Do you have years of experience working for security companies and thinking about going it alone and starting your own?
By learning from the mistakes that you have seen made in the past and using your knowledge and experience in the industry to provide the best possible service possible to your clients, you have a great chance of success, but it takes more than security knowledge to start a successful business.
There are many things to think about and consider when starting a security Manchester company and this guide is designed to either give you the best chance of success or the reality check you need to realise that this might not be the best career move at this time.
Is now a good time to start a security company?
Yes, it could be a great time to take the security market by storm and makes your dreams of running your very own security company a reality.
Since lockdown ended and the Covid-19 crime drop ended, there has been a rise in pretty much every type of crime in the UK and the services of professional security firms have never been in biggest demand.
With the cost of living crisis making people more and more desperate for money, there is no indication that there will be a drop in theft or financial crimes anytime soon and companies and individuals are desperate to protect their assets.
Professional security can help them to do just that with CCTV, security guards, and alarm systems key to s powerful security solution. If you have worked in the industry before, you are probably all too aware of this information already and could well be the perfect person to deliver the bespoke security solutions that so many people are looking for.
Is experience important?
Technically, anyone can set up a security company in the UK, although an SIA licence is required for an individual looking to perform security guard duties.
However, prior experience is still incredibly valuable and very few security companies last for long without advice from expert security professionals.
Choosing a type of security firm you want to start
There are several different types of security firm that you might wish to start. You may wish to dive into multiple area or sectors over time, but to begin with at least it makes the most sense to specialise. Trying to do too much too soon is another common error made by those looking to start their own firm.
Some of the most successful company sectors include:
Private security consultancy – Specialising in risk assessments and risk management thee groups provide advice and support to businesses and individuals looking to maximise their security. They will help them to identify and mitigate threats and manage their budgets in the best possible way to increase security performance. Whilst they will not usually provide the services or products that they recommend, bigger firms may well do, and if not they will almost certainly be able to recommend someone who will.
Security companies – Most likely what you were thinking of when you first considered starting your own business in the security industry, private security companies provide all the standard security services that you might expect such as security guards, CCTV, and alarm systems. You may wish to specialise in one of these areas but the more services you offer the bigger the net you can cast and the more business you may be able to attract. Bear in mind, though, you should only ever offer a security solution that you are confident is of the highest possible standard or your reputation could be on the line in an emergency.
Cybersecurity – A very different type of security company, but no less important in the modern information technology age. These companies are perhaps the most specialist of any security firm and work to protect data rather than physical assets, protecting digital information from the threat of hackers and leaks.
Specialist services
There are certain more specialist security services that are only offered by a select few security firms and even fewer offer them to a high standard.
Many of these service require specific licences beyond the standard SIA licence required for any security guarding services. These include:
- Guard dogs – Dogs are an exceptional security asset to have on site, using their heightened sense of smell and sight to locate and track down intruders. In other settings, dog units can be used to search for drugs, explosives, or other prohibited items.
- Personal protection – Protecitng VIPs and high value individuals from any threats that they may face on a daily basis.
If you have specific experience in these areas consider starting your security company based on them, helping you stand out from the competition.