DATA-DRIVEN SECRETS TO RUNNING A PROFITABLE SECURITY FIRM
Jordan Wallach, Belfry Software, CALSAGA Associate Member
Growing a security firm today means balancing strong financial practices, effective team management, and reliable operations. We crunched 600 million data points from hundreds of U.S. security companies using Belfry to find out what the most successful companies do best: improving margins, retaining officers, and building lasting client relationships.
Talk About Billing Without Talking About Billing
Firms with above-average on-time payments grow faster, thanks to predictable cash flow. Interestingly, the firms with the highest on-time payments don’t just send invoices, they engage with their clients more often. On-site visits, incident reports, and regular client portal logins all correlate with faster payments because they build trust and keep clients informed. Tools like automated invoice reminders and client portals amplify this effect, accelerating collections and strengthening margins.
Invest in Your Officers
Well-paid, well-prepared officers deliver better service and stay longer. Our data shows that firms offering higher pay often see turnover rates about 12% lower with a 10% pay bump. Structured onboarding (e.g., covering company policies, client expectations, site-specific training, and a 30-day check-in) aligns with higher satisfaction and stronger client outcomes.
Focus on Quality Revenue
Companies charging 10–20% higher bill rates than the local median often see stronger revenue growth. This strategy supports better officer pay, directly linked to retention, and sustains quality service. We see growing clients often with longer billing cycles, used as client incentives, which also correlate with reduced administrative burden.
Operate with Reliability
It’s no secret that call-offs carry hidden costs, from unbilled overtime to strained relationships. Top-performing firms publish schedules early, keep them fair, and maintain a reserve pool of qualified officers. Mobile shift offers and real-time scheduling tools help fill posts quickly, while attendance incentives paired with competitive pay reduce absenteeism.
Small changes, like night-shift premiums, smarter scheduling, or onboarding checklists, can produce measurable improvements across all four pillars. To see how the fastest-growing firms are operating differently, download Belfry’s latest whitepaper here.
Jordan Wallach is the Co-Founder and CEO of Belfry, the modern operating system for security guard services companies and a CALSAGA Member. Prior to founding Belfry, Jordan was a consultant at McKinsey & Company and a Product Manager at Microsoft, building software used by millions of people worldwide. He has a bachelor’s degree in Data Science from Stanford University.






Trackforce Valiant + TrackTik combines over 45 years of total experience with the brightest and most influential minds to provide its customers with the industry’s most comprehensive security workforce management solution. Our cloud-based solutions help corporations and security guard service providers handle every aspect of security workforce management.
Maddie started her career in the global banking industry as an Applications Programmer prior to joining TEAM Software by WorkWave. After working as a Quality Analyst, Maddie transitioned to Product Owner, where she combines her passion for problem solving with the guidance of product strategy to bring forward enhancements that add value to users while driving future innovations.
JoJo Tran is Chief Executive Officer of Telepath Corporation. Tran joined Telepath in 1990 and became CEO in September 2010. Previously, he headed several business units at Telepath, including mission critical infrastructure, customer service, sales and mobile team. Mr. Tran’s vision is to be the industry’s premier sales, service and program management company. Customers and partners will see Telepath as an integral to their success. Telepath will anticipate their needs and deliver on every commitment. People will be proud to work at Telepath. Telepath will create opportunities to achieve the extraordinary and will reward their success.