Security Companies Are Still in Demand

Shoplifting has changed. A group of thieves hit a store selling designer handbags, grab everything and flee into waiting cars. Security guards don’t stop them, for fear of their lives. But still, it’s still a lucrative business.

Security companies made money hand over fist in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, because we were highly monitored. At the mall, security guards stood at the entrance to make sure we pump the sanitizer bottle. They gave us blue masks if we didn’t have any. They checked vaccination passports on our phones. They did more than their job description, which is providing security to shoppers and stores.

This is 2023 and security is still a lucrative business because the world is unstable. The January 6 invasion of the Capitol by Trump’s supporters proved there is no safest place in America. Kids are not safe in school.

We talk to ourselves at the car park: but I left my car here. Car gone. There’s no guarantee we’ll come back from the mall in one piece. Not all condos are in buildings. Some are on the ground like houses and those are heavily guarded.

Setting Up a Security Company

1. Come up with a company name that is unique like 10/10 Security. Ha! Ha! It has been taken. Just kidding.

2. Where will you find guards? At the gym or unemployed graduates?

3. You need a licence from the city, province or state. What documents do they want?

4. Is there mandatory government training for security guards?

5. What do you need? Business premises obviously. A bank account. Will you use your own money or ask friends to invest? Some ex-soldiers came together and formed security companies.

6. Talking about ex service men, will your guards carry fire power? There are rules about that.

7. Have you thought about uniforms? What colours? When you finally take off, which company will wash them?

There are many things to take care of but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. It’s money in the bank if you get contracts to guard government buildings like City Hall.

You’re new, so you can be a sub-contractor. Example, some clients would not want men guarding a sensitive women’s space or certain clients want security companies related to their religion.

Popular movie line: If you don’t leave my office, I’ll call security (he picks up the phone).

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.