Monitored commercial alarm system companies live by the credo of “a dollar a day” – that’s how little it costs to maintain a monitored alarm system for your company.

Standard monthly fees are $25-$40 per month. Dual communication capabilities – radio or cellular backup system in case phone line is disabled – will typically add about $10 to your monthly service fees. Tracking systems like open and close schedule monitoring can run you an extra $250-$600 per year.

The initial setup fees vary based on the type of equipment installed, the number of individual security devices included, and the size of the company. Expect to pay $100-$4,000 for installation and equipment, with the higher end being for more comprehensive systems.

Installing a wireless monitored commercial alarm system is generally a four to eight hour job, assuming you have a smaller company, such as a 2,000 sq ft storefront. A 100,000 sq ft warehouse is a considerably larger job, and may take a few weeks.

Contracts can be month-to-month, but the standard is a three-year obligation. The contract will guarantee that your fees will not increase and indicate what your rights are. Keep in mind that breaking the contract before it expires will result in hefty penalties – from 75 percent of the fees due to the full amount.

Most basic monitored commercial alarm system equipment – door contacts, motion detectors, glass break sensors – is provided as part of your contract, and you get to keep it after the contract expires. For those companies who lease equipment, you’ll likely pay $300 - $500 per year, which can be built into your monthly fees.

Some local police departments require annual permits to have a monitored commercial alarm system. There are typically two permits you will need: a state monitoring permit with local police and an electrical permit to install and monitor the alarm system. There may also be a low-voltage alarm permit mandated by the city. The costs are negligible – between $5 and $40 per year.

Commercial alarm system warranties
Warranties vary: some companies will provide warranties that range from one year up to the life of the contract; others offer only a 90-day installation warranty covering all parts and labor. Avoid a commercial alarm system that does not include a warranty. It doesn’t matter if it’s an initial 90-day period or the full duration of the standard three-year contract.

Once your warranty expires, you can purchase an additional maintenance and repair agreement to cover any service requests or repairs to your commercial alarm system. Otherwise, you have to pay a trip fee when a service crew is sent out, in addition to any parts and labor.

Monitored fire alarm pricing
Businesses looking for fire protection must install commercial fire alarm systems that comply with NFPA building codes and occupational health requirements. These codes determine the specific fire alarm components you need to install based on your industry and location. As with monitored alarms, you need to connect your fire alarm to a central monitoring service.

Fire alarm pricing is based on total square footage. You’ll pay $1 to $5 per square foot of office space, and as much as $10 to $25 per square foot for a complex installation such as a fire alarm system that requires a new sprinkler system. Monthly monitoring service costs $40 to $50 with maintenance agreements running an extra $5 to $10 per month.

For more information about purchasing a fire alarm system, read our Fire Alarms Buyer’s Guide.