While it might not take much to convince a high-end jeweler to consider installing security cameras, smaller business owners might shrug their shoulders at spending a significant amount of money on the best business security cameras.
This would be a mistake, of course, and small businesses aren’t excluded from this. Luckily, business surveillance can be achieved on a budget.
Read on to find out why your business needs security cameras, and what other security measures should be considered for small and big businesses alike.
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Why You Need Security Cameras for Your Business
All businesses can benefit from visual surveillance, but with lower profit margins, smaller businesses don’t have the luxury of merchandising behind plexiglass or hiring security and undercover staff.
That’s what makes security cameras perhaps even more important in the context of a small business.
Here’s five reasons why all businesses should consider security cameras sooner rather than later.
1. Protect staff
Business owners are obligated to look out for the people they hire, and visual surveillance is an important means of honoring that. Much like in the home, it provides peace of mind. When thefts occur, employees should never be expected to take matters into their own hands and apprehend the thief. A recording of the theft is therefore the crucial means of resolving a theft that occurs.
2. Protect valuables
Visual surveillance plays an important role in protecting valuable goods, whether they are being sold or not. Security cameras can be positioned to view particular valuables, so that they are viewed 24/7. When business hours are over, turning motion detection on means the owner can be notified as soon as any motion is detected by the camera.
3. Evidence in the event of theft
By considering some of the other preventative measures explained in the section below, business owners can put in place practical ways to reduce the chance of theft. If a theft did occur, however, a security camera is able to provide invaluable evidence of it taking place and indisputable proof of it taking place.
4. Visual deterrence
Although statistical evidence is limited, security cameras are often considered a deterrent to crime, at least by way of anecdotes. The idea is that having a security camera be highly visible in a space discourages potential thieves from targeting the premises.
5. Auditory deterrence
Some security cameras, including AlfredCam, feature built-in sirens that can be activated by the user at any time. Two-way audio also lets users communicate through the camera’s speaker with whoever is on the other side, allowing business owners to potentially frighten off thieves, or at least draw significant attention to them.
Do small businesses need security?
Security is just as important for small businesses as it is for the biggest conglomerates in the world. Rest assured, the best security cameras for small businesses aren’t the same as those needed for big businesses.
In fact, IP cameras designed for the home, like AlfredCam, will often suffice for many smaller retailers, like independent bakeries and grocers, where merchandise isn’t what’s likely to be targeted.
Cutting corners when it comes to security is ill-advised. Fake security cameras for business, for instance, are an extremely poor means of protecting a business. To learn more about where fake security cameras are useful, check out our article. Alternatively, find out how to tell the difference between fake security cameras and real ones.
Small Business Security Essentials
For small business owners and complete newcomers to the world of business, knowing where to begin with security can be more than a little daunting. Here’s the essentials for small business security.
Security Camera System – While a small business might not need the most expensive systems, they do at least need a decent degree of surveillance. An adequate security camera system for a small business can, in fact, be DIY’d using AlfredCamera.
No idea what business security camera to go for? Our picks should ease the confusion.
Safes – A failsafe (pun totally intended) way of protecting merchandise is to simply hide it in a safe. This is essential for valuables like jewelry. Displaying stock is necessary for sales, but particularly expensive items should be hidden away.
POS Cash Registers – Older cash registers lack the sophistication of the latest models, which now have point-of-sale (POS) systems built in. In fact, many major manufacturers no longer even produce traditional cash registers. For top picks, check out this article.
Card-Only – While there’s more incentive for smaller businesses to accept cash payments, it’s worth considering abandoning them altogether not just for security, but for convenience’s sake. Just 19% of all transactions in the US were cash in 2021, so there’s no denying that it’s on its way out.
Big Business Security Essentials
Larger-scale businesses have a larger budget to play with when it comes to security; and, presumably, more at stake to be secured. Here’s the essentials.
Security System – Big offices, warehouses, and other spaces need big security, which is why a fully-fledged security system is recommended if the budget permits it. These contain surveillance, alarm, and sensor type products, as well as professional monitoring.
Plexiglass – Instead of having expensive goods on display in the open or behind glass, consider using Plexiglass (spoiler: it’s not actually glass, but acrylic). If the valuable in question is extremely expensive, Lexan, which is made of polycarbonate and is totally bulletproof might be more appropriate.
Security Tags – A mainstay of big retail, security tags are great both as a deterrent to theft and as a way to catch it before sustaining profit loss. Some tags spill a substance onto the product, but the most useful is a generic anti-theft type that trips an alarm. This allows security staff to then apprehend the suspect.
Security Staff – Hiring, training, and paying security and undercover staff is costly, but if the budget permits it, it’s among the most valuable ways to improve security in a business place. This is far and away the most costly security measure, so cameras, alarms, and tags should take priority when budgeting.
DIY Small Business Security, Fast
Independent business owners might be tempted to put security needs aside for the sake of cutting down on spending. In reality, it doesn’t have to cost the earth to have effective surveillance in place.
AlfredCamera allows users to assemble a limitless combination of camera devices—old phones, tablets, computers, and the AlfredCam indoor security camera—to create a robust security camera system suitable for small businesses.
Two-way audio, built-in sirens, and the option to switch between continuous and motion detected recording provide small business owners with plenty to play around with. Get to grips with the features fast and adjust as needed, without paying a dime.
Download AlfredCamera for free on iOS and Android devices to get started.
Conclusion
While small business owners can breathe a sigh of relief that they probably don’t need to bankrupt themselves by hiring full-time security staff, security concerns still need to be addressed in smaller business places; whether that’s an office at home or an independent store.
Visual surveillance is essential for all businesses, and an adequate system can be created on even the smallest of budgets thanks to AlfredCamera.
Recommended reading: How Many Security Cameras Do I Need for My Business?