A private small business owner called me last month, owns an auto repair shop in Port Charlotte. Someone broke in, stole $8,000 worth of tools and damaged another $3,000 trying to get into his parts room.
“How much would a security guard have cost me?” he asks.
Too late now, but I did the math for him anyway.
The Numbers Nobody Talks About
Here’s what most security companies won’t tell you straight up – because they want to sell you stuff you might not need.
Security guard costs: $15-20 an hour for unarmed, $22-28 for armed. If you need someone 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, that’s $600-800 weekly. Monthly? $2,400-3,200.
Surveillance system: Decent setup runs $3,000-8,000 installed, plus $50-150 monthly for monitoring.
Mobile patrol: $200-400 per week for someone to check your place few times each shift.
My auto shop guy? His break-in cost him $11,000 plus insurance deductible, plus time dealing with cops and insurance, plus downtime while he replaced tools. Three months of security guard service would’ve cost less than what he lost in one night.
Port Charlotte’s Business Reality
Charlotte County’s been pushing this “pro-business attitude” stuff, which is great. Lots of new businesses opening, construction projects all over, people moving here from up north.
But growth brings problems. More people, more opportunities for theft. And after hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton, lots of construction sites and repair work happening. Tools, materials, equipment sitting around. Easy targets.
Plus you’ve got the snowbird situation – half the year population doubles, rest of the year it’s quiet. Criminals know this too.
What Small Businesses Actually Lose Money On
Been working with small businesses 12+ years. Here’s what actually costs them money:
Employee theft – way more common than break-ins. Good security helps catch this stuff early.
Customer incidents – fights, accidents, slip-and-falls that turn into lawsuits.
Inventory shrinkage – stuff that disappears and you can’t figure out how.
Vandalism – broken windows, graffiti, damage that adds up over time.
After-hours break-ins – like my auto shop guy.
Real Examples from Port Charlotte Area
Restaurant near downtown: Hired unarmed security Friday/Saturday nights after three incidents with drunk customers. Security costs $150/night. Haven’t had a single insurance claim or police call since. Owner says his insurance agent told him rates might drop next year.
Retail store on Tamiami Trail: Was losing about $500/month to shoplifting. Hired security guard 20 hours/week. Theft dropped to almost nothing. Guard pays for himself just in prevented losses.
Construction company: Tools kept getting stolen from job sites. Started using mobile patrol service – $250/week. Hasn’t lost any equipment in eight months.
Medical office: Had problems with aggressive patients and people hanging around parking lot making staff nervous. Hired part-time security. Staff turnover dropped, patients comment on feeling safer.
The Hidden Costs of NOT Having Security
This is the stuff that kills small businesses slowly:
Insurance claims that jack up your rates for years.
Employee turnover because people don’t feel safe.
Lost customers who don’t want to shop somewhere that feels sketchy.
Time spent dealing with police reports, insurance claims, replacing stuff.
Lost productivity when employees are stressed or distracted by security concerns.
Legal liability if someone gets hurt and you didn’t take reasonable precautions.
One client told me, “I spent more time last year dealing with theft and security problems than I did actually running my business.”
What Works for Different Types of Small Businesses
Restaurants/bars: Need someone who can handle drunk people and crowd control. Usually weekends and busy nights.
Retail stores: Depends on location and what you sell. Visible security deters shoplifting.
Auto repair/contractors: Mobile patrol or cameras with good lighting. Most break-ins happen when you’re closed.
Medical/professional offices: Reception area security during business hours. Lot of cash and prescription drugs make you targets.
Property management: Regular patrols for apartment complexes, storage facilities.
ROI Math That Actually Makes Sense
Don’t let anyone sell you security based on crime statistics or scare tactics. Do your own math:
What are you losing to theft/problems now? (be honest)
What would those losses cost you over a year?
What would security cost over that same year?
If security costs less than your losses, it pays for itself.
Example: Small retail store losing $300/month to shoplifting. Part-time security guard costs $1,200/month but cuts theft by 80%. Store still comes out ahead because guard also handles customer service, watches for other problems, makes employees feel safer.
Insurance Discounts (Sometimes)
Some insurance companies give discounts for professional security. Not all do, and it’s usually not enough to cover the whole cost.
But security can prevent claims that would jack up your rates for years. One liability claim or big theft claim can cost way more than security would have.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before you call any security company:
What problems am I actually trying to solve? Theft? Customer incidents? Employee safety?
When do these problems usually happen? During business hours or after you’re closed?
How much are these problems costing me now?
What’s my budget for fixing this?
Do I need someone there all the time or just during high-risk periods?
Red Flags in Security Sales Pitches
Companies that:
- Start with scare tactics about crime rates
- Push the most expensive option first
- Can’t explain exactly what you’re paying for
- Want you to sign long contracts immediately
- Quote prices way below everyone else
Good security companies:
- Ask about your specific problems and budget
- Explain different options and costs clearly
- Give you references from similar businesses
- Let you start small and add more later if needed
Straight Talk on What You Actually Need
Most Port Charlotte small businesses don’t need armed guards 24/7. They need someone reliable who shows up when scheduled and knows how to handle normal business problems.
Start with the basics: Good lighting, locks, alarm system. Add human security when those aren’t enough.
Mobile patrol works great for businesses that are mostly empty after hours.
Part-time guards during your highest-risk hours often make more sense than full-time coverage.
Unarmed security handles 90% of what small businesses actually deal with.
Service Areas
USA Security & Protection Group LLC works throughout Florida: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Weston, Plantation, Port Saint Lucie, Palm Bay, Cocoa Beach, Fort Myers – and Charlotte County including Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and surrounding areas.
No BS Consultation
Call us at (954) 477-1088 or email USACURITYPROGROUPLLC@GMAIL.COM. We’ll look at your situation and tell you honestly what makes financial sense.
Not trying to sell you anything you don’t need. Just trying to help you figure out if security would actually save you money or just be another expense.
Some businesses need full-time guards. Others just need better locks and lighting. Most need something in between.
After 12+ years doing this, I’ve learned that the best security is what you can afford to maintain long-term, not the fanciest system some salesperson wants to sell you.
Let’s talk about what that looks like for your specific business and budget.
