How Much Does Security Cost in Victoria, BC?
What decides a security guard rate in Victoria, what the rate should include, and the questions that expose hidden fees before you sign.
By Akash Sidhu
Owner and Managing Director, Onward Security · Updated September 1, 2026
"How much is this going to cost?" is the first question I get, and most security companies answer it badly. They quote a low base rate, then the invoice arrives with insurance, admin, and management fees stacked on top.
This is how security pricing works in Greater Victoria, and how to compare quotes so the number you agree to is the number you pay.
What moves the rate
Four things:
- Service type. Event, construction, and retail work need different training and staffing.
- Hours and schedule. Overnight, weekend, and holiday shifts cost more to staff than a Tuesday afternoon. Ongoing contracts usually get a better rate than one-off bookings.
- Guard count and site size. A 2,000-person festival and a corner store are not priced the same.
- What is included. This is the big one. Some providers put everything in one rate. Others split it up so the headline number looks small.
What should be in the rate
At Onward, one hourly rate covers:
- guard wages at a living wage
- WorkSafeBC premiums
- commercial general liability insurance
- shift logs and incident reports
- a supervisor check-in on every shift
- Victoria-based management
Nothing is added afterwards. No admin fee, no uniform fee, and no travel surcharge anywhere in Greater Victoria.
Why quotes look so different
Some companies pay guards minimum wage. That keeps the rate down and turnover up, which means a new guard on your site every few weeks who does not know the property. Others advertise a low rate and bill insurance, uniforms, and transportation as separate lines.
When you compare quotes, ask each provider:
- Does the rate include WorkSafeBC and liability insurance?
- What does the guard actually earn? Low pay means high turnover.
- Is there a minimum booking?
- What reporting do I get, and how fast?
- Will you match a written quote from another licensed company?
Our price-match guarantee
Bring us a written quote, dated within 30 days, from a licensed and insured Greater Victoria provider for the same coverage, and we will match it. I would rather compete on what the guard does on your site than on how the invoice is worded.
Get a written quote
Tell us the service, the dates, and the site, and you will have a flat-rate quote in writing, usually within one business hour.