How Much Do Keyholding Services Cost?
The cost of a commercial keyholding contract depends on several factors specific to your site and requirements. There is no single industry-standard price, but most businesses find that professional keyholding is significantly cheaper than the risk, disruption and liability associated with sending their own staff to alarm activations.
What determines the price of keyholding?
- Location — Response times and travel distances affect pricing. Urban locations with dense coverage networks typically cost less per call-out than remote or rural sites.
- Number of call-outs — Most keyholding contracts include a set number of responses per year. High-frequency alarm activations will increase costs.
- Contract structure — Annual retainer contracts that include a set number of responses are generally more cost-effective than pay-per-call-out arrangements. Multi-site contracts often carry volume discounts.
- Access complexity — Sites with complex key management requirements, multiple access points, or special protocols require more officer time.
- Additional services — Lock-up and unlock, scheduled opens or closes, or bundling with manned guarding and concierge security will all affect the overall contract value.
- Response time target — A contractual guarantee of 30-minute response costs more to deliver than a standard one-hour target.
How does keyholding cost compare to the alternative?
The real cost of not having professional keyholding includes management time lost to late-night callouts, potential liability from sending untrained staff to dangerous situations, inconsistent incident handling and poor documentation, and reputational risk if an incident is handled badly. For most commercial sites, the professional keyholding fee is a straightforward operational cost with a clear return.
How to get an accurate quote
The most reliable way to understand your costs is to discuss your specific site with a provider. Key details include your site address, type of premises, alarm system details, number of keys to be held, required response time, and any additional services such as lock-up or out-of-hours access.
Read more: What is keyholding and alarm response? | Why businesses use professional keyholding | Our keyholding services
Get a keyholding quote from Evergreen Security
Call 0345 88 88 333 or email info@evergreensecurity.co.uk to discuss your site and receive a clear, itemised proposal.