What Does Executive Protection Cost?
Real pricing ranges for executive protection in Florida and the variables that determine what an engagement actually costs. No published rates. Every engagement is custom-quoted after a confidential threat assessment.
Executive protection cost in Florida typically starts around $750 per 12-hour shift for a single licensed operator and scales into tens of thousands per week for full details with advance work, secure transportation, and 24-hour residential coverage. The number you will see quoted across the industry varies because the work varies. A half-day airport meet-and-greet, a 72-hour event detail in Miami, and a rotating residential program in Brickell are three different engagements with three different price structures. This page walks through what moves the number and why Praetorian quotes after a threat assessment, not before.
Operator Licensure, Experience, and Armament
The single biggest driver of cost is who is actually on the detail. A Florida Class D unarmed security officer, a Class G armed officer, and an operator with a combat or federal law enforcement background are three different products at three different rates. Veteran operators with real protective experience command more per hour than a license-only guard, and for principals who require that caliber of protection the difference matters the moment something goes wrong. Praetorian staffs every engagement with W-2 employees of the agency, licensed appropriately for the role, not freelance contractors paid off-the-books.
Number of Operators, Shift Coverage, and Duration
A solo operator on a 12-hour shift is one line item. A two-operator detail with 24-hour coverage, a driver, and an advance operator is four. Event coverage with a three-person team for a single night is different from a residential program that runs for weeks. Duration compresses the hourly rate through volume discounts, but it also introduces logistics (lodging for out-of-area operators, relief scheduling, per diem) that flat-rate quotes tend to ignore. Engagements over 30 days are usually structured as monthly retainers.
Threat Level, Armament, and Vehicle Requirements
Most Florida engagements run unarmed or with discreet armed operators. Elevated-threat profiles (credible threats, active stalking, dignitaries, high-profile public figures) warrant armed details, armored vehicles, and counter-surveillance. Armored vehicles alone add $1,500 to $3,000 per day through rental partners. Multi-vehicle motorcades add lead and follow drivers plus vehicles. A threat assessment is what separates a principal who needs an armored detail from one who needs a discreet single operator; spending on the wrong posture is how clients overpay.
Advance Work, Travel, and Out-of-State Movement
A venue advance is several hours of a senior operator's time before the principal ever arrives. International or out-of-state travel adds per-diem, flights, lodging, and the hours spent moving between locations. A Miami to Palm Beach inter-city movement with a two-operator detail in a rented SUV runs differently than the same principal traveling to Aspen for a long weekend. Published day rates almost never include this. Praetorian quotes include every line before the engagement begins.
Christopher Smith
Founder, Praetorian Executive Protection
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does executive protection cost in Florida?
Single-operator close protection typically runs $750 to $1,500 per 12-hour shift in Florida. Full details with advance work, a follow vehicle, and 24-hour residential coverage can run $10,000 to $30,000 per week. Pricing depends on operator licensure, threat level, armament, vehicles, and engagement duration. Every Praetorian quote is built after a confidential threat assessment.
Does Praetorian publish fixed rates?
No. Every engagement is quoted after a confidential consultation. Fixed rates force a one-size-fits-all approach that does not reflect real protection work. A half-day advance is not a five-day international trip.
What is included in an executive protection quote?
A Praetorian quote itemizes operators by role and shift, advance work, vehicle requirements, licensure tier (Class D vs. Class G), medical contingencies, lodging and travel if applicable, and any subcontracted assets such as armored vehicles or out-of-state partners. No hidden line items appear on the final invoice.
Are armed operators more expensive than unarmed operators?
Yes. Florida Class G armed operators carry higher licensing, training, insurance, and liability costs than Class D unarmed officers. The rate difference is typically $150 to $400 per shift depending on experience and armament. Whether an armed posture is appropriate is a threat-assessment decision, not a budgeting one.
What does the first consultation cost?
The initial confidential consultation is complimentary. It is how we assess fit, scope, and risk before any engagement begins. Identifying details are not required until you choose to move forward.
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