Security systems are essential for any commercial business. They act to protect your site, employees and integral assets such as equipment and stock. Commercial security systems also help to deter criminals and prevent your business site from being a target. We all know their importance, but how much will a commercial security system set you back? We’ve put together a comprehensive guide that covers all you need to know when it comes to the costs of commercial security systems.
The need for robust commercial protection is more critical than ever, particularly in the UK. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that robbery of business property increased significantly in the year ending March 2025, highlighting that criminals are increasingly targeting commercial sites. This surge in business-focused crime, including a substantial rise in shoplifting offences, underscores the financial and operational risk posed by inadequate security. For businesses operating in high-risk sectors like retail, the prevalence of victimisation is even higher, making a professionally installed security system a fundamental operational necessity rather than an optional expense.
Furthermore, the visible presence of a system can be a highly effective measure; studies suggest that as many as 83% of burglars actively look for alarms before attempting a break-in.
Firstly, what are they? Commercial security systems are a group of electrical components that work together to protect a specific area by detecting movements that would indicate an intruder, trespasser or break-in. Most often, they consist of CCTV cameras, motion detectors and sensors, alarm bells as well as a central control system and keypad.
There are two main types of commercial security alarm available – wired and wireless. The names speak for themselves, but to be clear a wired security system has to be hard-wired into your building, whereas a wireless security system doesn’t and usually works via wifi and the cloud.
Although the two types of system are simple, there are multiple security grade options (labelled 1 to 4), that indicate the level of protection required for your site and business. The grade of your security system will be determined when you carry out a risk assessment and the level needed is usually stated by your insurance company.
Other aspects of your commercial security system that impact its type are whether you choose to have a monitored or unmonitored system. An unmonitored system means that you are solely responsible for when an alarm sounds, in terms of deactivating the alarm and contacting the police.
On the other hand, a monitored system is one that is constantly monitored by a third-party security provider, 24/7 and for every day of the year. If an alarm sounds they can remotely confirm whether it is a false alarm or not and provide the necessary response to the situation. A monitored system gives you peace of mind knowing that you have a dedicated team keeping eyes on your business’ security when you can’t be there and throughout the night.
Commercial security systems can range in price depending on various factors, but on average can be installed from £500-£1000. Obviously, factors such as the size of your business and the system you want to install will impact the overall cost, as well as the number of security components you want to add to the system. In addition, the riskiness of your premises could drive up the price of a commercial system as you will need a more complex system to improve your overall business security and safety.
While a basic wired bell-only intruder alarm can indeed start at around £500, a more realistic starting budget for a comprehensive system that includes multiple components will be higher. For instance, a basic 4-camera HD CCTV system typically costs between £1,200 and £2,000 fully installed. If your site is a larger facility, such as a logistics centre, requiring 16+ cameras, the price can easily exceed £10,000. It is crucial to get an itemised quote to understand the breakdown of hardware and labour costs.
Apart from factors such as size and risk, there are some other factors that need to be considered, which can impact the overall cost of a commercial security system.
The costs of the individual components within your security system all have a price. Therefore, if you are choosing premium components, such as expensive CCTV cameras and high-tech sensors, this will drive up the cost of our security system. When considering hardware today, businesses are increasingly opting for solutions that leverage modern video analytics and AI capabilities. These advanced features, which include remote health monitoring and predictive maintenance modules, offer long-term value by drastically reducing false alarms and improving threat identification.
While a basic system might use standard motion detectors, modern commercial premises, especially those with high-value assets like expensive machinery, tools and equipment, benefit greatly from integrated systems that feature Grade 3 or 4 intruder alarms and advanced thermal imaging to secure perimeters. Investing in quality, future-proof hardware is critical, as cheap equipment often leads to higher maintenance frequency and lower reliability, negating any initial savings.
After you’ve agreed on the design of your commercial security system, there is the installation process in which an engineer will come to your site to install, set up and commission your system. This of course comes at a cost, so make sure you are aware of the cost of installation before you go ahead to avoid any unexpected costs.
If you choose to implement a monitored commercial security system, this will add an additional cost to the system. Monitoring costs usually sit independently from the initial design and set-up of the system, within a monitoring contract and can be charged monthly or annually. Depending on the size of your security system, monitoring costs can be as little as £10 a month but is something that should be factored into your security system budget.
It’s important to maintain your commercial security system to ensure it is in proper working condition, operating efficiently and not compromising your business security. It’s recommended to carry out regular checks and tests on your system.
By taking out a maintenance contract with an NSI approved security provider, you can be assured that your system is meeting the necessary requirements and is not putting your site and employees at any risk. Maintenance contracts of course will be an additional cost per month but is an investment in the long-term efficiency and health of your commercial security system. A proactive approach is vital; not only does poor maintenance increase the risk of system failure during a genuine incident, but it also compromises compliance with industry standards like EN50131 for intruder alarm grades.
Annual maintenance costs can typically range from £150 to £600, depending on the system’s complexity and number of components, which is a small price compared to the potential loss of stock or downtime following a break-in.
Not all businesses will require or feel they need a 24/7 monitoring contract. It is not a legal requirement but is a worthwhile business investment for maximising the potential of your commercial security system and increasing protection for your entire business, visitors, assets and staff.
When you have 24/7 monitoring in place, it gives an extra layer of security as well as peace of mind to you knowing that you need not be worried about the security of your business out of hours or when you’re not there. A monitored system can significantly improve the rate of police response, bringing criminals to justice and stopping them in their tracks, compared to carrying out the various reactions needed yourself. This level of protection is often tied to the system’s cloud capability; adopting a cloud-based solution, for example, provides enhanced remote management and diagnostic capabilities that an unmonitored system lacks. In fact, the benefits of remote monitoring extend beyond just intrusion detection, offering real-time alerts for system faults, which contributes significantly to business continuity.
Your most critical risks will vary depending on your type of business and the industry you’re in, as well as its size and location. A risk assessment will identify the most critical risks of your business and therefore you can focus on added the necessary protection within your commercial security system to cover these areas.
Potential risks could include:
The installation of a commercial security system is likely to have an impact on your insurance policy. Some policies will state you need certain security components, grade of system and/or type.
Your insurance premiums could also decrease depending on what type of security system you have in place. For instance, a monitored system that covers all critical areas of risk meaning your site is well protected and therefore the insurance company will deem it to be less at risk. Knowing the security system certification and what insurers look for is paramount to securing the best rates. Insurers highly favour professionally installed systems that have current certification and are linked to a remote monitoring centre, as this dramatically lowers their risk exposure.
If your current site is easy to access or breach, then you may decide that this is an area your want to focus on and improve when designing your commercial security system. There are various variables that can be added to address this, such as:
A commercial security system is an investment that will add incremental value and protection to your business. Unfortunately, this is something many only realise when it’s too late. Don’t wait for a break-in to occur to take your business’ security seriously!
The cost of a break-in and damage to your site and business can add up to much more than the initial cost of a security system. Add on the cost of any stolen goods, such as stock, computer equipment and machinery and it could be a devastating loss for you and your business. Not to mention the cost of business downtime as you get yourself up and running again.
This financial and emotional toll is significant; experts estimate the average commercial burglary costs a small business between £3,000 and £5,000 in losses and downtime alone. Therefore, the security system is not just an insurance policy but a preventative measure that is highly cost-effective in the long run. Beyond asset protection, fostering a security-first culture in your workplace is essential for employee wellbeing, as it shows a commitment to their safety and helps in deterring malicious activity like protecting against arson and other threats.
Commercial security systems can therefore be considered an integral part of not only the safety of your site, employees and deterring of criminals but also in ensuring the ongoing business efficiency if an incident did take place.
We can help! At BusinessWatch we specialise in all aspects of commercial security systems. From initial risk assessments, to design, installation, monitoring and maintenance.
Get in touch today for your free, no-obligation quotation.
