Choosing a security company in Victoria, BC can be overwhelming. There are national chains, regional operators, and local independents — all claiming to offer the best service. Here's how to cut through the marketing and make an informed decision.

Key Comparison Factors

1. Licensing and Insurance

Non-negotiable: Every security company must hold proper business licensing, and every guard must carry a valid BC Security Worker Licence.

Ask for proof of: - Commercial general liability insurance (minimum $2 million recommended) - WorkSafeBC coverage for all guards - Current business licence

Any company that hesitates to provide these documents should be eliminated from consideration.

2. Pricing Transparency

Red flags: - "Contact us for pricing" with no ballpark figures - Low base rates with add-on fees for insurance, uniforms, or admin - Rates that change based on time of day or day of week - No written quote or contract

Green flags: - Published rate ranges on their website - Flat rates that include everything (insurance, WorkSafeBC, reporting) - Written proposals with clear terms - Price-match guarantees

3. Guard Quality

Ask about: - Guard wages (living wage = lower turnover = better service) - Annual turnover rate (under 50% is good; over 100% is a red flag) - Training beyond minimum requirements - How long guards have been with the company

4. Local Presence

National chains: Larger resource pools but often use contract workers unfamiliar with Victoria.

Regional operators: Balance of resources and local knowledge.

Local independents: Deep community knowledge, direct owner access, faster response times.

For Victoria businesses, a locally owned company with direct owner accountability typically provides the most responsive, personalized service.

5. Communication and Reporting

Expect at minimum: - Shift logs with activity summaries - Incident reports within 24 hours - A direct phone number for urgent issues - Regular supervisor check-ins during shifts

6. Reputation

Check: - Google Reviews (look for recent reviews, not just overall rating) - BBB accreditation and complaint history - References from local clients in your industry - How the company responds to negative reviews

Making Your Decision

Create a simple scorecard based on these factors and rate each company you're considering. Weight the factors based on what matters most to your specific situation.

For most Victoria businesses, the top priorities should be: licensing and insurance (non-negotiable), pricing transparency, and guard quality. Everything else is secondary.

About Onward Security

We publish our pricing, pay living wages, maintain BBB A+ accreditation, and put the owner's direct phone number on every page of our website. We believe the best way to earn your business is to be completely transparent about how we operate.