Money is usually the bottom line to a company, and correspondingly you will need to decide how much money you want to spend on your business security systems. Each element of the system has different rates, and all of these rates need to be factored in when putting together your budget. Remember it is important to consider the pricing of the different vendors for each aspect of your security system. Below are some average rates for vendors for the different points in a business security system.
Alarm Systems
Alarm systems are actually very cost-friendly. Standard monthly fees are anywhere from $25-$40 a month, and the two-way monitoring system can be added on for about $10 more a month.
Initial set up fees can vary and depend on the type of equipment you would like. Expect to pay anywhere from $100-$4,000 on installation and equipment, the higher end being for more complex systems.
Card Access Systems
Access control systems are a little more difficult in predicting the cost. Most companies will want to talk to you one-on-one to assess exactly what you need, and the type of security level you want. With that said, remember to price multiple vendors to try and get the right price and fit for your company.
Some factors that can be estimated when dealing with these systems are the number of doors at which the system will be installed. Most access control systems that are for single-door use are around $1500-$2500 to be installed. After you start adding multiple doors, the lower the per-door price. The price above does include the hardware, software and installation fees for the system.
The main factor to consider for the card access system is how many “bells and whistles” your company needs. For example, iris scanning systems are much more expensive and can easily reach $10,000 or more for a single access point. The point here is to make sure you have the level of security your company needs.
Video Surveillance Systems
There are many different aspects to take into consideration when budgeting your video surveillance system. Some things to consider are the cost of the camera, lens, and monitoring system. Cameras themselves are not very expensive, so it might be worth spending a little extra money to get a better camera. Brand name cameras can be found for $120 to $250. Prices vary according to features as well. Larger formats, higher resolution, and better sensitivity all drive prices up.
After deciding on a camera, it’s time to determine what kind of recording device you will want your camera to be hooked up to. Basically it depends on your company’s needs and how much you want to spend. High quality DVRs generally start at $500 to $1,000+ for a single channel device, and get more expensive the more memory and inputs you add. If you are willing to use VCRs, VCRs designed for security use start at $200 to $400 and go up to $600 or more.