Informational
Security Cost Guide Pricing Methodology
Pricing methodology
The Security Cost Guide Pricing Methodology combines current SecurityWholesalers equipment pricing, Australian market evidence and itemised project allowances. Use the ranges and scope checks below as a practical benchmark for comparing complete quotations on a like-for-like basis.
Five-layer cost model
| Layer | Includes | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Devices, recorders, controllers, panels, locks, storage, power and licences | Current product/category data and public supplier material |
| Labour | Survey, cable or door work, mounting, programming, test and handover | Recent Australian public trade ranges and reviewed project assumptions |
| Materials/access | Cable, conduit, fixings, batteries, travel, lifts, trenching and making good | Explicit allowances or written quote inclusions |
| Specialist work | Electrical, locksmith, gate, fire, building, network or engineering work | Separated scope from appropriately qualified providers |
| Ownership | Monitoring, cloud, SIM, software, batteries, credentials, storage and maintenance | Current service terms and lifecycle assumptions |
Evidence grades
- High: current first-party data plus multiple recent Australian sources with matching scope.
- Moderate: a current first-party or credible Australian public anchor supported by a transparent cost model.
- Indicative: an editorial planning model awaiting stronger current price evidence.
- Unknown: no numerical claim should be published; show scope only until reviewed.
Range construction
- Define a named low, typical and complex scenario.
- Build the same bill of materials and capacity assumptions for each.
- Model labour by real units such as cable runs, doors, devices, setup and tests.
- Add access, materials and specialist allowances without hiding them in hardware.
- Cross-check the total against current Australian public evidence.
- Record date, GST treatment, location, exclusions and confidence.
Minimum source record
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Source URL and publisher | Lets a reviewer reopen the evidence instead of relying on an unattributed number. |
| Accessed and last-updated dates | Shows whether a price is fresh enough for a volatile product or labour market. |
| Geography and currency | Prevents overseas pricing or a regional call-out rate being treated as nationally typical. |
| Scope and inclusions | Distinguishes equipment-only, labour-only and installed-system figures. |
| GST treatment | Avoids a silent ten-percent mismatch between sources and quotations. |
| Claim supported | Connects each source to the exact range or statement it substantiates. |
When evidence becomes stale
Do not preserve an old figure simply because it once had a citation. Recheck the source, current product path and market assumptions. If current evidence cannot support a number, replace it with a scope framework and mark the numerical range as unknown until reviewed. A clear unknown is more useful than false precision, especially where labour access, subscription terms or specialist trade responsibilities have not been established.
Ongoing review checklist
- Recheck the evidence supporting numerical claims.
- Check that low, typical and complex scenarios use internally consistent equipment and labour assumptions.
- Confirm currency, geography, GST treatment, review date and exclusions.
- Test every internal guide and category link, including mobile presentation and table overflow.
- Verify that the content never implies an installation service, guaranteed price or universal compliance solution.
- Record the review date and replace expired or unverifiable figures with scope-only guidance.
Update policy
Pricing, product paths, licensing references and technical statements should be checked on a scheduled basis and after material market or regulatory changes. Expired or unverifiable figures should be replaced with scope-only guidance.
Each review should distinguish a routine date refresh from a substantive evidence update. A page receives a new checked date only after its links, equipment examples, cost assumptions, jurisdictional notes and calculations have been reopened and tested. Material changes should be recorded in the internal evidence register so later reviewers can understand why a range moved.
Important boundaries
- These guides do not create an installation offer.
- Product pricing and contractor pricing are not interchangeable.
- Compliance and licensing requirements vary by work type and jurisdiction and require authoritative checking.
- External links inform research; they are not endorsements.
Frequently asked questions
- Why are cost ranges used instead of one average?
Security projects differ by equipment capability, cable and door conditions, access, commissioning and recurring services. A range with explicit assumptions is more honest than one unsupported average.
- How often should pricing be reviewed?
Core price guides should be checked at least every six months and sooner after material product, labour, subscription, tax or regulatory changes.
- Are product-page prices used as installation prices?
No. Live product prices can evidence current equipment cost only. Labour, materials, specialist work and ongoing services are separate layers.