The business owner called me last week, furious. Hired a security guard from some company in Tallahassee. The guy showed up drunk on his second day. No background check, no proper licensing, the company disappeared when she tried to complain.
“What questions should I have asked?” She wants to know.
Here’s the thing – most people want security guard services for the first time ask about price first. Price matters, but it’s not even in the top five things you should worry about.
Been doing this for 12+ years. Seen plenty of business owners get burned by asking the wrong questions or not asking any at all. Here’s what you actually need to know.
1. Are Your Guards Actually Licensed in Florida?
Should be obvious, right? You’d be surprised how many security companies try to slip unlicensed guards past you.
In Florida, every security guard needs a Class D license. Armed guards need Class G. Takes weeks to get, costs money, requires background checks and training.
Some companies hire people and put them to work immediately while “waiting for licensing to process.” That’s illegal and puts you at risk.
Ask to see the license. Real licenses have the guard’s photo, license number, expiration date. If they can’t show you current licenses for all their guards, walk away.
Had a client whose “security guard” turned out to be the company owner’s nephew with no training and no license. Got arrested during a shoplifting incident because he had no legal authority to detain anyone.
2. What Happens If Your Guard Doesn’t Show Up?
This is huge. Half the security companies in Tallahassee are small operations with maybe five guards total. Your regular guard calls in sick or quits without notice – then what?
Good companies have backup guards available. Great companies guarantee coverage even if they have to send a supervisor or owner.
Bad companies? You get a phone call saying “sorry, can’t cover your shift tonight.”
I’ve had clients call me at midnight because their security company left them hanging. The restaurant was full of customers, no security, and employees were scared to work.
Ask for their backup policy in writing. If they don’t have one, find someone else.
3. How Do You Train Your Guards?
Florida requires 40 hours of training for new security guards. That’s the minimum. Good companies do way more.
Ask what training they provide beyond state requirements. Customer service? De-escalation? First aid? Company-specific procedures?
Some companies do the bare minimum training then throw guards into situations they’re not prepared for. Others provide ongoing training, regular refreshers, and specialized skills.
One company in Tallahassee told me they train guards on dealing with FSU students specifically. Makes sense – college towns have different security challenges than retirement communities.
4. Can I Talk to References From Similar Businesses?
Any security company worth hiring has happy clients willing to talk to you. If they can’t provide references, that’s a red flag.
But here’s the key – ask for references from businesses like yours. Restaurant security is different from office building security. Retail has different challenges than construction sites.
Don’t just ask for names and numbers. Ask the company to set up calls with their references so you can ask real questions about performance, reliability, problems they’ve had.
I always tell clients to ask for references: “What would you change about their service?” and “Have you ever had to fire a guard?” Honest answers tell you a lot.
5. What’s Your Policy on Guard Turnover?
The security industry has high turnover. Guards quit, get better jobs, move away. That’s normal.
What’s not normal is the same position turning over every few weeks. If a company can’t keep guards longer than a month or two, there’s a problem with pay, management, or working conditions.
Ask how long guards typically stay and what their turnover rate is. Good companies should be able to tell you their average guard stays 8-12 months or longer.
High turnover means you’re constantly dealing with new guards who don’t know your business, your procedures, or your problems.
6. Who’s Actually Supervising the Guards?
Small security companies often have no real supervision. The owner handles sales, guards handle everything else. Nobody’s checking on performance, handling problems, or making sure guards are doing their jobs.
Ask who supervises guards on duty. Is there a supervisor available 24/7? How often do they check on guards? What happens if there’s a problem during your shift?
Had a client whose guard was supposed to do hourly patrols. Turns out he was sleeping in his car half the night. Took three weeks to figure it out because nobody from the company ever checked on him.
7. How Much Insurance Do You Carry?
This protects you when something goes wrong. Guard gets hurt on your property? Someone claims the guard assaulted them? Your business could be liable if the security company doesn’t have adequate insurance.
Ask for proof of insurance – general liability, workers compensation, professional liability. Million dollars minimum for general liability.
Some companies try to operate with minimal insurance or none at all. That risk gets passed to you if something bad happens.
8. What Do You Do If I’m Not Happy With a Guard?
Even good companies sometimes have personality conflicts or performance issues. What matters is how they handle it.
Ask about their process for replacing guards. Do they investigate complaints? How quickly can they provide a replacement? Do you get stuck with problem guards because they don’t want to deal with the hassle?
Good companies want you happy because happy clients renew contracts and refer to new business. Bad companies treat individual guards like they’re interchangeable and your complaints like they’re annoying.
9. How Much Do You Really Know About Tallahassee?
Big national companies sometimes treat Tallahassee like it’s any other city. Local companies understand specific challenges here.
The FSU campus area has different security needs than downtown government buildings. Midtown restaurants deal with different issues than strip malls near I-10.
Ask about their experience in Tallahassee. How long have they been here? What other businesses do they protect? Do they know local police procedures?
Company that’s worked in Tallahassee for years understands seasonal changes when students leave for summer, knows which areas have more problems, understands local culture.
10. What’s the Real Cost, Including Everything?
This is where companies try to trick you. They quote a low hourly rate then hit you with fees for uniforms, equipment, training, scheduling, holidays, administrative costs.
Ask for total cost breakdown in writing. What’s included in the hourly rate? What costs extra? Are there minimum hours? Holiday surcharges?
Some companies charge extra for background checks, drug testing, uniforms, equipment, even basic training. Others include everything in their quoted rate.
Had a client who got quoted $15/hour but ended up paying almost $20/hour after all the additional fees the company didn’t mention upfront.
Red Flags That Mean Walk Away
Company has no local office or just a P.O. Box. Hard to complain to someone who’s not actually in Tallahassee.
Won’t let you interview guards before they start working for you. Good companies want you to meet guards beforehand.
Requires long-term contracts with big penalties for canceling. Most legitimate companies work month-to-month after the initial trial period.
Quotes prices way below everyone else. There’s always a reason cheap security is cheap.
Can’t explain their screening process. If they can’t tell you how they check backgrounds and verify qualifications, they probably don’t.
Tallahassee Has Good Options
There are legitimate security companies here. Some have been serving the area for decades, know local businesses, understand what works and what doesn’t.
Companies like Citizen’s Guard Security, The Guard Alliance, Mannheim Security Solutions – veteran-owned operations with local knowledge and proper licensing.
Just don’t assume all security companies are the same or that the cheapest option is the best deal.
Our Service Areas
USA Security & Protection Group LLC provides security guard services throughout Florida: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Weston, Plantation, Port Saint Lucie, Palm Bay, Cocoa Beach, Fort Myers – and the Tallahassee area.
We answer all these questions upfront because we want clients who know what they’re getting.
Get Straight Answers
Call us at (954) 477-1088 or email USACURITYPROGROUPLLC@GMAIL.COM. We’ll answer every question on this list and any others you have.
Been burned by security companies before? We get it. That’s why we don’t pressure you to sign anything until you’re comfortable with our answers.
Good security companies want informed clients who understand what they’re paying for. The companies that don’t want to answer these questions? Those are the ones you want to avoid.
Take the time to ask the right questions upfront. Way easier than dealing with problems later.
