How to be your own boss as a security guard, without quitting your shifts
By the Squadvine team, a group of security guardsUpdated 2 October 20267 min read
Most advice on being your own boss as a security guard says the same thing: go self-employed or start a company. Both are real options, and both mean giving up a steady wage. There is a third route that lets you keep your shifts while you build something of your own: getting paid for the people you bring into the industry.
The short version
- There are three routes: work self-employed, start a security company, or build referral income alongside your job.
- Referral income costs nothing to start. On Squadvine you earn 25p for every confirmed hour each person you refer works, for 12 months.
- It is a side income, not a wage replacement. Five officers working 160 hours a month earns you £200 a month.
- Payouts are made on the 2nd of the month once your confirmed commission reaches £500.
What being your own boss means in security
Being your own boss does not have to mean handing in your notice. It means some of your income depends on your own effort and judgement, not on the rota. In security there are three realistic ways to get there.
| Route | What it involves | What you risk |
|---|---|---|
| Work self-employed | You contract your time to companies, register as self-employed with HMRC and handle your own tax. You still need a valid SIA licence for licensable work. | No guaranteed hours, no sick pay, and gaps between contracts. |
| Start a security company | You win contracts, employ and screen officers, and carry insurance and compliance. | Up-front cost and responsibility for other people's wages. |
| Build referral income | You keep your job and earn commission on confirmed hours worked by officers you refer. | Your time. There is nothing to pay and nothing to lose if you stop. |
The first two are covered well elsewhere and suit people ready to leave employment. This guide is about the third, because it is the one you can start this week without changing anything else.
Why referral income is the low-risk way to start
Security hires on recommendation. If you have worked a few sites, you already know who is reliable, who needs more hours and who is looking for a way in. That knowledge is valuable to companies, and it is yours.
- It is free. Officers never pay to join or earn.
- You keep your wage. Referral income sits on top of your shifts.
- You choose who you recommend and how much time you put in.
- You earn from real work: confirmed hours, not sign-ups.
The honest numbers
On Squadvine you earn 25p for every confirmed hour each person you refer works, for 12 months from their first confirmed shift, plus £10 when they complete that first shift. Here is what that looks like if each officer works 160 hours a month.
| Officers you referred | Hours each a month | You earn a month | Over 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 160 | £40 | £480 |
| 3 | 160 | £120 | £1,440 |
| 5 | 160 | £200 | £2,400 |
| 10 | 160 | £400 | £4,800 |
| 20 | 160 | £800 | £9,600 |
These are examples, not promises. You earn only when the people you refer are hired and work confirmed hours, and the first-shift bonus is on top of these figures. The full rules are in the referral programme terms.
How long until you are paid
Payouts go to your UK bank account on the 2nd of every month once your confirmed commission reaches £500. At 25p an hour, £500 is 2,000 confirmed hours across your squad.
- With 5 officers working 160 hours a month, you reach £500 in about three months.
- With 10 officers, in under two months.
- Anything under £500 is not lost. It rolls over until you reach it.
Because commission on each referral runs for 12 months, treat it like any business: keep bringing in good people so new referrals replace the ones that reach the end of their 12 months.
Run it like a business
- 1
Recommend people you would work alongside
Your name is attached to every referral. One reliable officer who stays is worth more than five who drop out after a week.
- 2
Help them finish their Guard Passport
A referral earns nothing until they are hired. Most delays are a half-finished Passport, so check in and help them get it done. The Guard Passport guide lists what they need.
- 3
Share your link where officers already talk
WhatsApp groups, the control room, handovers. Send your link or show your QR code and explain it in one line: free to join, one profile for every company.
- 4
Track your squad
Your squad page shows each person's status and hours. Follow up with anyone who has stalled.
- 5
Keep records
Commission is income. Keep a note of what you are paid so you can declare it.
What this is not
- It is not a pyramid. You only earn from people you refer directly. There are no levels and nobody pays to take part.
- It is not guaranteed. Companies decide who they hire and how many hours they offer.
- It is not a replacement for a licence. Everyone working in a licensable role needs a valid SIA licence.
How the platform is kept fair for officers and companies is set out on the trust and safety page.
How to get started
Create your free Squadvine account, complete your Guard Passport and share your link. The step-by-step guide to using Squadvine walks through each screen. If you have a question first, the frequently asked questions cover costs, payouts and privacy.
Common questions
Do I have to quit my job to be my own boss in security?
Do I need an SIA licence to earn referral income?
Is referral commission taxed?
How many people do I need to refer?
Ready to start?
It's free for officers. Always.
Example only. You earn when people you refer are hired and work confirmed hours.