American Alarm

What American Alarm does

American Alarm Corporation is a privately held security systems integrator and UL-certified monitoring provider founded in 1995 by Scott Gilkey and headquartered at 304 Bombay Ln., Roswell, Georgia. The company serves residential homeowners and small-to-medium businesses across the Metro Atlanta area and North Georgia, delivering integrated security solutions spanning intrusion detection (built primarily on DSC control panels), NFPA-compliant fire alarm systems, high-definition IP security cameras, and electronic access control. Nearly thirty years of continuous operation has built an installed base of several thousand monitored accounts, with customer acquisition driven almost entirely by word-of-mouth referrals rather than paid advertising, and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating maintained for over two decades.

The company's technical architecture is layered on the Alarm.com interactive monitoring platform, which provides cellular/IP communication, mobile arm/disarm, real-time notifications, and live camera feeds without American Alarm developing proprietary monitoring software in-house. Scott Gilkey, the founder and sole owner, holds a NICET Level IV certification—the highest level of fire alarm engineering credentialing—plus an unlimited Georgia low-voltage license, providing the technical and regulatory spine of the business. In April 2025 the company layered new AI-enabled capabilities onto its commercial monitoring offering, including verified video/audio alarms, AI-driven threat pattern detection, two-way audio deterrence, and automatic premises lockdown, positioning these as premium service differentiators rather than commoditized features.

Revenue is generated primarily through monthly recurring monitoring subscriptions priced from $18.95/month for basic residential service to over $100/month for complex commercial installations, with a $26.95/month standard residential tier tied to a 3-year monitoring agreement. One-time installation fees (from a $95 promotional offer up to $7,500+ for medium-sized commercial systems) and hardware sales provide transactional revenue alongside the recurring base. The go-to-market motion is exclusively direct and consultative: inbound phone calls and website contact forms feed on-site property assessments by company-employed or contracted licensed technicians. The company operates with a reported 1–10 employees, with no disclosed resellers, dealers, franchisees, or external institutional investors.

Name

American Alarm

Legal name

American Alarm Corporation

Website

https://americanalarm.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

American Alarm Corporation is a Roswell, Georgia-based private security systems integrator and UL-certified central station monitoring provider serving residential homeowners and small-to-medium businesses across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia since 1995.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Security System Monitoring Services

NAICS

Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Security Systems Services (56162)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPABAHAA

Fire Alarm Systems (Design/Install/Service/Monitoring)

Business & Public Services/Facilities Management & Building Services/Fire, Life Safety & Building Compliance Services

SECONDARYBPAKAFAC

Fire Alarm Monitoring & Dispatch

Business & Public Services/Security & Investigations Services/Alarm Monitoring & Emergency Dispatch Services

SECONDARYBPAKAFAB

Commercial & Industrial Alarm Monitoring

Business & Public Services/Security & Investigations Services/Alarm Monitoring & Emergency Dispatch Services

SECONDARYBPAKAFAA

Residential Alarm Monitoring (Burglar/Intrusion)

Business & Public Services/Security & Investigations Services/Alarm Monitoring & Emergency Dispatch Services

SECONDARYHSAHAAAI

Fire Alarm Monitoring Services

Home & Personal Services/Home Security, Alarm & Smart Home Services/Monitored Security & Intrusion Alarm Services

Keywords

• Security system monitoring
• Fire alarm installation
• Commercial access control
• Video surveillance systems
• Alarm system integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Roswell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Monthly Security Monitoring (Recurring): American Alarm earns recurring monthly revenue from monitoring agreements. Residential monitoring starts at $18.95/month, with commercial monitoring ranging from $40 to over $100/month depending on system complexity and features. Most residential agreements require a 3-year monitoring contract at $26.95/month (after a $95 activation fee), though no-contract options are also available.
2. Security System Installation: One-time fees for professional installation of alarm systems, cameras, access control, and fire alarm systems. Current promotional pricing offers installation starting at $95 for qualifying residential systems. Commercial alarm system installation typically ranges from $150–$600 per sensor plus $100–$200 for the control panel, with total costs of $1,500–$3,000 for small businesses and $3,500–$7,500+ for medium businesses.
3. Equipment and Hardware Sales: Sale of security hardware including control panels, sensors, cameras, and access control devices as part of system installations. Equipment costs vary widely — basic DIY kits can start as low as $130, while comprehensive professionally installed business systems range from $2,000 to $10,000+ depending on complexity.
4. Alarm Reactivation and Takeover Services: American Alarm reactivates existing alarm systems and takes over monitoring from prior providers, offering free reactivation for existing systems with continued monthly monitoring service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

American Alarm Corporation designs, installs, and monitors integrated intrusion alarm, NFPA-compliant fire alarm, IP video surveillance, and electronic access control systems for residential and commercial properties. The company provides 24/7 UL-certified central station monitoring as the connective platform across all installed systems, with interactive services powered by Alarm.com for remote arming, real-time alerts, and verified alarm response. Services cover on-site risk assessments, professional installation by licensed technicians, alarm reactivation for existing systems, and ongoing repair/maintenance in the Metro Atlanta and North Georgia service area.

Product overview

American Alarm is a security systems integrator and monitoring provider offering a unified portfolio of interconnected security solutions. The core offering centers on 24/7 UL-certified central station monitoring, which serves as the platform connecting all system types. The product line spans five integrated categories: (1) Security System Monitoring - the monitoring platform connecting all hardware; (2) Fire Alarm Systems - NFPA-compliant detection with heat sensors, smoke detectors, and CO2 sensors; (3) Security Camera/CCTV Systems - high-definition IP cameras with AI analytics; (4) Access Control Systems - electronic entry management via key cards, fobs, codes, and biometrics; and (5) Residential and Commercial Alarm Systems - intrusion detection via door/window sensors and motion detectors. These components integrate through Alarm.com platform for mobile access and two-way communication, allowing customers to monitor and control all systems remotely. The company specializes in DSC panel systems and offers alarm reactivation services for existing equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Security System Monitoring 24/7 UL-certified central station monitoring service providing continuous surveillance of intrusion, fire, and environmental sensors for residential and commercial properties across Metro Atlanta, with rapid emergency response dispatch and interactive Alarm.com-powered mobile access.
• Alarm Reactivation & Monitoring Service to reactivate and take over existing customer alarm systems, bringing them under American Alarm's professional 24/7 central station monitoring so homeowners and businesses can retain their existing hardware while gaining monitoring service.
• Commercial Alarm Repair & Maintenance Repair and preventive maintenance services for commercial intrusion and fire alarm systems to ensure ongoing reliability, code compliance, and minimal downtime for Atlanta-area businesses.
• NFPA Fire Alarm Service NFPA 72-compliant fire alarm design, installation, monitoring, and certificate issuance for commercial properties, including heat sensors, smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, notification devices, and backup power, ensuring compliance with fire marshal inspections.
• Commercial Alarm Systems Commercial-grade intrusion detection systems with professional installation, multi-zone coverage, and 24/7 monitoring integration for retail stores, offices, warehouses, healthcare facilities, and other businesses across Metro Atlanta.
• Fire Alarm Systems NFPA-compliant fire alarm systems including fire alarm control panels, heat sensors, smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, notification devices, and backup power for commercial properties requiring fire code compliance.
• Commercial CCTV & Surveillance Systems High-definition IP-based commercial surveillance systems with remote viewing, motion detection, night vision, AI-powered analytics, two-way audio, and integration with central station monitoring for businesses.
• Access Control Systems Electronic access control solutions including key cards, digital fobs, keypad codes, and biometric systems to manage and audit building entry for homes and commercial facilities.
• Wireless Security System Cellular-based wireless security system package for residential and small business customers that removes the need for a landline, using a 4G communication device and Alarm.com interactive services for remote arm/disarm and mobile alerts.
• Advanced AI-Powered Business Security Monitoring Enhanced 24/7 commercial monitoring service that uses AI-driven video and audio analytics to verify real threats, enables two-way audio deterrence through camera speakers, triggers automatic premises lockdown when serious threats are detected, and routes verified alarms to law enforcement for priority response.

Quantifiable outcome

• UL-certified 24/7 monitoring with fast dispatch times — the company claims among the quickest response times in the industry and 24-hour turnaround for non-emergency service calls.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability9 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Alarm.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationAmerican Alarm's security systems are powered by Alarm.com, using their interactive monitoring platform. The company's website displays the 'Powered by Alarm.com' logo, indicating a technology integration partnership. Alarm.com provides the cloud platform enabling mobile app access, real-time alerts, remote arm/disarm, live camera feeds, and cellular/IP communication paths for the installed security systems. This platform integration allows American Alarm to offer smart home and mobile-first security features without developing proprietary monitoring software.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Vivint Smart Home: National smart-home security provider with professionally installed and monitored systems; competes with American Alarm in the integrated home security and video monitoring space with greater scale and marketing reach.
• Brinks Home Security: National residential and small-business security provider offering professionally monitored intrusion, fire, and smart-home systems; an incumbent competitor with much larger scale.
• ADT Inc. Largest US residential and commercial security company with national monitoring infrastructure; competes head-to-head with American Alarm in the Atlanta SMB and residential market as a much larger incumbent.

Direct peers

• CPI Security: Southeast regional alarm company (Charlotte, NC) offering professionally installed and monitored intrusion, fire, video, and smart-home systems to residential and SMB customers — directly comparable in business model and customer mix.
• Guardian Security: Regional commercial and residential security provider offering intrusion, fire alarm, video surveillance, and access control services — comparable in service mix and mid-market commercial focus.
• Ackerman Security: Atlanta-based security systems integrator and monitoring provider serving residential and commercial customers in the Southeast with intrusion, fire, video, and access control offerings — the most directly comparable regional peer to American Alarm.
• Vector Security: Multi-regional alarm monitoring and security systems provider with a strong footprint in the Eastern US, offering intrusion, fire, video, and access control solutions for homes and businesses — comparable in service breadth and target segments.

Emerging players

• Ring (Amazon): Amazon-owned DIY home security and video doorbell brand with optional low-cost monitoring; disrupts the entry-level residential alarm segment where American Alarm's base tier competes.
• SimpliSafe: DIY home security brand with optional professional monitoring; targets the same residential price-sensitive segment as American Alarm but with a no-install, self-setup model.

Others

• Alarm.com: Cloud platform powering American Alarm's interactive monitoring, mobile app, and cellular communications; ecosystem partner and upstream technology provider rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/atlantaalarm
• Facebookfacebook.com/americanalarmcorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-alarm-corporation

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Alarm