Hiring a security agency in Paris when your team speaks English
How private security works in France, what to check before signing, and how we operate across Île-de-France.
Hiring a security agency in Paris is not the same exercise as in London or New York. Private security in France is a regulated activity: companies are licensed, officers are individually vetted, and pay rates are set by a national collective agreement. This page explains what that means for you as a client.
Why French private security is different
Since 2011, the sector is supervised by the CNAPS, a public body under the Ministry of the Interior. Two authorisations are required, and they are separate: the company holds an operating licence, and each officer holds an individual professional card issued after a background check.
For a client, this has one practical consequence: you can and should ask for both. A provider unable to produce them is not merely cutting corners — it is operating unlawfully, and you may be held accountable for using it.
These checks take five minutes and remove most of the risk in choosing a provider.
How pricing works, and why quotes differ
We set the price after visiting the site, never over the phone. Beyond the hours and the officers’ qualifications, what varies most is the surcharges, which are set by the collective agreement for prevention and security companies (IDCC 1351): + 10 % at night, + 10 % on Sundays, + 100 % on worked public holidays.
France has eleven public holidays, several of which fall in May. A quote that ignores them will look cheaper and will be revised upwards later. Ask for them to be shown as separate lines — ours are.
Below roughly 19 € per hour, it becomes difficult to honour the collective agreement. Such a quote deserves a precise question: the saving may come from the officer’s pay or from missing replacements, and it can expose you if a labour inspection follows.
What we provide
Working in English
Our management operates in English, and contracts, quotes and incident reports can be issued in English on request. Officers on site speak French; where an assignment requires English-speaking staff — an international headquarters, a hotel, a trade show — we say so before the assignment rather than after.
We prefer to be plain about this: promising fully bilingual coverage across every shift would be misleading, and you would discover it on the first night.
How to start
- Tell us about the site — type, address, hours to cover, and any constraint you already know.
- We visit if useful — free of charge, and usually within a few days.
- You receive a written quote within 24 working hours, with surcharges itemised.
- Deployment can follow within 24 to 48 hours depending on availability.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard cost in Paris?
We set the price after a site visit: it depends on the hours, the officers’ qualifications and the collective agreement surcharges: + 10 % at night and on Sundays, + 100 % on worked public holidays.
Do I need to check anything before hiring?
Yes — ask for the company’s CNAPS licence number and for confirmation that every assigned officer holds a valid professional card. Also ask for the professional liability insurance certificate.
Do your officers speak English?
Our management does. Some officers do, and we can staff assignments accordingly, but we confirm this before the assignment rather than assume it.
Which areas do you cover?
All eight départements of Île-de-France, from our office in the 17th arrondissement. Response times are shortest in Paris and the inner suburbs.
Can you provide short-notice cover?
Often within 24 to 48 hours, subject to availability. For a single evening or a one-off event, use the quote form and select a one-off requirement.
Do you subcontract?
No. Every officer on your site is our own employee. This is unusual in the French market and it is deliberate.
Ready to move forward?
Tell us about your site and we will send a written quote within 24 working hours.
Request a quote →