Buying CCTV for a shop or office: a practical checklist

Most CCTV quotes are hard to compare because every installer assumes something different about your site. Ten minutes spent answering the questions below before you ask for prices will save you a lot of back-and-forth — and a system that records nothing useful on the day you need it.

Start with what you need to see

Walk around the premises and list the spots that matter: the entrance, the cash counter, the stockroom, the parking or loading area. For each one, decide whether you need to recognise a face or only see that someone was there. Recognising faces at a door needs a closer, higher-resolution camera than a wide view of a warehouse floor.

• Entrance and counter: face-level detail, usually 2–4 MP is enough at short distance
• Open areas and parking: wider view; think about night-time lighting
• Outdoor cameras need a weather-proof rating, and night vision if the area is dark

IP or HD analogue?

HD analogue cameras connect to a DVR over coaxial cable and are simple for a small shop with a handful of cameras. IP cameras connect to an NVR over a network cable, carry higher resolutions more easily and suit larger sites or multiple floors. Neither is "better" in every case — describe the site and let two or three installers recommend, then compare the complete package.

Decide how many days of recording you want

This decides the hard disk size, which is where many quotes quietly differ. A shop might want 15 days; a warehouse with occasional audits might want 30. Ask each installer to state the disk size and the number of days it will actually hold at the resolution they are quoting.

What a complete quote should list

1. Camera models and how many of each
2. Recorder (DVR or NVR) and its channel count — leave room for one or two more cameras later
3. Hard disk size and the recording days it gives
4. Cabling, connectors and power supply
5. Installation and configuration charges, including mobile viewing setup
6. Warranty, and who you call if a camera stops working

If a quote is missing any of these, ask before you compare prices.

Before you pay

Ask to see live and recorded footage from your own phone before the installer leaves, check the night view of at least one outdoor camera, and make sure you — not only the installer — have the admin password for the recorder.

Ready to get quotes? Browse CCTV and security suppliers or post your requirement with your camera count, recording days and city.