1. Are your guards and your company licensed in my province?
Security work is regulated provincially, and guards need a valid security licence for the province they work in. In Ontario, for example, the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 requires guards to complete at least 40 hours of basic training, including emergency first aid and CPR, and pass a test. Any business that sells guard services there also needs an agency licence, and the public can check an agency's licence status through ServiceOntario. Ask for licence details and check them.
2. Can you show proof of insurance and workers' compensation coverage?
Ask for a current certificate of liability insurance and confirmation that the company is in good standing with the provincial workers' compensation board. If something goes wrong on your site, you want to know who carries the risk.
3. How are officers screened and trained for my site?
Licensing is the minimum. Ask about background and reference checks, and whether officers receive site-specific orientation and written post orders before their first shift.
4. Who supervises the officers?
Ask how often a supervisor visits, how officers check in, and who you call at 3 a.m. Good companies can show you a supervision schedule, not just promise one.
5. How will I know the work was done?
GPS-verified patrols, time-stamped tours and digital incident reports with photos turn "trust us" into evidence. Ask to see a sample report.
6. What happens when an alarm goes off?
Find out who verifies alarms, how quickly, and what triggers an officer dispatch or a police call. Verified response reduces false call-outs.
7. Can technology lower my cost without lowering protection?
Remote monitoring, surveillance towers and voice-down can cover hours and areas where a full-time officer isn't needed. A good provider will tell you when fewer officer hours are the right answer.
8. What are the contract terms?
Check the notice period, how rates change, what's included (supervision, reports, equipment) and how quickly coverage can be added for events or emergencies.