How to Hire Armed Security Guards in Houston: A Complete 2026 Guide

When you bring armed security onto your property, you are trusting another company with the safety of your employees, customers, and assets. The wrong choice can expose your business to liability, while the right partner becomes an extension of your operation. Here is what 40+ years of providing armed security across Houston has taught us about hiring the right team. 1. Verify the Texas DPS PSB License Every private security company operating in Texas must be licensed by the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Bureau (PSB). Before you sign anything, ask for the company license number and the individual commission numbers of the officers who will be on your site. Cross-check them on the TXDPS public lookup. A legitimate firm will provide this without hesitation. 2. Confirm Insurance Coverage Houston commercial clients should expect at minimum $1M general liability and workers compensation coverage. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming your business as additionally insured. 3. Ask About Training Beyond the Minimum Texas requires a Level III certification for armed officers (45 hours of training). The best agencies go further: de-escalation training, scenario-based drills, CPR/AED, and ongoing requalification. Ask how often officers requalify on the range and how the company documents continuing education. 4. Look at Supervision Structure Who supervises the officer on your site? How often does a supervisor visit? Is there a 24/7 dispatch line? An officer with no chain of command behind them is a liability waiting to happen. 5. Understand the True Cost Armed guard rates in Houston typically range from $28 to $45 per hour depending on risk level, hours, and whether the post requires a vehicle. If a quote comes in dramatically below that range, the company is almost certainly underpaying officers — which means high turnover and weaker candidates on your post. 6. Red Flags to Avoid - Reluctance to share license numbers - No written post orders or site survey before deployment - High officer turnover on existing accounts - No clear escalation protocol for incidents - Cash-only or no formal invoicing Champion Security Agency has been Texas DPS-licensed since 1984. If you would like a free site assessment, contact us through our quote form.