What Should I Ask When Hiring a Security Guard?

Vetting Security Providers the Right Way

The best security vendors welcome hard questions. The bad ones dodge them. Use the checklist below on every sales call — and get every answer in writing before you sign.

1. Are You a Licensed California PPO?

Ask for the PPO number and expiration date. Cross-check at search.dca.ca.gov. No license = no conversation.

2. Can I See Your Current Certificate of Insurance?

A vendor should email the COI within the hour. Look for general liability ($1M–$2M), workers' comp, and — if they drive — commercial auto.

3. What Training Do Your Officers Receive?

California requires 40 hours of BSIS training. Great companies add de-escalation, report writing, first-aid/CPR, and site-specific onboarding.

4. How Are Patrols Verified?

Ask for a sample GPS-tracked patrol report. Real reports include geofenced check-ins, time stamps, and incident photos. See our verification guide.

5. Who Answers the Phone at 2 AM?

Local dispatch, one to two ring pickup, live human. Anything else means slow escalation when it matters most.

6. What's the Escalation Chain?

Get a written chain: officer → on-duty supervisor → operations manager → owner contact — with time targets at each step.

7. What Are Your Contract Terms?

Look for 30-day no-fault cancellation and a defined SLA. Avoid multi-year lock-ins with punitive termination fees.

8. Can I Speak to Three Current Clients in My Industry?

References from similar properties (HOA, construction, retail) reveal how the vendor actually performs, not how it pitches.

Ready to Interview a Real Team?

Book a Sacramento site walkthrough with Sac Security Patrol — PPO #121830, $2M insured, GPS-verified patrols, local dispatch. Call (916) 750-3255.

FAQ

What is the most important question to ask a security company?

Can you email me your current PPO license and Certificate of Insurance today? Any legitimate company can do it in under an hour.

How do I know if a guard is properly trained?

Ask for the officer's BSIS guard card number and the company's ongoing training curriculum beyond the 40-hour state requirement.

Should security contracts be month-to-month?

Ideally yes, or a 30-day no-fault cancellation clause. It keeps the vendor accountable to performance, not paperwork.