CALSAGA

What CALSAGA does

CALSAGA (California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards and Associates) is a Sacramento-based nonprofit industry association founded in 1994 that serves as the sole collective advocacy body for California's licensed private security industry. It represents Private Patrol Operators (PPOs), Proprietary Security Employers (PSEs), Private Security Training Facilities (PSTFs), and Associate vendors, with members ranging from small local firms to the largest global security companies, including Allied Universal, Securitas USA, and GardaWorld, all of which hold board seats. The association's primary product is the proprietary CALSAGA Member Portal & Training Database, a compliance-focused online system that tracks officer training records and generates BSIS-approved serialized certificates for regulatory compliance under California Code of Regulations and AB 2880. CALSAGA also operates an approved BSIS Training Facility (ID #2670). It maintains a full-time Sacramento lobbyist and a Security PAC, publishes the quarterly Californian newsletter, and runs the Annual Conference, Security University, and Coffee Chat programs. Revenue is generated primarily through membership dues (PPO/PSE: $250 + $6.50 per officer; PSTF and Associate: $495 flat), training materials sales, events and conferences, and Network Partner programs. The Network Partner ecosystem includes workforce management, scheduling, and security operations technology vendors (e.g., TEAM Software, OfficerApps, Celayix, Belfry, Silvertrac, PlixAI) that provide discounts to members.

Name

CALSAGA

Legal name

California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards and Associates

Website

https://calsaga.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CALSAGA is the California statewide nonprofit trade association founded in 1994 that advocates for licensed private security companies (PPOs, PSEs, training facilities, and vendors) through legislative lobbying, BSIS-compliant training tools, and member networking programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees charged based on license type and number of officers. PPO and PSE members pay $250 base + $6.50 per officer. PSTF and Associate members pay flat $495 annual fee. Automatic discounts applied for first two years of membership.
2. Training Materials: Security Officer Training Materials sold to members for compliance with AB 2880 and other training regulations.
3. Events and Conferences: Revenue from Annual Conference registrations, exhibitor opportunities, Security University training events, and Coffee Chat programs.
4. Network Partner Programs: Companies become Network Partners by pledging support to the private security industry and delivering value to CALSAGA members, contributing to industry growth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CALSAGA is a nonprofit industry membership association for California's private security industry, providing legislative and regulatory advocacy at the state Capitol and the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services (BSIS), along with training compliance tools (including a proprietary Training Database and serialized certificate generator), networking events, publications, and discounted vendor services for its member companies.

Product overview

CALSAGA is an industry membership association, not a software product company. Its primary service offering is membership in the California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards and Associates, which includes access to the CALSAGA Member Portal & Training Database — an online system for tracking security officer training and generating compliant certificates. The association also provides legislative advocacy, training resources, networking events, and industry publications (The Californian newsletter) to its members. The organization does not offer a unified SaaS platform with modular products; rather, it provides membership services, compliance tools, and advocacy on behalf of the private security industry in California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Californian: The quarterly newsletter of CALSAGA covering industry news, technology, compliance, best business practices, and legislative updates.
• Security University
• Security PAC
• CALSAGA Foundation

Products and services

• CALSAGA Membership (PPO/PSE/PSTF/Associate Tiers) Annual membership in CALSAGA for California-licensed private patrol operators, proprietary security employers, private security training facilities, and vendor/associate companies. Includes access to the member portal, training database, advocacy, networking, and member benefits.
• CALSAGA Member Portal & Training Database Online member portal and training database that allows members to track security officer training records and generate BSIS-compliant serialized certificates for California training regulations.
• Security Officer Training Materials Training materials sold to members to satisfy California AB 2880 and related security officer training requirements.
• Annual Conference Annual industry conference for CALSAGA members and security industry professionals, featuring exhibitor opportunities, training, and networking.
• Security University Training Events Recurring training events organized by CALSAGA for security industry professionals to maintain compliance and continuing education.
• Coffee Chat Networking Program Informal networking sessions for CALSAGA members to connect with peers and industry leaders.
• The Californian Quarterly Newsletter Quarterly newsletter covering industry news, technology, compliance, business best practices, and legislative updates for CALSAGA members.
• Legislative and BSIS Advocacy Services Representation of members before the California Legislature, BSIS, and Department of Consumer Affairs, supported by a full-time Sacramento lobbyist.
• Network Partner Program Program allowing companies that provide goods or services to security firms to become Network Partners, delivering discounted value to CALSAGA members and supporting the private security industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• BSIS Approved Training Facility ID #2670

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Network PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork Partners are companies that provide security-specific goods and/or services to CALSAGA members to help save money. Each Network Partner has pledged support to the private security industry and demonstrates dedication to delivering value to CALSAGA members, fostering relationships with security professionals, and contributing to industry growth.
• Bureau of Security & Investigative Services (BSIS)coreOthersBSIS is the California regulatory agency overseeing private security licensing. CALSAGA has a close working relationship with BSIS Chief and staff to discuss programs improving public and consumer safety. CALSAGA serves as an advocate to BSIS and Department of Consumer Affairs on behalf of members.
• CALSAGA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CALSAGA Foundation (calsagafoundation.org) is a separate foundation organization supporting the mission and activities of CALSAGA.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• PSA Security Network: PSA Security Network is the world's largest systems integrator consortium, providing group purchasing, training, and operational support to security integrators. It overlaps with CALSAGA's member base (security companies) but operates a cooperative purchasing model rather than pure advocacy.
• ASIS International: ASIS International is the largest global association for security management professionals, offering certifications (CPP, PSP), standards, and advocacy. While much larger and broader in scope than CALSAGA, it shares the membership-association model and serves overlapping security-industry constituents.

Direct peers

• Security Industry Association (SIA): SIA is the national trade association for the security products and solutions industry, including manufacturers, integrators, and service providers. Like CALSAGA, SIA provides legislative advocacy, standards development, and member education, but operates at the national U.S. level rather than California-only.
• Electronic Security Association (ESA): ESA is a national trade association representing the electronic security industry (alarm, monitoring, integration). Comparable to CALSAGA in offering advocacy, training, and member benefits, but focused on electronic security rather than physical guard and patrol services.
• National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA): NBFAA is the oldest trade association representing the alarm and security industry, providing advocacy, training, and member services. Comparable in mission to CALSAGA but national in scope and focused on alarm/fire rather than guard/patrol services.

Regional players

• The Monitoring Association (TMA): TMA is a trade association for central station monitoring companies, alarm monitoring, and security signaling. It shares CALSAGA's association structure and industry adjacency but serves a different sub-segment of the security ecosystem.
• California State Sheriffs' Association (CSSA): CSSA is a California-focused professional association representing sheriffs and law enforcement leadership with legislative advocacy in Sacramento. It shares CALSAGA's California-centric regulatory focus and Sacramento lobbying presence but serves public-sector rather than private-security members.

Emerging players

• International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO): IFPO provides training, certification (CPO), and educational resources specifically for protection officers and security guards. Comparable to CALSAGA's training mandate, though IFPO operates globally and focuses more on individual certifications than legislative advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/calsaga
• Facebookfacebook.com/CALSAGA.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calsaga-california-association-of-licensed-security-agencies-guards-&-associates

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CALSAGA