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Jimmie Said:

How do I get clients for my security guard company?

We Answered:

Happy to throw in my opinion, which does not agree with much of the info you have already received. I am a P.I. and have owned a Private Security company for a little over 10 years. I also do the patrol and response work myself. When I take a night off, have special temp assignments, or need another car out, I only use off duty Police Officers. So, I understand your position well.
It sounds like you have a good basis for a successful company. Here are a few tips to get prospective clients from the proposal stage to signing the contract:

1. No amount of advertising will beat word of mouth and good references. Even if you have not signed any clients yet, I would assume after 10 years in the industry, you have some professional references. It also helps if you have a reference or two from your local PD.
2. Price matters. No matter what anyone from another service industry will tell you, any security company owner knows that the person taking quotes from security companies has been given a budget to spend on protective services. This is a yearly expense figured into a corporate budget for apartment complexes and shopping centers. Lowering your price, especially when trying to get your company off the ground does not make you look low quality. It shows your flexibility and willingness to compromise. Their corporate budget will not compromise. If you want to stay in business, you have to. To start off, take what you can get and build up a client base.
3. Don't blow your budget by over-advertising. You don't need a full page ad in the yellow pages to be successful.
4. Know your audience during proposals. A standard service proposal will not work for every property. When you cold call potential clients, set up a time to show them a proposal. Don't do it on the first contact. Use that time in between by visiting their property during your potential service hours. Check Police crime stats for the area. Research the property. If it is an apartment complex, do your homework about the type of residents, number of units, etc. Tailor a proposal to their property and their specific problems. It makes a huge difference.
5. Finally, and this is very important, do not go into a meeting with a potential client with the "wannabe cop" egomaniacal security guard attitude. Confidence and intelligence are important, but ego and tough-guy attitude will only turn off the potential client. They figure if you have that attitude with them, their residents or customers will be bullied, not helped.

One other thing, your website is good. However, you may want to add information about who YOU are, your qualifications, education, and the fact that your company is owner-operated. Best of luck. This is a difficult industry. If I can be of any other help, feel free to message me.

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