So I’m having lunch with my friend Mike last week. He runs this auto repair place on Kings Highway, having been there maybe eight years. Guy’s always been careful with his money, you know? Anyway, he tells me he just got slapped with a lawsuit.
Some idiot was wandering around his lot at like 10 at night – the place has been closed since 6 – and trips over something. Now the guy’s saying it’s Mike’s fault because there wasn’t enough security or lighting. Mike might lose his whole business over this.
The thing is, Mike always thought security was for big companies or places that get robbed a lot. It never crossed his mind that not having security could actually cost him everything.
This Stuff Happens More Than You Think
My cousin runs a little gift shop near the Fishermen’s Village. Last year, somebody busted in and trashed the place. Didn’t even steal that much – just made a huge mess and broke everything they could.
Insurance paid for the stolen stuff, sure. But they were closed for almost three weeks cleaning up and getting new inventory. Lost all that Christmas shopping money. Then half her regular customers started going to other places because they heard about the break-in.
But here’s the kicker – she’s dealing with some slip-and-fall lawsuits now too. Lady claims she fell in the parking lot because there wasn’t proper security to keep homeless people from sleeping out there. The lawyer’s saying my cousin was “negligent” for not having security.
Why We’re Easy Targets Down Here
Look, Port Charlotte’s growing like crazy. That’s great for business, but it also means we get more of the bad apples mixed in with everyone else. Plus all the tourists – some of them figure we keep extra cash around because of the seasonal business.
And let’s be honest, most of us small business owners are just trying to keep the lights on. We cut corners where we think we can. Security seems like something you add later, after you’re making good money.
Wrong thinking. Dead wrong.
Insurance Companies Aren’t Your Friends
Here’s something nobody tells you when you’re starting out. Your business insurance has all this fine print about “reasonable precautions.” If something happens and they decide you weren’t being careful enough, they can just refuse to pay.
It happened to a guy I know who runs a little restaurant in Murdock. A customer got mugged in his parking lot. The insurance company said since he didn’t have cameras or security, he wasn’t taking reasonable steps to protect people. They wouldn’t cover the lawsuit.
Guy had to sell the restaurant to pay the legal bills. Twenty years building that business, gone.
What Actually Keeps You Safe
You don’t gotta go crazy with this stuff. Start simple – better lights, some cameras, decent locks. But honestly? Nothing beats having actual people around.
Even if it’s just a security guard who swings by a couple times during the night, that’s enough to scare off most of the troublemakers. These guys want easy scores, not places where somebody might catch them.
I know it costs money. But think about what one lawsuit would cost you. Or one big theft. Or losing customers because they don’t feel safe coming to your place.
The Paperwork That Saves Your Butt
This is boring stuff, but it matters. When something goes wrong – and something always goes wrong eventually – you need to prove you were doing everything reasonable to prevent it.
Security companies keep records of everything. When guards patrol, what they see, if anything weird happens. That paperwork can save you in court.
Had a lawyer tell me that having detailed security logs is like having a witness who never forgets and can’t be bribed. Judges love that stuff.
Your Employees Matter Too
You got people working for you? They deserve to feel safe. Especially if they’re there late or early, or working alone.
Maria works at this little boutique on Tamiami Trail. She used to be scared to death walking to her car after closing. The owner finally got some security, and now Maria actually likes working the evening shift because she knows somebody’s watching out for her.
Happy employees work better. Scared employees make mistakes, take shortcuts, and quit on you.
Customers Notice Everything
People aren’t dumb. They can tell when a place feels safe and when it doesn’t. If your customers are looking over their shoulders or rushing to get out, that’s bad for business.
But when they see a security guard or obvious cameras, they relax. They take their time shopping. They come back. They tell their friends your place is safe.
Especially important if you’re open late or in a part of town that makes people nervous. Security can be the difference between customers choosing you or going somewhere else.
The Money Side
Yeah, security costs money. But so does getting robbed. So does getting sued. So does losing customers who don’t feel safe.
A lot of insurance companies will give you discounts if you have professional security. Sometimes the discount almost pays for the security itself.
Plus, one claim can mess up your insurance rates for years. Better to spend a little on prevention than a lot on fixing problems after they happen.
Don’t Make These Mistakes
Biggest mistake? Waiting until something bad happens before you get serious about security. By then you’re dealing with police reports and insurance claims and maybe lawsuits, plus trying to figure out security.
Another mistake – going with whoever’s cheapest. You get what you pay for. Some security company charges half what everyone else does? There’s a reason for that.
And I don’t think cameras and alarms are enough by themselves. They’re good, but they can’t stop something from happening. They just record it for the cops to look at later.
Figure Out What You Need
Every business is different. A busy restaurant needs different stuff than a quiet office. A place that handles cash needs more security than a business that only takes credit cards.
Are you open late? Do you have expensive inventory? Are you in a sketchy area? Do your employees work alone? All that matters when figuring out what kind of security makes sense.
Don’t guess. Get somebody who knows this stuff to look at your place and tell you what the real risks are.
Getting Started
If you’re thinking about this, start with having somebody who knows security take a look at your business. They can tell you what you really need versus what’s just nice to have.
Maybe you don’t need full-time security. Maybe just having somebody check on your place a few times a night is enough. Or maybe you need more than you think.
Point is, get professional advice before you spend money on stuff that might not help.
Getting Help That Makes Sense
I’m Vince with USA Security & Protection Group LLC. We work with small businesses all over Florida, helping them figure out security that actually fits their budget and their real needs.
Not trying to sell you stuff you don’t need. Just want to help you protect what you’ve worked hard to build.
Give me a call at (954) 477-1088 or shoot me an email at USACURITYPROGROUPLLC@GMAIL.COM. We can take a look at your place and talk about what makes sense for your situation.
