Guard Service Bid-Rate Calculator
New firms lose money by quoting the client's number instead of their own. This calculator prices from cost up: the guard's wage, your payroll burden, your overhead, then the margin you choose. The floor rate is your break-even; never bid below it.
Employer taxes, workers comp, insurance allocation, PTO and call-off coverage. 25 to 40 is a common planning band; use your real numbers.
Supervision, scheduling software, uniforms, vehicles, admin, licensing upkeep.
One 24/7 post is 168 hours. One 12-hour night post is 84.
Burdened guard cost
$23.40 / hr
Floor rate (break-even, wage + burden + overhead)
$25.74 / hr
Your bill rate at 10% margin
$28.60 / hr
At 168 hrs/week
$4,805 / week · $20,805 / month
Profit before tax: $480 / week
Planning math only, using the numbers you entered. Check any client or government contract for prevailing-wage or mandated wage floors before bidding, and confirm your real burden with your accountant and workers comp policy.
Now win the contract properly
The License Kit's first-contract toolkit turns this rate into a professional proposal: scope, staffing plan, reporting cadence, and the license and insurance exhibits clients ask for.
See the Security Company License Kit