Bodyguard Costs and Pricing Guide

Most security firms refuse to discuss bodyguard pricing publicly. We disagree with that approach. Clients deserve enough information to know whether a conversation is even worth having before they invest the time. This page sets out the typical price ranges for our services, what affects the cost, and when a bespoke quote applies.

All figures below are indicative for 2026 and are based on SIA-licensed close protection officers operating in London and the South of England. Final quotes depend on your specific risk profile, the duration of cover, and the operational complexity of the engagement.

Most short-format engagements are billed by the day or part-day. As a 2026 benchmark for an SIA-licensed close protection officer working in central London or the South of England:

• Half-day cover (up to 6 hours): from £300
• Full day (8 to 12 hours): from £500
• Extended day with overnight stand-by: from £800

These figures are for a single experienced operative working in plain clothes. Vehicle, fuel, parking, congestion charge and any out-of-area travel are typically billed as expenses on top of the day rate.

Specialist roles, such as Middle East family protection during the Harley Street medical season, female operatives for residential or family work, or operatives with specific language skills, typically command a 20 to 50 per cent premium over standard tariffs.

Continuous residential cover is priced as a weekly rate. Indicative figures for a fully managed residential security operation in London or Surrey:

• Daytime cover only (12 hours per day, 7 days): from £5,000 per week
• 24/7 single-officer cover (with shift rotation): from £8,500 per week
• 24/7 two-officer cover: from £14,000 per week

These rates include rota management, briefing, supervision, and direct contact with our managing director throughout. We do not subcontract residential work; the operatives at your residence are on our books and managed by us.

Event security is priced per engagement, with rates depending on guest numbers, venue, time of day, threat profile and whether the operative is uniformed or in business attire.

• Single SIA-licensed event operative for an evening function: from £200 to £350
• Small private event team (2 to 4 operatives, single evening): from £1,000
• Larger events (corporate galas, private weddings, public-facing functions): from £3,000, scaled by attendance and duration
• Multi-day festivals and public events: bespoke quote, scoped after a site survey

For events potentially in scope under Martyn’s Law, we include the compliance documentation and pre-event security survey within the quoted fee. We do not charge separately for the planning paperwork.

We are proud to offer reduced-rate cover for registered UK charities. Please ask.

Consultancy work is priced by deliverable, by retainer, or by embedded role:

• Standalone risk and threat assessment (single site or principal): from £1,500
• Security strategy and policy development engagement: from £3,000 typically delivered over 2 to 4 weeks
• Site or venue audit including written report: from £1,200
• Retained advisory (monthly or quarterly time): from £1,500 per month
• Project security management (embedded Security Manager role): bespoke, scoped per project
• Expert witness and litigation support: hourly, with day-rate available for court attendance

Most consultancy engagements start with a free 30-minute scoping call so we can give you a fixed-fee proposal before any work begins.

Several factors push a quote up or down from the indicative ranges above:

• Threat profile. A documented threat (named individuals, recent incidents, court-related risk) typically moves cover up a tier and may require additional operatives or specialist equipment.
• Geographic complexity. Multi-location days, journey management across counties, or international elements add scope and cost.
• Notice period. Last-minute deployments and same-day cover incur urgent-deployment fees.
• Discretion requirements. Operations requiring strict media-handling or anti-surveillance considerations cost more than standard cover.
• Specialist requirements. Female operatives, foreign-language operatives, medical-trained operatives, advance reconnaissance teams, or armoured vehicles are all available and priced separately.
• Engagement length. Multi-week or multi-month commitments attract a discount versus equivalent ad-hoc cover.

The day rates and weekly rates above include, as standard:

• SIA-licensed operatives in appropriate dress for the engagement
• Pre-engagement briefing and risk review
• Direct line to Tom Richmond throughout the engagement
• Public liability insurance cover for the work
• Written incident reporting where applicable
• Post-engagement debrief and recommendations

What is billed separately: vehicles and fuel, congestion charge and parking, accommodation if overnight stays are required outside the operative’s home area, specialist equipment beyond standard kit, and out-of-area subsistence allowances at HMRC standard rates.

Some engagements do not fit the standard tariff and require a bespoke quote scoped after an initial conversation. These typically include long-duration high-risk deployments, large multi-team event operations, international travel with protective cover, executive protection programmes for entire corporate leadership groups, and any engagement where threat assessment indicates risks beyond ordinary close protection. We are happy to discuss these on a no-obligation basis.

If you have a specific engagement in mind, the fastest route to a quote is a short phone call or WhatsApp message. Most clients have an indicative figure within 15 minutes and a written proposal within 24 hours.

Call or WhatsApp +44 7939 532682 or email [email protected]. There is no obligation, complete confidentiality, and no pressure to commit before you have the information you need.