Most businesses hiring security for the first time focus on price and availability. The question that actually protects you comes first. Is the company licensed by the State of Ohio?

It is a short question with real consequences, and a surprising number of buyers never ask it.

Ohio Requires Private Security Providers to Be Licensed

Ohio regulates private security through the Department of Public Safety, under the Private Investigator and Security Guard Services program, commonly shortened to PISGS. Companies providing security guard services in Ohio are required to hold a state license, and that license carries a number you can ask for and check.

Security Now USA operates under Ohio PISGS Class A License #201221002069. Class A covers both private investigation and security guard services.

Why This Matters More Than Most Buyers Realize

Hiring an unlicensed provider is not a paperwork problem. It creates exposure in three specific ways:

  • Liability shifts toward you. If an incident occurs and the provider was not properly licensed, questions about your own diligence in selecting them follow quickly. That is a conversation you want to avoid having with an insurer or an attorney.
  • Insurance coverage may be affected. Commercial policies often assume vendors are appropriately licensed and insured. An unlicensed vendor can complicate a claim at exactly the wrong moment.
  • You lose the accountability the license provides. State licensing means there is a regulatory body with oversight. Without it, your only recourse when something goes wrong is the contract itself.

How to Verify a Security Company in Ohio

Before you sign with any provider, including us, do this:

  • Ask for the PISGS license number directly. A legitimate company will give it without hesitation. Hesitation is your answer.
  • Confirm the license type matches the work. Security guard services and private investigation are licensed differently. Make sure the license covers what you are actually hiring for.
  • Ask about individual officers, not just the company. Ohio has registration requirements for security personnel, and armed officers face additional requirements. Ask how the company handles this.
  • Verify insurance and bonding separately. Licensing, bonding, and insurance are three different things. Ask for proof of all three.
  • Ask what happens when an officer cannot make a shift. This is not a licensing question, but it separates real operations from brokers who subcontract your coverage to whoever is available.

Armed Coverage Carries Additional Requirements

If your site needs armed officers, the requirements increase. Armed security personnel in Ohio face additional training and qualification standards beyond what unarmed officers require. When you are evaluating providers, ask specifically how they handle armed officer qualification and how often officers requalify.

This is also a good moment to ask whether you actually need armed coverage. Many Columbus properties are well served by unarmed officers, and a provider who reflexively recommends the more expensive option without assessing your risk is telling you something about how they sell.

Questions Worth Asking Any Columbus Security Provider

  • What is your Ohio PISGS license number?
  • Are your officers employees or subcontractors?
  • How do I verify my guard is actually on-site during a shift?
  • What documentation do I receive after an incident, and how quickly?
  • Who is my point of contact at 2 AM when something happens?

A provider who answers all five clearly is worth talking to further. A provider who deflects on any of them has told you what you need to know.

Our Answers

Security Now USA is licensed, bonded, and insured under Ohio PISGS Class A License #201221002069. Our officers are GPS-tracked in real time, so you can log in and confirm coverage rather than taking our word for it. Incidents are documented and reported promptly, and you have a direct line to us when something happens.

If you are evaluating security providers in Columbus or Central Ohio, call 614-304-9651 and ask us these questions directly. You can also review our frequently asked questions for more on how we operate.