You're Spending More Than You Think
Ask any security company owner what their back-office costs and they'll give you a number that covers salaries. Maybe they'll add software subscriptions. But the true cost of running operations in-house is typically 40-60% higher than most owners realize.
The Visible Costs
Staff Salaries
For a 200-guard operation in the US, you typically need:
- Scheduler / Dispatcher: 1-2 people — $35,000-$50,000 each
- Billing / Invoicing: 1 person — $40,000-$55,000
- Payroll: 1 person — $40,000-$55,000
- HR / Recruitment: 1-2 people — $45,000-$60,000 each
- Admin / Data Entry: 1 person — $30,000-$40,000
- Office Manager: 1 person — $50,000-$65,000
That's 7-9 people. Total: $280,000 to $450,000+ per year in salaries alone.
Software and Tools
Guard management software, scheduling tools, billing systems, HR platform, accounting software, communication tools. Each seems affordable on its own. Together: $1,500-$5,000+ per month.
The Hidden Costs
Benefits and Overhead
Health insurance, payroll taxes, workers' comp, PTO, retirement. The standard rule: add 25-35% on top of every salary. That $350,000 payroll actually costs you $440,000-$470,000.
Turnover
Back-office turnover in security averages 20-30% per year. Every departure costs $5,000-$15,000 in recruiting, training, and lost productivity.
Your Time
How many hours per week do you personally spend managing office issues? At 10-15 hours per week, you're spending 25-35% of your working life on tasks that don't grow your business.
Error Costs
Underbilled hours. Overpaid overtime. Missed compliance deadlines. Most security companies lose 2-5% of revenue to back-office mistakes they don't even know about.
The Real Number
For a 200-guard operation, the true annual cost:
- Salaries: $350,000
- Benefits & overhead: $105,000
- Software & tools: $36,000
- Turnover costs: $25,000
- Error & revenue leakage: $40,000
- Your management time: $50,000 (equivalent)
Real total: ~$606,000 per year
Most owners estimate $350,000-$400,000. The real number is closer to $600,000.
There's a Better Way
Managed back-office services for a 200-guard operation typically cost 35-50% less — with no turnover, no training overhead, and specialists who already know the security industry. The math speaks for itself.