To start a security guard company in New York you must hold a Watch, Guard or Patrol (WGP) Agency license from the NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services. The path: meet the two-year experience requirement, pass the Watch, Guard or Patrol exam, form your business, carry $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate in liability insurance, get licensed through the Department of State, then register and train every guard you hire. Budget about $415 in state license and exam fees (plus fingerprinting), and plan for several weeks of processing.
New York is one of the largest security markets in the country, anchored by New York City's commercial real estate, retail, events, and construction, and it employs one of the biggest security-guard workforces in the US (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). That demand is the opportunity, but New York also regulates the industry tightly at the state level. This guide covers the full journey, from your first decision to your first signed contract.
Free resource
The New York Security Startup Checklist
- Every step across 6 phases, from your experience and exam 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 New York 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 building security, and healthcare.
- Armed or unarmed: armed officers need a valid NYS pistol license plus a 47-hour firearms training course and higher insurance, so most new companies launch unarmed and add armed services later.
Meet the experience requirement and pass the WGP exam
This is the gate. New York will not issue a Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency license unless the applicant (you or a qualifying principal of the company) can show the required background and pass the state exam. You must:
- Have at least two years of full-time security experience, or two years in an equivalent position supervising the work of at least three people performing security services. Qualifying experience includes work as a police officer, sheriff, or security guard for a government agency or a licensed investigator or WGP agency.
- Pass the Watch, Guard or Patrol written examination within the two years immediately before you apply. The exam fee is $15.
- Be at least 18 and clear a fingerprint-based background check.
If you do not personally have the experience, you can bring on a partner or principal who qualifies and build the application around them.
Name your company
You will file your company name with the state, so pick something professional and available before you apply.
- Check the name is free on the NYS Department of State business entity search, and grab the matching domain.
- Avoid words that imply you are a law-enforcement or 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 New York 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 NYS Department of State, Division of Corporations.
- Get a free federal EIN from the IRS.
- Open a business bank account and obtain any local city or county business license you need.
Register your business with the NY Division of Corporations →
Get your WGP Agency license (NYS Department of State)
With your experience, exam, and business in place, apply for the Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency license through the NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services. Plan for the full cost, not just the headline fee.
- Application fee: $400 for a corporation or business entity ($300 for an individual).
- Written exam fee: $15.
- Fingerprinting: a $75 DCJS fee plus the IDEMIA vendor fee.
- Insurance proof required: the Department will not license you without it (see Step 6).
- Term and timeline: the license runs two years. The Department of State does not publish a fixed processing time, so plan for several weeks.
Your WGP licensing timeline (plan for several weeks)
Apply for your WGP Agency license at the NYS Department of State →
Get the right insurance
The Department of State will not issue your agency license without proof of insurance if you employ guards, and your clients will ask for it too.
- General liability (required by the state): a minimum of $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 in the aggregate, with coverage that includes false arrest or false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, libel, slander, and violation of the right to privacy.
- Client requirements often go higher: many commercial contracts ask for $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, so quote that when you price insurance.
- Workers' compensation: legally required in New York the moment you hire your first guard.
- Commercial auto: needed if you run mobile patrol or company vehicles.
Register and train your guards
Every guard you employ in New York must hold a valid security guard registration card from the Department of State and complete the state's training sequence, overseen by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
- 8-hour Pre-Assignment Training: completed before a guard is assigned, and required to get the registration card.
- 16-hour On-the-Job Training: completed within 90 days of starting work.
- 8-hour Annual In-Service Training: every calendar year to stay current.
- Armed guards also need a valid NYS pistol license plus a 47-hour firearms training course (7 hours of Penal Law Article 35 and 40 hours of range instruction), then an 8-hour annual armed in-service.
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, building owners, 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 New York operators one app for guard scheduling, GPS-verified clock-in, checkpoint tours, and incident reports, so you look established from your very first contract.
Running 50 or more guards already? See our New York security software plan built for larger operations.
