Where Do All These Alarm Systems Come From?

In 1990, the number of alarm companies operating in America was estimated at 13,000. Growth is expected to drive that number to 24,000 companies in the year 2000.

Alarm companies' 1990 revenue was $4.5 billion. (That figure includes the portion of their income derived from the sale, installation, and monitoring of fire and life-safety systems as well as burglar alarm systems.) That same year, alarm companies employed 120,000 persons.

The size of alarm companies varies widely, from large national firms to sole proprietors. The difference in size can be seen from the statistic that in 1989 the 10 largest alarm companies (out of approximately 13,000) generated 31 percent of the industry's revenue.

SOURCE: Private Security Trends, 1970-2000: The Hallcrest Report II.