Starting Security Outfit

Starting Your Private Security Firm: It is a known fact that public security services of many nations are more concerned about what is regarded as a threat to public security and may not be able to cover all security needs of the entire nation including private businesses and individuals who may need additional or personal private security services. This has given birth to the business idea of establishing private security outfit.

Security outfit is one business you as an entrepreneur don’t necessarily need extensive expertise to establish, so long experienced and well-trained personnel is at the helm of the outfit to take charge. You can choose to establish your security outfit to render services in either or both armed and unarmed security services depending on the licenses you are able to secure from relevant authorities.

In starting your security outfit, you first of all have to research and decide on the type of security service(s) you can run effectively and make money. Before I go on to tell you how you can start your own security firm, the following are the broad category of security services your security firm can provide as most security services can be classified under any of the following:

Types of Private Security Services

Personal Security

Under this type of security services, we have bodyguards for high-profile individuals, private home guards to monitor and control access and movement within and around their homes. People that engage security services of this kind prefer those with valid licenses to bear arms.

Executive/Corporate Security

This kind of security service is principally arranged to protect corporate executives and high-profile business leaders. This is mostly needed whenever the corporate executives or high-profile business leaders are traveling outside their territory or going to a potentially risky place. Corporate security services also cover safeguarding corporate assets and control access and movement within and around corporate environments. Most corporate bodies in Nigeria engage the services of private security.

Event Security

One of the top-level security services rendered by most private security companies is event security. Security is needed in this case for the purpose of ensuring adequate monitoring and protection of event participants by highly professional protection agents. Such events may include high-profile dinner parties, business parties, political rallies, etc.

Process of Starting a Security Firm

Get Trained

It is important you undergo some security training courses or in the absence of such training hiring the services of experienced and well-trained security personnel, especially those versatile in Intelligence gathering and sharing, self-defense, handling of security equipment like handcuffs, batons, Tasers, pepper spray, handling of firearms, etc., will suffice.

Register your Business

Training is primarily to give you the necessary skills to run the security business, what really establishes it as a business is to get the firm registered and it is advisable to register as a Limited Liability Company, which gives legal status to operate as an entity. This will afford opportunities for applying and securing higher and bigger contracts

Acquire the Relevant Licenses

Each country in Africa their own regulatory agencies that regulate and controls the operations of private security firms. You should, therefore, apply for a license for your security company. If your security services require that your personnel bear arms, you should write to the governmental agencies responsible for granting licenses to obtain such licenses to bear arms for your firm. You should equally register your outfit as a member of a relevant professional association such as the National Association of Private Security Company Owners.

Get an Office

Security outfit requires that you rent an office space in a good location where you can meet business partners and clients. The office must be well equipped with security gadgets and organized for the effective administration of your security firm.

Hire Competent Personnel

After acquiring an office you can now hire your workers and train them. If you have done the necessary training yourself, you can train them; otherwise, you should engage the services of a professional, the Police personnel to help you in the training. You must ensure your employees do not have any criminal background or harmful habits like drug addictions etc.

Potential Customers or Target Market

The private security business is lucrative with enormous opportunities. Below is a list of possible customers you can target in marketing your security services:

The public Institutions (Government Facilities).
Corporate establishments (Organized private sectors).
High Profile Business Leaders.
Schools (Tertiary Institution Campuses, Secondary, Primary and Nursery Schools).
Communities and Estates.
Celebrities (Public Figures).
Religious Worship Centers.
Event Planners.
Sport Establishments.

Security Businesses you can do

Here are some suggestions of areas you can focus your private security services to your target market:

Special Security Service like Security Training and Consultancy Services.
Supply of Private Security Guards to establishments and private homes.
Supply of security devices and gadgets.
Sales and Supply of security dogs.
Supply of Escorts, Bodyguards, and Bouncers including security patrols.
Installation of Security camera and other gadgets.
You can even render Cybersecurity services if you have the competence.

Initial Capital Outlay

The average cost of setting up a Private Security Services could fall between $50,000 – $200,000.