If you're shopping for security services in Siliguri or anywhere across North Bengal, the first question is almost always the same: what does a guard cost? Every agency you call will quote you a number, and the numbers will vary wildly — from ₹8,000 per month to ₹35,000 or more. The variance isn't fraud (mostly). It's that "a guard" means very different things, and "monthly cost" includes very different things from one agency to the next.
This post is the breakdown we wish someone had given us when we started out 17 years ago. No marketing fluff. Just the numbers.
The five guard tiers and what they actually cost
These are our published rates as of 15 May 2026. They are all all-inclusive of statutory contributions:
| Tier | Monthly rate per guard | Typical deployment |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Guard | ₹10,000 – ₹12,000 | Routine commercial, residential, warehouse |
| Premium Guard | ₹15,000 – ₹18,000 | Corporate office, hotel lobby, premium retail |
| Female Security Guard | ₹12,000 – ₹15,000 | Hospital, school, retail frisking, women's hostel |
| Armed Guard | ₹25,000 – ₹35,000 | Bank, cash escort, high-value asset |
| Black Commando / Special Teams | ₹40,000 – ₹60,000 | VIP, executive protection, special-risk events |
Pricing varies inside each range based on: shift pattern (8-hour vs 12-hour), number of guards (volume discount), contract length, site complexity, and whether you're inside Siliguri municipality or further afield (Gangtok, Kalimpong, Alipurduar add a small location premium for supervisor travel).
What "all-inclusive" actually means
A reputable agency's monthly rate has to cover:
- Basic wage compliant with the West Bengal minimum-wage notification for security services (revised annually)
- EPF — 13% of basic wage as employer contribution + admin charges
- ESI — 3.25% of gross wage as employer contribution (where applicable)
- Statutory bonus — provisioned monthly, paid annually around Durga Puja
- Gratuity — provisioned monthly per actuarial assessment
- Earned leave & sick leave — accrued per the Shops & Establishments Act
- ID card
- Basic equipment (whistle, torch, baton)
- Supervisor visits and replacement guarantees
- The agency's service margin — typically 10–20% in this region
If an agency is quoting you ₹8,000 per guard, at least one of those line items is missing. Usually it's the statutory contributions — meaning that agency is either paying their guards under the table, not depositing EPF / ESI, or both. When the labour department audits the client (you), the liability comes back to you, not them.
What isn't included
These are billed separately:
- Armed-guard licences and weapons — armed guards command higher rates partly because the licensing and weapons handling is itself an ongoing cost
- Dogs and handlers — for K9 deployments
- Vehicles — for patrol units and quick-response teams
- CCTV monitoring contracts — if you want our control room watching your feed 24/7
- Executive-protection details — bodyguards, advance reconnaissance, secure transport
- Specialised equipment — metal detectors, body-worn cameras, scanners
For a typical small-corporate or hotel client, the line items above usually aren't needed — the per-guard monthly rate is your total cost.
Three questions to ask before signing
- "Can I see a sample EPF challan from a recent month?" A real agency will produce one with the client's name redacted. An agency that goes silent isn't paying EPF.
- "Is the guard on your payroll or on contract?" They should be on the agency's payroll. If the agency says "we'll set him up as a contractor", you've just become the principal employer for an unregistered worker. Don't sign.
- "Can you produce your licence and registration papers?" Every legitimate agency will show you its licence numbers and verification details. You can verify them on the relevant government sites. If they can't show current, verifiable licences, they cannot legally deploy a security guard in this state. Walk away.
What to do next
If you'd like a written proposal for your site — including the breakdown of statutory contributions for the specific tier you're looking at — request a quote or book a free site visit. We'll respond within one working day, and you'll have a written proposal in hand within 24 hours of the site visit.