To start a security guard company in Florida you must hold a Class "B" Security Agency License from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Licensing, under Chapter 493, Florida Statutes. The path: designate a manager who holds a Class "MB" Manager license (or a Class "D" officer who has held it 2+ years), form your business, carry general liability insurance meeting the state minimum ($300,000 combined single-limit), apply through the FDACS Division of Licensing, then license each guard (Class "D" for unarmed officers). There is no company-representative exam. Budget roughly $542 in FDACS fees for a single owner and plan up to 90 days for FDACS to process the application and background check.
Florida is the third-largest state for private security employment, with roughly 140,000 security guards (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Demand runs statewide, from Miami and Orlando to Tampa and Jacksonville. Florida's 40-hour Class D training is among the most rigorous in the country, and the FDACS Division of Licensing regulates every agency and officer. This guide covers the full journey, from your first decision to your first signed contract.
Free resource
The Florida Security Startup Checklist
- Every step across 6 phases, from your Class MB manager to your first contract
- Tick items off online, your progress saves automatically
- Download the whole thing as a printable PDF
Decide what security services you'll offer
You do not have to pick a single niche. Plenty of Florida firms offer several services at once, then lean into whichever wins the most contracts. The point of this step is to decide what you can realistically staff and sell on day one.
- Common service lines: static guards, mobile patrol, construction-site security, retail and loss prevention, events, residential and HOA patrol, and healthcare.
- Armed or unarmed: armed officers need a Class G statewide firearm license (28 hours of firearms training) and higher insurance, so most new companies launch with unarmed Class D officers (40 hours) and add armed services later.
Appoint your agency manager (Class MB)
This is the gate. A Class "B" security agency in Florida must have a designated manager who holds a Class "MB" Manager license. There is no state exam for the Class MB. The manager requirements are:
- At least one year of experience in security work or related fields.
- Plus one of: one year of managerial or supervisory experience; up to one year of college coursework in criminal justice, criminology, or law-enforcement administration; or relevant U.S. Armed Forces training or education.
- Class MB fees total $177.75 ($50 application + $42 fingerprint + $10.75 retention + $75 license).
There is an exception to the Class MB requirement: a Class "M" licensee, or a Class "D" Security Officer licensee who has held the Class "D" for at least two years, may be designated as the manager without a separate MB license. An owner or officer who oversees the regulated services can serve as the manager if they qualify. If you do not personally qualify, you can bring on someone who does.
Name your company
You will list your company name on the FDACS license application, so pick something professional and available before you file.
- Check the name is free on the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) business search, and grab the matching domain.
- Avoid words that imply law enforcement or a government agency, which can be rejected.
Choose your business structure (Inc or LLC)
Security is a high-liability industry, so the structure you choose matters. Many Florida security firms form a corporation to put the strongest shield between the business and the owner's personal assets; an LLC is simpler and still separates liability, while a sole proprietorship offers no protection at all. Talk to an attorney or CPA about what fits your situation.
- Register your entity with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz).
- Get a free federal EIN from the IRS.
- Open a business bank account and obtain your local city or county business license.
Get your Class B agency license (FDACS Division of Licensing)
With your manager and business in place, apply for your Class "B" Security Agency License through the FDACS Division of Licensing, either online at the licensing portal or by mail to Tallahassee or a regional office. Plan for the full cost, not just the headline fee.
- License fee: $450 for a two-year license. The $450 is due only after FDACS approves the application.
- Application fee: a $50 application fee.
- Fingerprinting: a $42 fingerprint processing fee, submitted electronically through a FDACS-approved Livescan provider (per sole proprietor, each partner, or each corporate officer). A single owner starts at roughly $542 total.
- Insurance: proof of general liability insurance meeting the state minimum (see Step 6) is required before the license is issued.
- Timeline: FDACS has 90 days by statute to approve or deny once a complete application is received. Plan several weeks to about three months and apply before you take on clients.
The agency licensing steps, in order
Get the right insurance
FDACS will not issue your agency license without proof of general liability insurance, and your clients will ask for it too.
- General liability (required by FDACS): a commercial general liability policy with a combined single-limit of at least $300,000 covering death, bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury. It must cover all licensed agency employees while on duty, filed on the FDACS-16004 Certificate of Insurance.
- Client requirements often go higher: many commercial contracts ask for $1,000,000, so quote that when you price insurance.
- Workers' compensation: Florida requires workers' compensation for non-construction businesses with four or more employees, so most security agencies will need it once they reach four employees.
- Commercial auto: needed if you run mobile patrol or company vehicles.
Hire and license your guards
Every security officer you employ in Florida must be licensed by FDACS and complete state training before they work a single shift.
- Class "D" Security Officer (unarmed): requires 40 hours of training, total fee $97.75 ($45 license + $42 fingerprint + $10.75 retention). An officer must hold a Class D to do unarmed work.
- Class "G" Statewide Firearm License (armed): requires 28 hours of firearms training, total fee $164.75 ($112 license + $42 fingerprint + $10.75 retention). An officer must hold a Class G to carry a firearm.
- Background check: each applicant submits fingerprints through a FDACS-approved Livescan provider for a state and FBI check.
- Cost and timing: FDACS Class D processing is typically 10 to 30 days; officers cannot work until they are licensed.
For the full breakdown, see our guide to Florida security guard license requirements.
Price your services and bid on contracts
Underpricing is the fastest way to fail in contract security. Build your hourly bill rate from the ground up so every shift is profitable.
- Start with true cost: guard wage + payroll taxes + workers' comp + general liability + uniforms and equipment.
- Add overhead and margin: your office, software, recruiting, and a profit margin that survives a bad payroll cycle.
- Write clear proposals: spell out scope, post orders, hours, rates, and what is included so clients compare value, not just price.
Not sure where to land? Use our free security guard pricing calculator to set a defensible bill rate in minutes.
Win your first clients
A license lets you operate; sales is what keeps the lights on. Your first contracts usually come from close to home.
- Where first deals come from: local property managers, construction firms, retailers, event organizers, and your own network and referrals.
- Look credible fast: a simple website, a Google Business Profile, clean uniforms, and a one-page capability sheet.
- Sell proof, not promises: clients want to know you will actually cover the post and prove the patrols happened.
Set up the systems you'll need to run it
Once contracts start, manual scheduling and paper reports break down fast. The right software is also what clients increasingly ask for as proof of service.
- Scheduling so posts are always covered and overtime stays under control.
- GPS-verified clock-in and checkpoint tours to prove guards were on site and patrols happened.
- Incident reports and payroll-ready timesheets so billing and pay are accurate.
Novagems gives new Florida operators one app for guard scheduling, GPS-verified clock-in, checkpoint tours, and incident reports, so you look established from your very first contract.
