Commercial CCTV costs £1,200 to £3,500 installed for a small shop or office in the UK, £3,500 to £8,000 for a larger office or restaurant, and £8,000 to £20,000 or more for a warehouse, yard or multi-site business. The price depends mainly on the number of cameras, how far the cable runs are, the image quality you need to identify people, and how long footage must be kept.
Key Takeaways
- A 4-8 camera system for a shop or small office typically costs £1,200-£3,500 installed
- Restaurants and larger offices with 8-16 cameras usually cost £3,500-£8,000
- Warehouses and yards with long cable runs and 16-32+ cameras cost £8,000-£20,000+
- Businesses recording people must follow UK data protection rules, including signage
- Remote viewing and multi-site access usually add no monthly fee on IP systems
Business CCTV in London
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How Much Does Commercial CCTV Cost?
Commercial CCTV costs £1,200 to £20,000 or more installed in the UK. Most small businesses in London pay between £1,500 and £5,000. Business systems cost more than home systems because they usually need more cameras, longer cable runs, higher-resolution cameras at tills and entrances, and larger recorders that keep footage for 30 days or more.
| Premises | Typical cameras | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small shop, café or salon | 4-6 | £1,200-£2,800 |
| Office (one floor) | 6-10 | £2,000-£4,500 |
| Restaurant or pub | 8-14 | £3,000-£6,500 |
| Larger office or multi-floor | 12-24 | £5,000-£12,000 |
| Warehouse, yard or industrial unit | 16-32+ | £8,000-£20,000+ |
For a closer look at camera choice and system design for different businesses, see our guide to commercial CCTV systems in London.
What Affects the Price of Business CCTV?
Five things decide most of the price: the number of cameras, the cable route, the camera type, the recording time and the working hours you need the installation done in.
- Cable routes: high ceilings, suspended ceilings and long runs to car parks or yards add labour. Each network cable can run up to 100 metres before extra equipment is needed.
- Camera type: standard 4MP or 5MP cameras suit most areas. Tills, entrances and number-plate capture need higher resolution or specialist lenses, which cost more.
- Recording time: keeping 30 days of footage from 16 cameras needs several times more storage than 7 days from 4 cameras.
- Out-of-hours work: shops and restaurants often need installation before opening or after closing, which can add to labour.
- Existing cabling: reusing good existing cables when upgrading an old system can save a significant share of the labour.
How Much Do Commercial CCTV Cameras and Recorders Cost?
Individual items for a business system typically cost the following installed. These figures help when comparing quotes line by line.
| Item | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|
| Standard 4-5MP IP camera | £150-£300 each |
| 4K or high-detail camera for tills and entrances | £250-£450 each |
| Number-plate (ANPR) camera | £500-£1,500 each |
| 8-channel network recorder (NVR) with storage | £400-£900 |
| 16-32 channel NVR with extra storage | £900-£2,500 |
| PoE network switch for larger systems | £150-£600 |
| Monitor for staff viewing | £150-£350 |
What Are the Rules for CCTV in a Business?
A business that records people on CCTV must follow UK data protection law. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) publishes guidance on this, and most organisations recording identifiable people need to pay the ICO data protection fee. In practice that means:
- Clear signs telling people that CCTV is in operation, and who to contact about it
- A clear reason for recording, such as crime prevention or staff safety
- Cameras positioned to cover your premises, not private areas such as toilets or neighbouring homes
- Footage kept only as long as needed, commonly around 30 days, and stored securely
- A process for responding when someone asks for a copy of footage of themselves
Audio recording is far more intrusive than video, and most businesses switch it off. If you manage a building on behalf of others, our page on security for property managers covers communal areas.
Are There Ongoing Costs for Business CCTV?
Most professionally installed IP systems have no monthly fee for remote viewing: you watch live and recorded footage on the manufacturer's app. Ongoing costs usually come from maintenance and, if you choose it, remote monitoring.
| Ongoing cost | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Annual maintenance visit | £150-£450 depending on cameras |
| Replacement hard drive (every 3-5 years) | £120-£300 fitted |
| Remote monitoring by a monitoring centre | £30-£150+ a month |
| Cloud backup of footage (optional) | £5-£20 per camera a month |
Should a Business Choose IP or Analogue CCTV?
IP (network) CCTV is the standard choice for new business systems. It gives sharper images, power and data over one cable, and easy remote access for several staff or sites. Analogue HD systems can still make sense when upgrading a building that already has good coaxial cabling, as the existing cables can be reused. A survey shows which route costs less for your premises.
How Long Does a Commercial CCTV Installation Take?
A small shop or office system is usually installed in one day. Restaurants and larger offices typically take one to three days, and warehouses or multi-site systems longer. Work can be planned around trading hours, and every system is handed over with app access set up for the people who need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does commercial CCTV cost?
Commercial CCTV typically costs £1,200 to £3,500 for a small shop or office, £3,500 to £8,000 for a restaurant or larger office, and £8,000 to £20,000 or more for warehouses and yards.
How much does a CCTV camera cost per camera for a business?
A standard 4-5MP business camera typically costs £150 to £300 installed, and a high-detail 4K camera for tills or entrances £250 to £450. The recorder, cabling and set-up are priced on top.
Does a business need a sign for CCTV?
Yes. UK data protection guidance from the ICO expects businesses to display clear signs telling people that CCTV is in operation and who is responsible for it.
How long should a business keep CCTV footage?
Only as long as needed for its purpose. Many businesses keep around 30 days, which is long enough to review most incidents, and then footage is automatically overwritten.
Is there a monthly fee for business CCTV?
Not usually. Most professionally installed IP systems let you view live and recorded footage on an app with no subscription. Optional remote monitoring or cloud backup has a monthly cost.
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