When a visible deterrent is not enough, you need officers who are trained, licensed and legally authorized to carry a firearm. FSO Guard provides armed security guards in Miami and across South Florida: armed security services for private estates, commercial properties, events, retail, cash handling and situations where the risk is real. Hire armed security for one night or a permanent post: every officer holds a Florida Class G firearms license, works under written post orders and is supervised around the clock by our own field team.
When to hire armed security guards
Armed coverage is the right choice when the value of what you protect, or the level of threat, is high enough that a response must be immediate. Our clients typically request armed officers for:
- Luxury residences and estates in Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Golden Beach and Fort Lauderdale: gate posts, overnight coverage and residential protection teams.
- Jewelry, luxury retail and dealerships where inventory value justifies an armed presence.
- Banks, check-cashing and cash-intensive businesses, including cash escort to deposit points.
- Workplace threats: hostile terminations, disputes with former employees, stalking or harassment of staff; see employee termination security.
- Private and corporate events with high-profile guests, valuables on display or alcohol service late at night.
- Construction sites, warehouses and yards with recurring theft of equipment, copper or fuel.
- Executive and VIP protection, where armed agents work in plain clothes alongside a driver and advance team.
Not sure whether you need armed or unarmed officers? Call us. A supervisor will ask about the property, the threat and your budget, and recommend the right mix. Many clients combine one armed officer with unarmed guards for access control, or with mobile patrol checks overnight.
Armed security services we provide
- Armed guard services for property: fixed posts at gates, lobbies, sales floors, cash rooms and yards, uniformed or plain-clothes.
- Armed bodyguards and close protection: Class G agents in plain clothes for individuals, families and executives; see bodyguards for hire.
- Armed escorts: cash, jewelry, medication and high-value deliveries between locations, and staff escorts at opening and closing.
- Armed event security: cash rooms, artist compounds, VIP areas and command posts at events and festivals, where venue policy allows.
- Armed response: armed officers added to mobile patrol routes for alarm response at estates and commercial sites.
- Private armed security for residences: overnight and 24/7 coverage during a period of elevated risk; see private security for homes and estates.
What our armed officers do on post
An armed officer is not just a guard with a weapon. The value is in judgment, procedure and presence. On a typical assignment our officers:
- Control access: verify visitors, vendors and deliveries against your list, and log every entry.
- Patrol the perimeter and interior on a randomized schedule so patterns cannot be predicted.
- Deter and respond to trespassing, theft, vandalism and aggressive behavior, escalating force only as the law allows.
- Escort employees, cash or valuables between buildings, vehicles and deposit points.
- Coordinate with Miami-Dade or Broward law enforcement when an incident requires it, and preserve evidence and witness details.
- Write a daily activity report and immediate incident reports that you receive by e-mail.
Licensing, training and vetting
Florida regulates armed security strictly, and so do we. Before an officer carries a firearm for FSO Guard, they must hold:
- A Class D security officer license (40 hours of training) issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
- A Class G statewide firearms license: 28 hours of classroom and range training, a state-approved qualification, and annual four-hour requalification;
- A clean criminal background check and drug screening, repeated during employment.
On top of the state minimum, our officers train on de-escalation, use-of-force law, report writing and the specific post orders for your site. Weapons and duty gear are inspected before every shift. FSO Guard is a licensed Florida security agency (Class B, B3100530) and carries the liability insurance the state requires, so you are protected contractually as well as physically. Our guide to Florida security license classes explains what each license means.
Armed guards for businesses in Miami
For commercial clients we build a coverage plan rather than simply filling a post. That starts with a walk-through of the property: entry points, camera blind spots, cash handling routes, opening and closing procedures, parking and lighting. The result is a written set of post orders, an escalation chart with your contacts and ours, and a schedule that matches when your risk is actually highest, often opening, closing and late-night hours rather than midday.
Typical commercial engagements include retail stores and shopping plazas, car dealerships, medical offices with controlled substances, warehouses, cannabis dispensaries, hotels and residential towers in Brickell, Downtown and Sunny Isles. Learn more about our commercial security services.
Armed protection for individuals and families
Private clients hire our armed officers for residential posts, travel within South Florida and personal protection during a period of elevated risk: a public dispute, a divorce, a threat received online, or simply a high-profile lifestyle. Officers can work uniformed at the gate or in plain clothes with the family as armed bodyguards. For continuous close protection see our bodyguard services and executive protection pages.
Armed vs. unarmed security: how to decide
| Question | Unarmed officer | Armed officer |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Deterrence, access control, customer service, reporting | Deterrence plus immediate response to violent threats |
| Typical sites | Lobbies, condos, offices, events, construction gates | Estates, jewelry & luxury retail, cash handling, threat situations |
| License | Class D | Class D + Class G |
| Cost | Lower hourly rate | Higher hourly rate |
| Best combined with | Cameras, mobile patrol | Unarmed access control, executive protection |
Rule of thumb: if the worst realistic incident at your site is a trespasser, a shoplifter or a noisy guest, an unarmed officer and good procedures are enough. If it is an armed robbery, a targeted attack or a violent former employee, hire armed security.
Where we provide armed security
Armed security guards in Miami, Miami Beach, Brickell, Downtown, Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Doral, Hialeah, Kendall, Aventura, Sunny Isles, Golden Beach, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach; statewide through our Florida security services.
Prepare a site brief before booking armed security
A clear site brief helps distinguish an armed guard post from a personal protection assignment. Identify what needs protection, the hours of coverage and the decisions that remain with your property manager.
- Site access: list public entrances, employee gates, delivery points and restricted areas. Note who already checks visitors and where security coverage is needed.
- Operating schedule: include opening, closing, shift changes and unoccupied periods, not just business hours.
- Responsibilities: agree on visitor checks, patrol boundaries, incident notifications and the reporting contact before the assignment begins.
- Known concerns: describe documented incidents and existing controls. Valuable inventory or an open gate alone does not establish that armed coverage is the right fit.
For a larger property, compare a fixed post with mobile patrol coverage. If protection needs to follow a person between locations, review armed bodyguard services instead. Confirm the duties, availability and terms of the chosen service in your written scope.
What should a property manager prepare before requesting armed coverage?
Prepare the site address, access-point plan, coverage hours, reporting contact and a description of documented concerns. Clarify the duties already handled by employees or building management so the security assignment has clear boundaries.
How to hire an armed guard from FSO Guard
- Call 888.881.8099, write in the live chat or send the form: address, dates, hours and what worries you.
- Short assessment by a supervisor and a written quote the same day.
- Post orders and officer selection: uniformed or plain-clothes, language, experience.
- Officer on post with supervisor check-ins and a report after every shift.
