If you are buying a security camera system for your business for the first time, the short version is this: cover the front door, the register, the back door and any room where cash or inventory is kept; choose a wired system with a local recorder that holds at least 30 days; keep cameras out of restrooms and changing areas; tell your employees; secure the system with strong passwords; and hire an installer who walks the space before quoting. A typical small shop spends roughly $1,800 to $7,500 installed. This guide walks you through the decisions in order so you can buy with confidence.
This is general information, not legal advice. Ask an attorney about employee, privacy and contract questions specific to your business.
1. The Short Version
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Write down what you need to protect and why. |
| 2 | Sketch your space and mark entrances, cash and stock. |
| 3 | Decide on coverage, storage days and access. |
| 4 | Understand the privacy and employee rules. |
| 5 | Get three on-site quotes. |
| 6 | Verify credentials, insurance and references. |
| 7 | Prepare the space and your staff. |
| 8 | Test, learn and maintain. |
2. What Problems Are You Solving?
Be specific. Common goals include:
- Deterring break-ins and robbery.
- Reducing shoplifting.
- Monitoring cash handling.
- Documenting customer disputes and slip-and-fall claims.
- Watching deliveries and back doors.
- Protecting inventory in stockrooms.
- Meeting an insurance requirement.
- Checking on the shop remotely.
Rank them. You can't cover everything on day one, and the ranking tells you where to spend first.
3. Walk Your Space
Sketch a floor plan. Mark every entrance and exit, the register, the safe, stockrooms, the back door, the sidewalk, the alley and any blind corners. Stand in each spot and think: if something went wrong here, what would I want to see? Faces at the door. Hands at the register. The shelf where inventory disappears. The back door at 3 a.m. Those answers give you your camera list. See our guide on how many cameras a business needs.
4. Decide on the Basics
Wired or wireless. Wired PoE cameras are more reliable for businesses. Wireless suits small add-ons. See our guide on PoE switches.
Local recorder or cloud. A local recorder gives you control and usually no required monthly fee for core viewing. Cloud adds offsite backup but may add fees. See our guide on cloud vs. local storage.
Resolution. 2K is enough for most interior views; 4K helps in wide areas. See our guide on resolution.
Storage days. Thirty days is a common planning figure; choose longer if disputes surface late. See our guide on sizing storage.
Remote viewing. Decide who needs access and set up named accounts. See our guide on viewing on your phone.
Audio. Generally leave it off.
5. Privacy and Employee Rules
Keep cameras out of restrooms, locker rooms and changing areas. Labor Law section 203-c says an employer may not cause a video recording to be made of an employee in a restroom, locker room or room designated for changing clothes, unless authorized by court order, and it allows civil damages and attorney's fees; see nysenate.gov. Penal Law section 250.45 covers unlawful surveillance in private settings; see nysenate.gov. Audio is regulated more strictly; New York's eavesdropping law is Penal Law section 250.05, and New Jersey's wiretap statute is N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-1 and following. Tell employees where cameras are and why. Consider a short written policy. In New York City, special rules may apply if you use facial recognition or biometric features; see our guide on biometric signage. See also our guide on workplace camera rules.
6. Protect the Data
Your recorder holds footage of customers and staff. Protect it. Change default passwords, use named accounts, enable two-factor authentication, update firmware and keep the recorder in a locked space. New York's SHIELD Act, General Business Law section 899-bb, requires businesses that own or license computerized data including private information of New York residents to maintain reasonable safeguards, with a scaled standard for small businesses; see nysenate.gov. See our guides on footage data security and on camera hacking.
7. Choosing an Installer
- Get three on-site quotes.
- Ask the same questions of each. See our guide on 15 questions to ask.
- Ask which license or registration applies, and verify it. See our guide on licensed installers.
- Request a certificate of insurance.
- Call references.
- Compare itemized scope, equipment, storage, warranty and exclusions. See our guide on comparing quotes.
- Watch for red flags. See our guide on installer scams.
8. Costs
Planning ranges for professionally installed small business systems in 2026:
| Business | Typical installed range |
|---|---|
| Small shop or salon, 4 to 6 cameras | $1,800 to $5,200 |
| Bodega or convenience store, 6 to 12 cameras | $2,800 to $8,500 |
| Office, 4 to 8 cameras | $1,800 to $6,800 |
| Restaurant, 8 to 12 cameras | $4,200 to $9,800 |
| Plate camera at a gate or driveway | $900 to $3,500 per lane |
| Annual maintenance plan | $300 to $1,500 |
Old buildings, long runs, high ceilings and special lenses raise costs. Ask about tax treatment with your accountant; see our guide on whether cameras are tax deductible. Financing may be available; see our guide on financing. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
9. Landlords, Leases and Insurance
If you rent, read your lease for rules about alterations, drilling, exterior changes and signs. Ask your landlord in writing. If you are in a landmarked building, see our guide on landmarked buildings. Ask your insurer whether cameras or alarms affect your premium or are required; see our guide on insurance discounts. NYC311 describes the NYPD's free Community Camera Sharing Program as open to any business with a security camera; read the program details and consider registering. See our registration guide.
10. News Context
Small businesses across the area are asking the same questions. In September 2026, NYPD sought two suspects in 19 commercial burglaries across 16 Brooklyn neighborhoods, according to News 12. In August 2026, ABC7 New York reported that thieves broke into several Bay Ridge restaurants overnight, with surveillance cameras capturing a hooded figure with a flashlight in a basement. In 2024, the city piloted connecting business cameras to precinct detectives in Harlem and Flushing, according to ABC7 New York. Cameras give you evidence and awareness. They work best with good locks, lighting, alarms and cash controls.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% and retail theft down 15% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
11. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you walk my space and give a written, itemized plan?
- Which cameras cover faces at the door and hands at the register?
- How many days of footage will I have?
- How do I view and export footage?
- What is your warranty and response time?
- How will you keep cameras out of restrooms and changing areas?
See our local pages for business camera installation in Staten Island, business installation in Brooklyn, commercial installation in Queens and our services page.
Ready to start? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
12. A Step-by-Step Timeline
Week 1: Write goals, sketch the space, confirm lease rules and call three installers.
Week 2: Site visits and itemized quotes. Verify credentials, insurance and references.
Week 3: Compare, choose, sign. Tell staff. Schedule installation, ideally outside peak hours.
Installation day: Clear access, be available, review camera views, test at night if possible.
Week 4: Learn the app, export a test clip, set passwords and accounts, post signs.
Ongoing: Monthly spot checks, quarterly access review, yearly professional inspection.
13. Common First-Time Mistakes
Buying the cheapest kit online and installing it yourself badly. Poor angles ruin footage.
Pointing cameras too high. Faces turn into hat tops.
Skimping on storage. Seven days isn't enough.
Forgetting the back door. It is where many break-ins start.
Not telling employees. Surprise creates conflict.
Leaving default passwords. An invitation to hackers.
Putting cameras where people undress or use restrooms. Legal trouble.
Ignoring maintenance. Dirty lenses and full drives defeat the purpose.
Skipping lighting. Night footage suffers.
14. A Sample Plan for a Small Retail Store
A 1,500-square-foot store in Staten Island wants to reduce shoplifting and document cash handling. The installer proposes six cameras: a face-level camera at the front door, one over the register, two covering aisles, one in the stockroom and one at the back door, plus one exterior camera on the sidewalk. A local recorder holds 45 days. Audio is off. Staff receive a written notice, and no camera views the restroom. Phone viewing is set up with named accounts and two-factor authentication. Estimated cost: $3,200 to $6,200.
More From Revolvis
Cameras are one layer of a secure property. The same in-house crew also handles the rest:
- Keyless entry installation and smart lock installation
- Access control systems and commercial access control
- Video doorbells and intercoms
- Alarm system installation
- Complete unified security
Learn more about Revolvis, meet the team, see all services, browse the blog or contact us.
Areas We Serve
Revolvis installs residential and commercial camera systems across the New York metro area. Every borough and county has its own building stock, rules and wiring challenges, so the plan for a Queens two-family is not the plan for a Manhattan co-op.
- Staten Island: houses, detached garages and shop fronts. See security camera installation in Staten Island.
- Brooklyn: brownstones, row houses and storefronts. See security camera installation in Brooklyn.
- Queens: attached brick homes, two-families and busy commercial strips. See security camera installation in Queens.
- The Bronx: pre-war buildings, bodegas and warehouses. See security camera installation in the Bronx.
- Manhattan: co-ops, condos, offices and retail. See security camera installation in Manhattan.
- Long Island: Nassau County and Suffolk County.
- New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken and nearby towns.
The full list is on the service areas page.
Get a Custom Quote After a Site Visit
Revolvis prices every job after a site visit, because the building sets the cost as much as the equipment does. A few things make the estimate faster and more accurate:
- The address and property type: house, apartment, co-op, condo, storefront or warehouse.
- Which doors, sides and areas you want covered, and what worries you most.
- Photos of those spots and any spots where you already have cabling or power.
- How many days of footage you want to keep and whether you want to watch on your phone.
- Any landlord, board, lender or insurer requirement.
Call 347-258-9165 or use the contact page to book a site visit. The quote you receive is written and itemized, so you can compare it line by line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What security camera system does a small business need? Usually a wired system with four to eight cameras covering the door, register, stockroom and back door, with a local recorder keeping at least 30 days.
How much does a small business camera system cost? Roughly $1,800 to $7,500 installed, depending on size and wiring.
Do I have to tell employees about cameras? Telling them is best practice, and keeping cameras out of restrooms and changing areas is essential.
Should I record audio? Generally not. Eavesdropping laws carry serious penalties.
Wired or wireless? Wired PoE is more reliable for most businesses.
How do I choose an installer? Get three on-site quotes, verify credentials and insurance, check references and compare scope and warranty.
Ready for a custom quote? Call Revolvis at 347-258-9165 for a site visit and a written, itemized estimate.
Safety note: A camera system supports, but does not replace, good locks, lighting, alarms and everyday habits. If you are in danger or witnessing a crime, call 911. Prices and legal summaries in this guide are general information for the New York metro area, not an offer or legal advice. A written quote after a site visit governs your actual price, and for legal questions you should confirm with the agencies linked in the article or a licensed attorney.