Security guard management software for Ohio security companies

Schedule guards across every Ohio site, prove they were on post, record patrols and incidents, and keep copies of their PISGS registration card on file, in one platform.

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What software do Ohio security companies use to manage guards?

Ohio security companies use security guard management software to schedule guards, verify they were on site, record patrols and incidents, and report to clients. ForceVera does this in one platform: shifts published to guards' phones, a geofenced time clock, QR patrol checkpoints, incident and daily reports, dispatch and a client portal. Guards can upload a photo of their PISGS registration card so a copy sits on their profile.

Ohio in numbers

How many security guards work in Ohio?

Ohio employed 34,450 security guards in May 2025, 6.21 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, at a mean wage of $19.21 an hour (US: $20.42). 583 security guard and patrol service locations employed 20,690 people in 2025.

34,450 guards2.7% of the 1,283,470 in the US (BLS, May 2025)

$19.21 an hourMean wage for security guards in Ohio (BLS, May 2025)

583 guard company locationsSecurity guard and patrol service worksites, 2025 average (BLS QCEW)

1,471.1 property crimes per 100,000Reported to the FBI for 2025, with 287.9 violent crimes per 100,000 (FBI estimates for the US: 1,534.8 and 327.6)

Licensing in Ohio

Who licenses security guards in Ohio

Regulator: Private Investigator Security Guard Services (PISGS), part of Ohio Homeland Security in the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

Employee registration and ID cardSecurity guards are registered through their licensed employer. The company submits the registration application online, and the department issues a registration identification card. Guards must show the card on request to the department or to law enforcement.

Background check and deadlineThe application, including fingerprints for a BCI background check, must be submitted no later than seven calendar days after the date of hire. PISGS does not accept fingerprint checks older than 30 days. An unarmed guard can work before the card arrives only if the client signs a written waiver.

Annual renewal and armed workRegistrations expire each year on the anniversary of first issue. Guards who carry a firearm also need a 20-hour private security firearm course at an Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission approved facility, an FBI background check, and a firearm-bearer notation on the card. Requalification is good for 12 months.

Overtime for security guards in Ohio

Ohio has its own overtime rule in its minimum wage law (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4111). The Ohio Department of Commerce says employers must pay 1.5 times an employee's regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a pre-established workweek of no more than seven consecutive days. The state's 2025 minimum wage poster lists an exception for employers grossing less than $150,000 per year. The federal FLSA applies separately.

Estimate the overtime in a schedule with our free security guard overtime calculator, or work out headcount with the 24/7 coverage calculator.

How ForceVera helps

Run your Ohio guard operation in one platform

Card photos in one placeForceVera stores photos of each guard's PISGS registration card, including any firearm-bearer notation, on their profile. It does not check cards with PISGS or track the yearly anniversary renewal date.

Weekly hours for overtime checksTimesheets show hours shift by shift and export to CSV or Excel. Client invoices apply a weekly overtime threshold only. You decide how state and federal overtime rules apply to your staff.

Schedules on every guard's phonePlan the week by site and guard, including recurring and overnight shifts, publish it to the guard app and send reminders before each shift.

Proof guards were on postGuards clock in and start breaks only inside the site's geofence with a PIN; leaving the site, going idle or clocking out off site is flagged.

Proof of patrolQR checkpoints scanned from the guard app, with missed and late tour alerts and time-stamped, located scans.

Reports clients trustIncident and daily activity reports with photos from the guard app, and branded daily reports emailed to clients.

ForceVera keeps records; it does not make a company compliant with state law. See all features or see pricing.

FAQ

Security companies in Ohio: questions, answered

Who regulates security guards in Ohio?

Private Investigator Security Guard Services (PISGS), part of Ohio Homeland Security in the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Licensed companies must register their security guard employees.

How soon must a new guard be registered?

The licensed company must submit the registration application, with BCI fingerprint results, no later than seven calendar days after the date of hire. PISGS does not accept fingerprint checks older than 30 days.

Can an unarmed guard work before the registration card arrives?

Only if the client signs a written waiver agreeing to it. PISGS form PSU 0060 is that waiver. A guard may never carry a firearm on the job without a firearm-bearer notation on the card.

How often does registration renew?

Every year. Registrations expire on the anniversary of the date they were first issued.

What does an armed guard need in Ohio?

A 20-hour private security firearm course at an Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission approved facility, an FBI background check, and a firearm-bearer notation on the registration card. The initial course is good for 18 months and requalification is good for 12 months.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page summarizes information published by Ohio state agencies and official sources as of October 2026. Rules change and exceptions apply, so check the official sources or ask an employment lawyer.

Official sources

Checked October 2026. Licensing and wage rules change, so confirm them with the agency before you rely on them. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Other states: California · Texas · Florida · New York · Illinois · Pennsylvania · Maryland · Virginia · Arizona · Nevada · North Carolina · Washington · all US states.

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