How to Choose a Security Guard Company in Texas: 10 Questions to Ask

By Deltacon Global Inc. DBA Deltacon Security – Texas License # B05205701 · Published January 27, 2026 · 7 min read

Hiring a security guard company means trusting another organization with your people, property, and reputation. A polished proposal and competitive hourly rate are useful starting points, but they reveal little about how officers will perform when a visitor becomes aggressive, an alarm activates, or someone misses a shift.

Whether you manage an apartment community in Houston, a construction site in Dallas, or a commercial property elsewhere in Texas, these 10 questions will help you evaluate providers before signing a contract.

1. Is your company properly licensed in Texas?

Start by requesting the company’s legal name and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) license number. Verify the information through Texas Online Private Security (TOPS), which allows the public to search company and individual licensing records. Check the license status and confirm that the business is authorized to provide the services being proposed. Department of Public Safety

https://tops.portal.texas.gov/psp-self-service/login/auth

A business registration, professional-looking uniform, or license from another state does not establish Texas private security authorization.

Ask for: The company’s DPS license number and an explanation of any differences between its licensed name, advertised name, and contract name.

2. How do you verify that assigned officers are eligible to work?

Company licensing and individual officer qualifications are separate issues. Ask how the provider verifies each officer’s license status, assignment eligibility, and required credentials before deployment.

Texas DPS conducts fingerprint-based background checks on private security applicants. However, buyers should also understand the company’s own hiring standards, reference checks, and procedures for reviewing driving qualifications when vehicle patrols are involved. Department of Public Safety

https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/private-security/private-security

Ask whether officers are direct employees or supplied through subcontractors. If subcontracting is permitted, require transparency about who employs, supervises, and ensures the personnel working at your property.

Ask for: A written explanation of pre-assignment screening and ongoing credential monitoring.

3. What training will our officers have?

Training should match the assignment. According to Texas DPS, noncommissioned security officer applicants need Level II training; commissioned security officer applicants need Levels II and III; and personal protection officer applicants need Levels II, III, and IV. Additional application requirements apply to commissioned and personal protection officers. Department of Public Safety

https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/private-security/faq/individual-license-questions?

Then look beyond initial qualifications. Ask about practical instruction in de-escalation, emergency response, report writing, customer service, and your property’s procedures. For armed assignments, ask how the company tracks firearms proficiency and required continuing education. Department of Public Safety

https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/private-security/training-and-continuing-education

Ask for: A training summary and a documented site orientation plan before the first shift.

4. What insurance covers the services you are proposing?

Texas law requires company license holders to maintain insurance sufficient to cover their private security business activities. Request current evidence of coverage and have your insurance adviser evaluate whether the policies fit your assignment. tcss.legis.texas.gov

https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/oc/htm/oc.1702.htm

Discuss general liability, commercial auto coverage for patrol vehicles, and coverage applicable to armed operations when relevant. Ask about exclusions, policy limits, and any additional insured requirements.

Also ask specifically about workers’ compensation. Most private Texas employers are not required to carry it, so never assume coverage exists. tdi.texas.gov

https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/employer/coverage.html

Ask for: A current certificate of insurance and confirmation from the insurance representative about coverage relevant to your contract.

5. Have you protected properties with risks similar to ours?

Experience should be relevant to your operation. A busy apartment community presents different challenges from a warehouse, healthcare facility, retail center, or construction project.

Ask for examples involving comparable operating hours, visitor traffic, access restrictions, and incident patterns. Request references from clients with similar assignments, subject to their permission.

Useful reference questions include: Were shifts consistently covered? Did supervisors respond promptly? Were reports clear? How did the company handle complaints?

Ask for: Two or three relevant references and examples of how the provider addressed similar security challenges.

6. Will you assess our property before recommending coverage?

A credible proposal should explain why a particular staffing plan fits your property. Ask the company to review entrances, lighting, parking areas, operating hours, existing cameras, previous incidents, and emergency access.

The assessment should support recommendations about armed or unarmed officers, fixed posts, mobile patrols, and coverage hours. For example, periodic patrol visits and a continuously staffed entrance provide different levels of presence and access control.

Be cautious when a provider recommends staffing without understanding the property.

Ask for: A written scope explaining identified risks, recommended coverage, and responsibilities that remain with your management team.

7. How will you supervise officers and cover absences?

Reliable security requires dependable staffing and accessible supervision. Ask who verifies attendance, conducts inspections, addresses performance problems, and responds after business hours.

Discuss missed shifts, late arrivals, emergency replacements, and relief coverage. Ask how replacement officers receive your site instructions before taking over.

Texas weather also deserves attention. Flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and freezing conditions can disrupt travel and staffing. The provider should explain its continuity plan and communication procedures.

Ask for: A named account contact, an after-hours escalation number, and written procedures for staffing disruptions.

8. How do officers handle conflict and emergencies?

Ask the provider to walk through realistic situations: an aggressive visitor, suspected theft, a medical emergency, or a person refusing to leave.

Listen for clear procedures covering de-escalation, requests for assistance, emergency service notification, and incident documentation. For armed services, ask about use-of-force policies, supervisory review, and post-incident procedures.

Officers also need to understand your property’s rules and the limits of their assigned responsibilities. Vague promises to “handle everything” provide little assurance.

Ask for: An overview of emergency and use-of-force policies, plus a process for coordinating with your management team and responding agencies.

9. What reports will we receive, and how will performance be measured?

Request a redacted sample incident report and daily activity report. Reports should explain what happened, when and where it occurred, what the officer observed, and what action followed.

If the company uses electronic reporting, patrol checkpoints, or attendance tracking, ask how managers review the information. Technology is most useful when someone acts on missed patrols, recurring hazards, or incomplete reports.

Agree on practical measures such as shift coverage, reporting timeliness, supervisor inspections, and corrective-action completion.

Ask for: Sample reports, urgent notification procedures, and a regular service review schedule.

10. What does the price include, and what does the contract require?

Compare proposals against the same scope: staffing hours, officer qualifications, supervision, equipment, reporting, and replacement coverage.

Ask about holiday rates, overtime, emergency callouts, minimum hours, vehicle charges, and future price adjustments. A low hourly rate deserves closer review if essential services appear only as extra charges.

Read the contract’s cancellation terms, renewal provisions, subcontracting permissions, insurance requirements, and procedures for correcting poor performance. Make sure important promises from the sales discussion appear in writing.

Ask for: An itemized proposal and a contract that clearly defines service expectations and accountability.

Make Your Decision Based on Evidence

The right security guard company should welcome informed questions and support its answers with verifiable credentials, relevant experience, and clear operating procedures.

Before committing, verify licensing, review insurance, speak with references, and agree on written expectations. These steps help you choose a provider equipped to deliver consistent service on your property/facility.

Considering security services for your Texas property? Contact Deltacon Security Group https://www.deltacon1.com/   to discuss your site, operating needs, and security priorities.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information, not legal advice. Texas licensing requirements and regulations may change. Verify current requirements with the Texas Department of Public Safety and consult qualified advisers regarding your specific circumstances.