Does FlashlightNOW function as a broker, listserv, or contractor?

Welcome to FlashlightNOW, the new online marketplace, web, and mobile applications that make it easy, efficient, and cost effective to find, hire, and do business directly with verified licensed Security Companies, Private Investigative Companies, and Expert Public Safety.

Unlike the large companies that dominate your search results, FlashlightNOW does not get in between you and your actual provider. For example, these other companies will often quote you a significant price, then subcontract the work to others at a much lower price. These prime contractors charge you more and pay your local providers less. FlashlightNOW simply enables and facilitates the easy and frictionless direct connection between you and your local, verified licensed providers. There are no finders fees, paywalls, or jacked up prices. Your quotes, contracts, and eventual payments are all between you and your local provider. You save money and keep it local. This helps your provider, improves wages for their employees, and promotes the wellbeing of your community! Thank you! 

Choose a provider you’d like to request a quote from the populated list on the find services page . Click “Request a Quote” in the top right corner of your screen. A request form will automatically populate. Fill in as much information and detail as you can to receive the most accurate quote from the provider. Click the “Request Quote” button at the bottom of the form to send it to the provider

Choose a provider you’d like to contact from the populated list on the find services page . Click “Send a Message” in the top right corner of your screen. Type your message and it will be delivered to the provider’s FlashlightNOW inbox immediately after it is sent. To view any new messages you receive, click on the message bubble in the right hand corner and click “View All” to open your personal inbox. *Coming soon! Feature that enables you to simultaneously request quotes from three different providers.

Login to your account on FlashlightNOW and click “Find Services” to search for a provider. You will be taken to the Find Services page . Enter the zip code or city name to find providers in that location. You can narrow down your search by expanding the filters on the left hand side and selecting which services and skills you’d like to search for. Click “Apply” and it would populate a list of providers that fit your selected criteria. When you find a provider you’d like to contact, click on their icon to open up their full profile. From here, you can send the provider a message by clicking “Send a Message” or request pricing by clicking on “Request a Quote.” You can always send a provider a message, but it isn’t required. Whereas, you will always need to request a quote for a provider the first time you hire them. To request a quote, you will need to know basic information about the event such as date, time, and location. The provider will review the information you provided and send you a contract which will be found in your messages. Click on “View Contract” within your messages to view the provider’s estimate. You will have the option to either accept or deny the contract. By accepting the contract, you will be securing the provider for your event and agree to the provider’s policies as stated in the contract. Once the contract is accepted, it will be added to your events. You can monitor your upcoming events and past history by clicking on the my events tab in the header at any time. You can also message the provider directly at any time through your messages as well.

Login to your account. Click on the profile icon in the right hand corner of your screen. Click “Change Password.” Enter your current and new password. Click “Save” and your password will be updated.

Go to the sign in page of FlashlightNOW. Click “Forgot Password?” Enter your email address. You will receive a link to reset your password in your email inbox if you have a FlashlightNOW account. Follow that link to finish resetting your password. *Check your spam folder if you do not see the email in your inbox.

Please reach out to us at  hello@flashlightnow.com  to change your email address.

FlashlightNOW is committed to creating marketplaces where only legitimate, law-abiding companies do business. Maintaining this standard will attract good customers and further promote the important services provided by you, the true professionals. Companies that create an account on FlashlightNOW platforms must attest to and then maintain the following: Meet all applicable business, credentials, qualifications, and licensing requirements set forth in the state and area in which you and your company are registered and/or in which you will provide services. Agree to follow all federal, state, and local jurisdictional laws and regulations as they relate to the delivery of all security services, training and consulting services, private investigative services, and executive and close protection services where you are legally authorized to provide those services. Follow all mandated requirements in the respective area in which you and your company operate as it relates to the hiring, onboarding, and training of personnel. Where applicable, this includes, but is not limited to, conducting pre-employment criminal and civil background checks, drug screenings, fingerprinting, and pre-assignment and refresher trainings. Comply with mandated regulations in your area regarding being bonded and insured. Agree that if you and/or your company are no longer able to attest to meeting the requirements of FlashlightNOW, or any others as required by law, you will immediately notify FlashlightNOW of non-compliance. Additional requirement for the providers of Security, Private Investigative and Executive/Close Protection services: Each state has different statutory requirements that providers of these services must meet to obtain and maintain licensure. Only providers that met all required state statutes, regulations, and/or local regulations where these services are delivered can do business on FlashlightNOW.  FlashlightNOW verifies that required license are valid during the account creation process, and then performs periodic verification audits to ensure statutory compliance. Failure to maintain a valid license will result in a provider’s suspension or removal from the FlashlightNOW marketplace. Allegations of gross or illegal misconduct will result in an immediate account suspension and referral to the state’s governing board. Repeated, valid customer complaints may also result in the suspension and/or revocation of account.

You are not required to add any additional files. However, many providers find it helpful to be able to attach an alternative contract, copies of floor plans, or any other attachments that may be helpful. To add any additional files, click on the “Exhibit Files” tab within the event contract form. Then, click on ADD EXHIBIT FILES. This is where you can upload as many documents as you need (e.g. alternate contract, floor plans, reports). Once you’re ready to send the contract to the customer, click SEND in the top right corner of the page.  The customer will receive the contract and be able to view all exhibits and attachments. These attachments will remain within the contract form so that it can be referenced by either party at any time. The customer will be able to accept or decline the contract. If it is declined, you are able make edits, add, or remove information and attachments until the contract is accepted.

All payments are collected and paid through Stripe. When you created your provider account, you should have created a Stripe account, which links to your FlashlightNOW provider account to receive payouts. When you send an invoice to a customer, you will see the invoice status as “Open.” The customer will receive and pay the invoice directly within their FlashlightNOW account. They are able to keep track of upcoming and paid invoices, similar to what your provider dashboard looks like. When the customer pays an invoice, it is sent and verified through Stripe. Once it is processed through Stripe, the invoice status on FlashlightNOW will change. This processing time may take up to seven business days to reflect as “Paid” on FlashlightNOW. For additional information, please visit Stripe’s website about payments and payouts .

To create your free FlashlightNOW account, first go to app.flashlightnow.com on any device and click sign up. Once you click sign up, you will fill out the information and click SIGN UP AS A CUSTOMER OR GUARD. You will then receive an email from FlashlightNOW to confirm your account. Click the VERIFY button. This will redirect you back to the site and bring you to your profile. After you fill out the missing information on your profile, you are an active customer and able to use the FlashlightNOW Protection On Demand App. Once you download the FlashlightNOW Protection On Demand App, you can log in with the account you created and are ready to summon a guard to keep you safe and secure.

Personal safety escort: $30 for 30 minutes/per event. Festivals Concerts Students and Teachers sporting events fairs and carnivals Bars and nightclubs Real estate agent safety House walkthroughs House Checks Nights out alone or with friends Business Safety Escorts: $70 per event/hour. 1-hour minimum charge. ATM service protection Bank drop escort. Personal guarding Employee Safety Escorts Weddings Performers Shelter residents and safe places Roadside protection Commercial building walk throughs Real estate showings and walkthroughs Business Security: $80 per event/hour. 2-hour minimum charge. Retail Construction Sites Convenience and Grocery stores Bars, restaurants, and night clubs Supplemental security staffing Commercial property Businesses Workplace security Storage Facilities Employee Terminations Commercial Eviction standby’s Residential Security: $80 per event/hour. 2-hour minimum charge. Apartment homes Townhomes Housing developments individual property Home building sites Parties Neighborhood events Neighborhood security Residential associations Eviction standby’s Alarms and open doors Institutional Security: $80 per event/hour. 2-hour minimum charge. Houses of worship Security Primary and secondary Schools, colleges and universities Voting site security Government Agencies and Buildings Community Centers Youth and senior recreation centers Wedding security Libraries Alarms and open doors

Personal Safety Escorts: The base charge is $30.00 plus tax for 30 minutes of service. A Personal Safety Escort lasting more than 30 minutes will be charged $1.50 per plus tax per minute. There is a $10.00 charge for cancellations made more than 5 minutes after the Protective Agent has accepted the order. Business Safety Escorts: The base charge is $70 plus tax per order/hour. A Business Safety Escort lasting more than 1 hour will be charged $17.50 plus tax per quarter hour. There is a $10.00 charge for cancellations made more than 5 minutes after the Protective Agent has accepted the order. Business, Residential, and Institutional Security Guarding/Protective Agent Services: The base rate is $80 plus tax per order/hour. There is a minimum 2-hour charge for each order. Guarding lasting more than 2 hours will be charged $20.00 plus tax every quarter hour. There is a $20 charge for cancellations made more than 5 minutes after the Provider has accepted the order. Please note: The rate timer starts when the Security Guard/Protective Agent registers their arrival on the Protection On Demand mobile application. A customer that cancels service after the Security Guard/Protective Agent has arrived is charged the base rate. Rates do not include sales tax or common credit card transaction fees. All credit card payments are processed by Stripe, the secure PCI (Payment Card Industry) payment processing platform, trusted by millions of companies and customers worldwide. Personal Safety Escort is reserved for Personal Safety Escorts and designated Special Events like festivals and concerts. If chosen incorrectly, your Security Guard/Protective Agent may recommend the best service type. Attention Providers, Protective Agents, and Security guards. Improving safety is our purpose: Protection On Demand is a new service that may be confusing to first time users of POD. If you find that a customer has selected the wrong service type, do not deny service. Please provide them with information and complete the service. For more information, please consult your Company’s Policy and FlashlightNOW P.O.D. policy.

FlashlightNOW vetted and selected Stripe as the globally secure and efficient payment platform for exchanging invoices and payments. The primary payment method for the FlashlightNOW Online Marketplace is ACH. The required method of payment for the FlashlightNOW Protection On Demand Mobile app and service is credit card.

FlashlightNOW is committed to helping keep you safe and sound. The FlashlightNOW Protection On Demand mobile app connects you to legally licensed security companies and their qualified guards and protective agents. Safety Tips Call 911 immediately if you have been hurt or think that you are in danger. All guards and protective agents are the employees of licensed security companies and must meet the qualifications as required by the laws and regulations of your state. When a service is requested, a nearby guard is notified of the general location and service type. The guard can only see more detailed location information after the guard has accepted your request. Once the guard has accepted your request for service you will receive information about the guard including: The guards’ name. The name of the licensed security company they work for Photograph provided by the guard’s employer. Company vehicle description and license plate. Within the mobile app, you can: Safely communicate with the guard using the apps messaging feature or by calling to share things like more detailed directions, the specifics of the job and more. For your privacy and safety, our software displays a random number for each event to both you and the guard. After the guard has accepted your job request: Observe in your app that the guard is on the way and the estimated time of arrival. If possible, message or call the guard to provide more details about the nature of your service request. If needed, provide more detail about the service location and/or where to meet you. Be aware of your surroundings including people and hazards. When your Security Guard/Protective Agent arrives, confirm their identity by comparing it to the information you received within your application. Ask for their name. Match what you visually observe with the photograph in the mobile app. Match the license plate number. Match the car’s make and model. Observe that they are wearing the uniform of the licensed security company that they work for. Ask for the guards’ company issued identification card. Do not work with a guard whose information in the application does not match with your own observations. If you have this experience, please notify flashlightNOW at  hello@flashlightnow.com  or call 952-829-1567. FlashlightNOW is committed to your safety and satisfaction. We are in the process of creating features that enhance: your anonymity while using the app, location sharing with friends and family, and rate and comment on the service you received from the Providers company. Please send any complaints, comments, and features you would like to see to  hello@flashlightnow.com 

Consulting and Training services are offered by companies, individual providers, and public safety professionals that, through a combination of experience, education and certifications have developed a demonstrable expertise in one or more areas. We verify the advertised certifications of providers before allowing them to exchange services on our platform.