How much does a security guard cost in Sacramento?

Mobile patrol coverage starts at $15 per night. Dedicated unarmed guards typically run $28–$38/hr and armed guards $38–$55/hr in the Sacramento region, depending on shift length, risk profile, and BSIS requirements.

Are Stormhammer guards licensed?

Yes. Stormhammer Private Security operates under California BSIS PPO licensing. All guards carry current BSIS guard cards; armed officers carry valid exposed-firearm permits.

How fast can patrol coverage start?

Most Sacramento-area properties can be onboarded within 24–48 hours. Emergency same-day coverage is available for active vandalism, squatter, or trespasser incidents.

Do you provide GPS-tracked patrols and reports?

Every shift is GPS-tracked with timestamped checkpoints and photo-verified incident reports delivered the same morning.

Is one red flag enough to walk?

One is a conversation. Two is a no. Three is a vendor that should not be touching your property.

What if the rest of the proposal looks great?

A great-looking proposal with a buried red flag is the most expensive kind. Polish disguises problems.

Does Stormhammer's proposal pass this list?

Yes — every Stormhammer proposal includes PPO #121830 on the cover, a sample GPS tour report, a 30-day cancellation clause, and a Sacramento dispatch line. Call (530) 902-9390 for a proposal you can audit against this checklist.

9 Red Flags in a Security Vendor Proposal

Flag 1

No PPO license number on the cover page

California requires a Private Patrol Operator license for every security company that bills for patrol. If the proposal doesn't proudly print the PPO number, the vendor either doesn't have one or doesn't want it verified.

Flag 2

'Monthly summary report' with no GPS data

Modern patrol vendors deliver a per-tour report with GPS pins. A vendor offering only a 'monthly summary' is offering plausible deniability, not documentation.

Flag 3

12-month lock with no cancellation clause

Long lock-ins protect the vendor from their own performance. Demand a 30-day no-fault out and an SLA — missed tours = right to cancel.

Flag 4

National 800 number for dispatch

Your incident at 3 AM should reach a Sacramento dispatcher in two rings. A national call center routes you through a queue that wastes the most expensive minutes of any active incident.

Flag 5

Armed-as-default pitch

Armed patrol carries 5-10x the liability tail of unarmed. For 95% of property-management contexts, unarmed visible deterrence outperforms armed presence. A vendor pushing armed-as-default is selling fear, not security.

Flag 6

Vague language around 'random checks'

Tour count, tour windows, and check-point list should be specific numbers in the SOW. 'Random checks throughout the night' is not a deliverable.

Flag 7

No sample report attached

Any vendor proud of their reporting will attach a sample PDF to the proposal. If you have to ask for one, the answer about reporting quality is already in.

Flag 8

Officer subcontracting (1099 guards)

Some vendors subcontract patrols to 1099 contractors. That breaks supervision, training, and insurance chain-of-custody. Ask: 'Are your officers W-2 employees of your company?' Get the answer in writing.

Flag 9

Insurance certificate that names a different entity

Always check the COI's named insured. If it doesn't match the entity on the contract, the coverage may not extend to the work being performed at your property.

Want a proposal that passes this audit?

Call (530) 902-9390 and we'll send a Stormhammer proposal you can grade against every flag on this page.

9 red flags in a security vendor proposal