Executive protection isn’t hired by the principal — it’s hired by the family office, HR director, EA, or general counsel who’s responsible for the principal’s safety and doesn’t have the time or expertise to vet security vendors deeply. This page speaks to you, the buyer. It covers what to look for in an EP provider, what our program includes, what it costs, and how to evaluate whether we’re the right fit — before you introduce us to your principal. California PPO 121780. Call (510) 789-6304 for a confidential consultation, or request a discreet initial assessment. Switching from another EP provider? See our 10% off switching offer.
Who Hires Executive Protection (and Why)
- Family offices managing security for principals and family members across residences, travel, and events
- HR and Chief People Officers at public companies where the CEO, board members, or executives have received threats or are attending high-profile events
- General counsel managing legal risk, litigation-related exposure, or protection during depositions and sensitive proceedings
- Executive assistants coordinating protection for principals during travel, events, and public appearances
- Political campaign staff and elected officials’ offices managing protection during campaign events, public appearances, or specific threat responses
- High-net-worth individuals managing their own security for themselves, family members, or property
What to Look For in an EP Provider (Checklist)
Before you sign with any executive protection provider, verify:
- State licensing. California requires a PPO (Private Patrol Operator) license for any executive protection provider. Ours is PPO 121780 — verifiable through the California BSIS website.
- BSIS Guard Cards for all officers. Every deployed officer should have current BSIS certification. We provide certification documentation for every officer on request.
- BSIS Exposed Firearms Permits for armed officers. A generic PPO doesn’t authorize armed coverage — officers need specific firearms permits. Ours all do.
- General liability, workers’ comp, and errors-and-omissions insurance. Certificates of insurance available within 24 hours of request.
- Confidentiality and NDA capacity. EP work is inherently confidential. Any provider that resists signing an NDA before initial engagement is not a serious EP provider.
- Discretion training. Officers should understand principal privacy — never disclosing details of assignments, principals, or coverage patterns.
- Advance work capability. Real EP includes pre-event advance work at venues, travel routes, restaurants, and other locations. Not just “guy in a suit stands next to the principal.”
- Coordination protocol with local law enforcement — if a serious threat materializes, your EP provider should have working relationships and coordination protocols with the local police in every jurisdiction the principal operates in.
What Surefire’s EP Program Includes
- Confidential threat assessment — before we deploy, we conduct a written threat assessment specific to your principal’s role, public profile, current threat environment, travel patterns, and residence security
- Advance work — venue advance for events, restaurant advance for meals, travel route reconnaissance, hotel advance for out-of-town travel
- Discreet or overt coverage — depending on the principal’s preference and the situation. Some principals prefer visible deterrence; others prefer discretion. We adjust.
- Armed or unarmed coverage — all Surefire EP officers hold current BSIS Exposed Firearms Permits and additional EP-specific training
- Residence and property coverage — layered with alarm monitoring, camera systems, and access control
- Travel coverage — for principals traveling within California or with additional coordination for out-of-state or international travel
- Event coverage — for principals attending high-profile events, we deploy layered coverage in coordination with venue security
- Family member coverage — extending protection to spouses, children (including school runs), and other family members as needed
- Signed NDA before initial consultation, extended to a full engagement NDA on contract signing
See our full executive protection services page for service details.
Common EP Engagement Types
- Event-specific coverage — single-event coverage for a high-profile appearance, keynote, board meeting, or industry event
- Threat-response coverage — temporary elevated coverage in response to a specific credible threat (typical duration: 30-90 days while threat is assessed and resolved)
- Ongoing residential coverage — permanent coverage at the principal’s primary residence and, in some cases, secondary properties
- Ongoing personal detail — permanent coverage with officers accompanying the principal during public activity, travel, and other exposure windows
- Family office coverage packages — comprehensive coverage across principal, family members, residences, and travel
Cost Ranges for Executive Protection
EP pricing varies substantially by threat level, officer count, coverage hours, and whether armed coverage is warranted. General Bay Area 2026 ranges:
- Single-event EP coverage: $500-$2,500 per event depending on officer count and duration
- Ongoing part-time EP coverage (e.g., business hours or event travel only): $5,000-$15,000/month
- Ongoing 24/7 coverage with multiple officers on rotation: $20,000-$60,000+/month depending on team size
- Threat-response temporary coverage: depends heavily on threat level and required response speed
Every engagement is quoted individually after threat assessment. We don’t publish template pricing because EP requirements vary too widely for it to be honest.
What EP Buyers Ask Us Most
Can we start with a confidential conversation before introducing our principal? Yes. We routinely engage first with family offices, HR, or legal — no principal contact until you’re ready. Signed NDA at first substantive conversation.
Can you handle armed coverage? Yes. All EP officers hold BSIS Exposed Firearms Permits and receive additional EP-specific training beyond baseline requirements.
Can you cover the principal’s family? Yes. Spouses, children, school runs, and extended family members can be included in a family office coverage package or added to an existing engagement.
Can you coordinate with in-house corporate security? Yes. We’re accustomed to layering with in-house security teams, corporate travel security, and any existing family office security infrastructure.
Do you handle travel outside the Bay Area? California travel we handle directly. Out-of-state or international, we can coordinate through vetted partner networks with continuity of protocol.
Request a Confidential Initial Consultation
EP engagements start with a confidential conversation — no principal contact until you’re ready. We can meet at your office, over the phone, or (if you prefer) at a neutral location. NDA signed before any substantive discussion of your principal, threat environment, or coverage requirements.
Call (510) 789-6304 and ask for a confidential EP consultation, or request contact through our secure form. Switching from another EP provider? Get 10% off your first 3 months. Surefire Security. California PPO 121780. BSIS Exposed Firearms Permit-holding officers. Bay Area executive protection coverage.
