation and service calls and multiple security-related calls.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful home security business?
Sales experience is helpful when first starting out. However, this is definitely something that can be learned on the job.
Basic experience setting up electronics and related IT skills are a must, as you will need to be able to quickly and efficiently install home security systems.
What is the growth potential for a home security business?
According to a recent IBIS World’s Security Alarm Services market research report, average annual growth in this industry is 4.3%. Smaller companies typically focus on installation and outsource the monitoring service. As the business grows, a company may bring the monitoring side of the business in-house.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
How and when to build a team
Hiring employees makes sense when your business is large enough to support it. Some of the typical roles you’ll want to fill first are sales and installer positions as this is primarily how your business’s revenues will grow to support more staff. After that, accounting and bookkeeping roles should be filled.
Typical salaries for these positions vary according to region, but salesmen usually make between $30,000 and $100,000, depending on how good they are. Since salesmen usually work partially or wholly on commission, out of pocket labor costs are lower than with other industries. Installers typically make $50,000 per year.