How to Budget for Your Business Security System
By Ring on September 14, 2023
You’ve invested countless late nights, early mornings, and weekends into building your business. Now, it’s time to invest in your company’s future with a security system. While that investment may involve a few upfront costs and new monthly fees, the extra expense is more than worth the peace of mind it brings.
Here’s how to determine the investment needed to improve your company’s security — and the different options you can get for your budget.
How Much Does a Business Security System Cost?
Your business security system investment will depend on several factors, including:
Costs to Include in Your Security System Budget
To determine the exact investment you’ll be making, you need to factor in each product, service, and subscription you plan to buy. These are the different components to include in your budget.
Alarm System and Video Cameras
Your Ring Alarm system will contain four products: a Base Station, Keypad, Motion Detectors, and Contact Sensors. You’ll need one Contact Sensor for each first-floor door and window and enough Motion Detectors to cover hallways, restricted areas, and any other place you want to monitor. You can start with an Alarm Kit, but you’ll likely need to buy additional sensors — and the more you need, the more your initial investment will be.
Security cameras aren’t included in your kit, but they add an extra level of visibility you can’t get with sensors alone. Depending on the type of business you run, you may want several Indoor cameras to capture footage of registers, receptionist desks, and merchandise displays. Outdoor cameras help monitor exterior doors, parking lots, loading docks, patios, and pathways. The cost will depend on how many you need and your desired features, like motion-activated lighting, 3D Motion Detection, and crisp Two-Way Talk.
If you’re unsure how many sensors and cameras you need to achieve your security goals, a Ring Security Specialist can help here. With a little information about you and your business, our team can offer expert recommendations tailored to your needs.
Installation
With a lengthy to-do list, you may not have time to install your sensors and cameras. While you focus on inventory or presenting a proposal, a professional can tackle installation for a fee. There is a fixed cost for each product you need installed, and your technician can quote additional work during their visit.
24/7 Monitoring
Monitoring your security system is a significant undertaking — on top of your job as a business owner. With professional monitoring, you can focus on day-to-day operations while trained agents monitor your Alarm notifications. The company will attempt to call you and other emergency contacts when the Alarm gets triggered and send an emergency response if no one answers or someone requests help.
24/7 Alarm Professional Monitoring for Ring Alarm is available with your Ring Protect Pro subscription, which costs $20 a month or $200 a year for each business location. 1 2
Can’t decide between self-monitoring or bringing in a professional for your business? Learn why you should go the professional route.
Discover the Benefits
Cloud Video Storage
If you want easy access to your security footage via the cloud, plus the ability to quickly download and share that footage, consider a subscription plan that includes cloud storage. A Ring Protect subscription lets you view and download clips from the past 180 days,3 so you can access critical information for police reports, insurance claims, or customer complaints.
If you subscribe to Ring Protect Pro for 24/7 Alarm Professional Monitoring, you don’t have to pay anything additional for cloud storage — it’s included in your monthly or yearly fee.2
Upgrades
While a security kit and cameras offer a layer of protection in and around your business, you can also invest in some upgrades to take security to the next level. Your options include:
If you don’t have room in the budget right now for all the upgrades you want, your Ring system enables you to add additional sensors and cameras anytime. That means you can take as long as you need to build up your system without limiting your company’s cash flow.
Ring for Business Has Options for Every Budget
No matter what type of small business you own, keeping up with expenses while investing in growth can be challenging. At Ring, we understand that you don’t have an unlimited budget for security — which is why we offer customizable security solutions that scale with your business. Whether you want to start with an Alarm Kit or go all-in on upgrades now, we have affordable options for any business owner. Plus, you can get several helpful extras, like video storage and sharing, professional monitoring, and 24/7 backup internet with one Ring Protect Pro subscription.1
Need help deciding which Ring for Business products to add to your business? Speak with a specialist now to find the best options for your budget.
1 Ring Alarm and all Ring Alarm accessories require a subscription for in-app features and digital notifications, including digital arming / disarming and integration with other Ring, Echo, Alexa, and third party products. Subscription sold separately. View ring.com/protect-plans for pricing and details.
2 A compatible Ring Protect subscription is required to enroll in the Ring Alarm professional monitoring service. Professional monitoring service is available only within the U.S. (all 50 states, but not U.S. territories) and in Canada (excluding Quebec). Ring does not own its own professional monitoring center. Smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring is not available for a business or commercially zoned address. See Ring alarm licenses at: ring.com/licenses. Additional permit or false alarm fees may apply depending on your local jurisdiction. Additional charges may apply in areas that require permits or guard response service for alarm verification.
3 Your Ring videos in the cloud are stored temporarily, up to 180 days. Changing your video storage time will only affect videos that are recorded after you adjust your storage time setting. Check Ring Protect Subscription Plans for more information.
4 Advanced online security features are available to US customers with eero Secure, which is included with a Ring Protect Pro subscription.
5 Virtual Security Guard is an add-on service that requires the following (each sold separately): subscription fee per enrolled location plus a compatible Ring Protect plan, Ring Alarm system, enrollment in Ring Alarm professional monitoring, and an eligible device. Rapid Response is the seller and provides the service and agents monitoring person detected motion events. Learn more.
6 Virtual Security Guard does not support Two-Way Talk for ONVIF-compatible cameras.
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