Calculating the annual budget for 24/7 security for a commercial building involves understanding staffing requirements, hourly rates, and potential hidden contractual costs. To ensure 24/7 coverage, you must account for more than just the hourly rate of a single guard.

Key steps to determine your budget include:

1. Calculate Personnel Requirements: A single security post staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, typically requires 5 full-time equivalents (FTEs). This accounts for three daily shifts, weekend coverage, and necessary relief for paid time off.
2. Determine Service Type Rates: Security guard service hourly rates vary depending on the complexity of the role. For example, a stationary concierge guard may have a different rate than a roving mobile patrol unit. Factors such as the guard’s training, experience, and specialized equipment will influence these rates.
3. Account for Shift Differentials: Your budget must reflect higher costs for overnight, weekend, and statutory holiday coverage, which often involve shift differentials or premiums.
4. Identify Potential Hidden Costs: To ensure budget transparency, you must look for costs beyond the base hourly rate, including:

• Administrative and Dispatch Fees: Some contracts include hidden fees for communication or management.
• Equipment and Uniforms: Clarify if these are included in the hourly rate or billed separately.
• Holiday Surcharges: Standard rates may increase significantly on holidays.

1. Consider Technology Integration: Integrating CCTV and access control may involve an upfront investment but can often reduce long-term staffing expenses by optimizing efficiency.

Regent Security recommends a custom-quote approach because property size, risk profile, and location in British Columbia will create a distinct cost profile for every site.

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