Commercial security camera installation

Where the recordings are stored drives most of the per-camera price. A cloud-managed setup stores video online and you manage it through a website or app. An on-premises setup keeps the video on a recorder sitting in your building.

These on-premises and cloud prices come from WCC Tech Group. Across 5 years, on-premises tends to cost 15 to 30 percent less than cloud.

Every camera needs a cable drop of its own, meaning one network cable run from the camera to your network equipment. Running a new drop usually costs another $150 to $400. On an easy site, just the labor to mount one camera is roughly $94.71 to $227 per camera, which means most of what you pay goes toward the equipment, cabling and software.

WCC Tech Group gives one worked example: a small business with 10 cloud cameras pays $12,700 to $26,300 for the first year. Per camera, that works out to $1,270 to $2,630.

What the yearly license buys

The license is the annual fee that lets a camera run the manufacturer's software. Cloud systems require one for every camera. On Verkada's published price list, the 1-year license runs $249 per camera, a 5-year license runs $1,099 and a 10-year license runs $2,199. Rhombus likewise charges for the hardware plus a license per camera. Eagle Eye Networks bills monthly, usually $15 to $45 per camera.

The camera hardware also varies a lot. At 2026 list prices, Verkada cameras cost about $699 to $7,899 each, and the storage built into the camera is the main factor behind that spread.

PoE cameras are what most businesses use now. With PoE, one network cable carries both the power and the data, so the camera doesn't need an outlet close by. A single cable run tops out at 328 feet, or 100 meters before you need an extender, which means a big lot or warehouse might call for extra gear.

Businesses typically keep footage for 30 to 90 days, though certain industries must hold it longer. Healthcare, cannabis and public agencies frequently require extra storage or an extended license, and that pushes the price up.

When you swap out an old system, removing it usually adds 5 to 15 percent to the total. Cheap quotes often skip the network switches that supply power to the cameras and the separate camera network that keeps video traffic away from your office computers.

Cameras with audio

Federal law handles sound and video in different ways. A conversation is protected if the people speaking expect it is not being recorded. Recording stays lawful when you are part of the conversation or one party has agreed in advance. Violating the federal wiretap law can mean a fine or as much as 5 years in prison, which is why audio deserves careful thought before anyone turns it on.

Brands federal contractors cannot use

As of August 13, 2020, federal rules prohibit agencies from contracting with any business using video equipment from Hikvision, Dahua or Hytera. That applies to private firms holding federal contracts too. Since March 12, 2021, these brands have also appeared on the FCC Covered List. When you do federal work, mention it to the installer so these brands stay out of the quote.

For the same building, quotes can vary by 50 percent or more. Usually the difference comes down to the amount of work covered, the quality of the gear or how long the license runs. A complete quote shows cameras, the license period, network gear, cabling, labor and training on their own separate lines, so you can compare one company against another line by line rather than looking only at the bottom number.

If one quote comes in well under the rest, make sure it covers the switches, the cable drops and taking out the old system if there is one. We hand the installer one clear brief, so their quote is based on what your building actually contains.

Yes, you can. Once you submit the survey with your ZIP code, a local installer working in that area receives it. That installer reaches out about your building and gives you the real price after visiting the site. Our ranges are drawn from published guides, and a visit is the only thing that sets the actual figure.

Ahead of the visit, it helps to write down the nearest power outlet and network point, and to note if any of your doors carry a fire rating. Doors with a fire rating have a label along the edge or on the frame.