How Do You Hire A Personal Bodyguard?

With the growth of wealthy individuals, so has the rise of targeted attacks, kidnappings, and extortion. Relying on luck for safety can't be an option. Investing in professional bodyguards has become a necessity, not a luxury.

However, finding the right service is equally demanding. With incompetent protection, you are even more at risk. So, how do you hire a personal bodyguard without drawbacks? Go through this article to learn more about this and how to avoid common mistakes.

How Do You Hire A Personal Bodyguard In Few Words

When hiring a personal bodyguard, assess your security needs, seek recommendations, verify qualifications and credentials, and establish a budget.

Don't Take Chances: Pro Bodyguards Are a Worthwhile Investment

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s 2019 Global Study on Homicide shows that 464,000 people died from violent crimes in a year. In particular, criminal activities against high-value targets and their assets are rising. This underlying issue is one of the critical safety challenges. That’s why there is a growing need for professional bodyguard security.

Ensuring the personal security of commercial VIPs is something that I have been doing for the last 20 years. As a managing director of Nemesis Protection , a leading executive protection agency, I have noticed many clients’ pain points.

How do you hire a personal bodyguard if you haven’t before? Where can you find a reliable security partner abroad? How do you prevent being scammed, overcharged, or falsely protected? These are questions raised by customers nowadays, complicating finding adequate services.

You should realize that inefficient security threatens your well-being. Knowing the difference between professional and amateur bodyguards will save you from unnecessary legal hassle, financial loss, reputation damage, information leaks, and invasion of personal space.

But how do we distinguish one from another? There is one unique trait that determines and guarantees professionalism. Please continue reading to find out more about it.

Why a Military Mindset Matters in Protecting Civilian VIPs

Incidents involving prominent and at-risk people happen daily. From armed robberies and physical assaults to kidnappings and murders, plotters employ many malicious tactics. Motives behind these attacks are usually personal gain, terrorism, and political agendas. Having a bodyguard has become a necessity and a reality.

Bodyguard services are not only reserved for presidents and government officials. More and more people in the civilian sector need the service these days. However, the private sector faces many challenges, such as limited resources.

So, private security differs from government security. You should understand this when you seek protective services. Despite regulations in the commercial security industry, certain security providers don't comply. This affects you as a service user.

This amateurish approach doesn't exist in military and police units. To avoid amateurs, I advise using private security companies with a military/police mindset. This won't be hard to recognize since it makes such agencies stand out. Ex-soldiers and law enforcement officers run these businesses.

As a former member of the military close protection unit, I operate my company in a way it is done in the government sector. Also, I have adjusted the work method to the private industry. This unique approach helps me meet the client's needs professionally.

Let's see what other things you should consider when you need to hire a personal bodyguard .

Unmasking the True Reasons for Personal Security

Anyone can have a bodyguard. Bodyguarding safeguards individuals at elevated security risks. You could be in danger due to your employment, status, wealth, association, religion, and geolocation. Bodyguarding is also known as close protection (CP) and executive protection (EP).

Despite some differences, CP and EP are used interchangeably. CP aims to protect high-risk people, like journalists, aid personnel, and trouble-spot visitors. In contrast, EP focuses on guarding high-profile individuals, such as corporate executives, the wealthy, and public figures. Don't let this confuse you when you look for the service.

Bodyguards, close protection , executive protection , VIP security, and VIP protection are key phrases you should look for when you need personal security. This brings us to the question: Why do you need to hire a personal bodyguard ?

Why Hire a Private Bodyguard?

There are many reasons for the service; different clients have different needs. The two most common are necessity and luxury. The former relates to securing against actual or potential threats. The latter pertains to boosting prestige.

Professionals focus on protecting clients who need it. On the other hand, amateurs offer services to those who want to show off. So, this is another way to identify amateur providers.

I always try to protect individuals facing specific threats from criminal organizations, terrorists, and oppressive regimes. For example, I had a client, a businessman from Russia, operating worldwide. He was threatened by people who held a grudge against Russian intervention in Ukraine. This individual has nothing to do with the ongoing war. Still, he suffered consequences because of his nationality.

I conducted a risk assessment going beyond self-perception. My work and assigned measures enabled the client to focus on business with peace of mind. Nemesis Protection always stands for keeping those who need it safe.

Check the next sections for what else you should pay attention to when you want to hire a personal bodyguard.?

A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding the Ideal Security Companion

We get to the point of what questions you should address to find the proper security partner. Just so you know — the following steps will help you.

Background Checks on a Company

It would help if you did background checks on a potential agency. This can involve many things, such as:

• Check the company's business details (registration number, disputes, insurance, reviews).
• How does the company ensure and control quality?
• Does the company engage experienced, licensed, qualified, and vetted personnel?
• What is the level of training of guards?
• What is the background and experience of the senior staff and owner?
• Does the company subcontract? If so, does the company vet its subcontractors and partners?
• Can the company provide any references?
• Check the company's website and its Internet and Social Media presence.

As for providing references, be aware that professionals abide by ethics and NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Hence, they can't reveal their former clients. Also, they adhere to data protection acts, another protective measure for your personal information. So, don't forget to sign the NDA and protect your interests.

If you prefer freelancers, proceed to find out how to check them.

Due Diligence on a Freelancer

There are many self-employed bodyguards. I have been an independent contractor for over ten years. Here are some suggested steps for checking these types of professionals:

• Perform background checks. Contact their professional references.
• Ask for documents, such as clean records (criminal, medical, military), drug and alcohol tests, and professional qualifications.
• Conduct an interview. Assess their physical and mental condition.
• Check their social media.

Additionally, professionals should include their previous employers and not their past clients as a reference.

Regarding social media, avoid so-called influencer bodyguards who chase Instagram followers, brag about their clients, and share their selfies from a task. Such a behavior is not just unethical but risky — jeopardizing clients.

Whether it is a company or an individual, it doesn't matter. Professionalism only matters. From my experience, the only difference between contracting an agency and a freelancer is in resources — agencies are more capable. This also impacts the price.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Bodyguard?

Concerning pricing, service costs are another distinction between hiring a freelancer and a company. Freelancers charge less. However, the main determining factors for fees are risk profile, operational requirements, location, urgency, duration, and specific needs. The price can range from $150 to $1,000 daily per bodyguard.

Price can be a differentiating element between professionals and amateurs. Rates that are too low or too high are red flags, indicating unskilled services. Top companies provide highly trained specialists and sophisticated equipment. High quality isn't cheap but is cost-effective in the long term. So, avoid unrealistic pricing.

With professionals, you pay for unbiased, loyal, trustworthy, discreet, respectful, and customer-oriented protection. They don’t meddle in your business and respect your privacy. Likewise, they blend in a setting when entrusted with a task not to attract undue attention. Remember, with professional bodyguards, you don’t have to sacrifice your lifestyle.

Prioritize Privacy

Many clients overlook the importance of privacy. As a professional security specialist, I stay under the radar, even between assignments. I do this not just because of me but because of the safety of my former and future clientele.

Imagine a situation in which an adversary finds out who the bodyguard of a top-level individual is. The antagonist can compromise the client by exploiting sensitive information the protective specialist reveals, even after the contract ends. That's why you need professionals who can keep their mouths shut and keep a low profile.

So, it is tricky for active specialists to be public persons. As mentioned earlier, a military mindset, let's take, for example, a president's bodyguards. If they publicly shared job-related information, it would be a security breach. This would lead not just to firing but to prosecution for professional negligence.

Look for the Right Skill Set

Aside from those above, it is crucial to find versatile professionals. Contrary to the common stereotype, professional bodyguards aren’t muscle-bound and unintelligent guns for hire. They are highly fit, mentally tough, and proficient in armed and unarmed combat. However, providing modern close protection requires physical, intellectual, and technical resources.

This means that professionals stay relevant to today's trends. Emerging technologies facilitate crime. Our growing dependency on new tech exposes us to emerging threats. It is worth nothing if a bodyguard can’t protect you against cyber threats. For example, imagine you were scammed online and lost personal information, money, and reputation.

Therefore, seek a personal security expert to keep you safe from physical harm and cyber threats.

Final Word: How Do You Hire a Personal Bodyguard?

As a result of growing insecurity worldwide, the personal safety of individuals susceptible to crime represents a considerable security concern. Engaging bodyguard services can mitigate threats associated with high-risk individuals, such as C-suite executives, rich people, reporters, and humanitarians.

However, finding a trusted provider can be challenging. While professionals can boost your safety, amateurs can make you feel less secure. Following the advice in this article will give you a better chance of selecting the right security partner. In this respect, get in touch at [email protected] for a quotation, consultation, and to hire a personal bodyguard.