Why Most Businesses Buy the Wrong Camera System
After installing over 500 security camera systems for businesses across the South Shore, we've seen every mistake in the book. Business owners buy consumer-grade cameras from Amazon, hire the cheapest installer they can find, or over-spend on features they'll never use.
The result? Grainy footage that's useless when you actually need it. Cameras that die after six months. Systems that are so complicated nobody checks them. We're going to fix that.
This guide covers everything you need to know to make a smart decision about security cameras for your business.
Resolution: How Much Do You Actually Need?
Camera resolution is measured in megapixels (MP), and more isn't always better.
1080p (2MP): Adequate for general area monitoring — seeing who walked through a door or if someone is in the parking lot. Not great for identifying faces from a distance.
4MP: The sweet spot for most businesses. Clear enough to identify people, read license plates at moderate distances, and hold up as evidence. This is what we recommend for the majority of installations.
4K/8MP: Best for critical areas where you need absolute clarity — cash registers, entrances where you need facial identification, and license plate capture at longer distances. More expensive and requires more storage.
Our recommendation: 4MP cameras for most positions, 4K for key areas like entrances and registers. Don't let anyone sell you a full system of 4K cameras unless you have the storage budget to match.
Storage: NVR vs Cloud vs Hybrid
Where your footage lives matters — both for cost and for reliability.
NVR (Network Video Recorder): An on-site box that records and stores footage locally. Pros: one-time cost, no monthly fees, fast playback. Cons: if someone steals the NVR, they steal your footage. If it fails, you lose everything.
Cloud Storage: Footage uploads to the cloud. Pros: offsite protection, access from anywhere. Cons: monthly subscription costs add up, requires significant upload bandwidth, and you're dependent on your internet connection.
Hybrid (Our Recommendation): Record locally to an NVR for fast access and redundancy, with cloud backup for critical cameras. You get the best of both worlds without the full cost of cloud-only storage.
Storage math: A 4MP camera recording 24/7 at decent quality uses about 1-1.5TB per month. Eight cameras for 30 days = 8-12TB. Make sure your NVR has enough capacity, or set cameras to motion-only recording for less critical areas.
AI Features Worth Paying For
Modern cameras have AI capabilities that actually change how you use your system:
Person/Vehicle Detection: The camera distinguishes people and vehicles from animals, shadows, and blowing leaves. This eliminates 90% of false alerts. Absolutely worth it.
License Plate Recognition (LPR): Automatically reads and logs license plates. Essential for parking lots, delivery areas, and construction sites. Requires specific cameras positioned correctly.
Line Crossing & Intrusion Detection: Draw a virtual line — get alerted when someone crosses it. Great for after-hours perimeter security.
Face Detection: Identifies that a face is present (not facial recognition — that's different and more controversial). Useful for entrance cameras.
What to skip: Fancy features like "heat mapping" and "people counting" sound cool but are rarely useful for small businesses. Don't pay extra for features you won't use.
Indoor vs Outdoor Cameras
This seems obvious, but we see mistakes here constantly.
Outdoor cameras need: IP67 weatherproofing (at minimum), IR night vision rated for the distance you need, vandal-resistant housings for accessible locations, and operating temperature ratings appropriate for New England winters (yes, cameras can freeze).
Indoor cameras need: Less weatherproofing (obviously), but consider: wide-angle lenses for small rooms, varifocal lenses for long hallways, and audio capability for areas where you want to record conversations (check MA wiretapping laws — Massachusetts is a two-party consent state).
What to Look for in an Installer
The camera hardware is only half the equation. Installation quality makes or breaks a system.
Choose an installer who:
- Runs proper cabling (Cat6, not the cheapest cable available)
- Mounts cameras at optimal angles (not just wherever is easiest)
- Labels all cables and connections
- Provides as-built documentation
- Configures the system properly (recording schedules, alerts, user accounts)
- Trains you on how to use the system
- Offers support after installation
Red flags:
- Lowest bidder by a wide margin (they're cutting corners somewhere)
- Won't provide references
- Uses wireless cameras for everything (they're unreliable for business use)
- Doesn't ask about your specific security concerns before proposing a system
- No warranty or support plan
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Too few cameras. It's better to have fewer high-quality cameras in the right positions than lots of cheap cameras everywhere. But you still need coverage of all entrances, exits, cash handling areas, and parking lots.
Mistake 2: Poor night vision. Most incidents happen after hours. Test night vision performance before you sign off on the installation.
Mistake 3: No remote access. If you can't check your cameras from your phone, you'll stop checking them entirely. Remote viewing is essential.
Mistake 4: Ignoring network requirements. Cameras need bandwidth. Eight 4K cameras on a basic home router will choke your network. Plan for dedicated PoE switches and sufficient bandwidth.
Mistake 5: No maintenance plan. Cameras need periodic cleaning, firmware updates, and storage management. Without maintenance, performance degrades over time.
Budget Expectations
For South Shore businesses, here are realistic budget ranges:
- 4 cameras, basic system: $2,000–$4,000 installed
- 8 cameras with AI features: $4,000–$8,000 installed
- 16 cameras, multi-area coverage: $8,000–$15,000 installed
- Large facility (32+ cameras): $15,000–$40,000+ installed
These include professional installation, cabling, NVR, and configuration. DIY systems are cheaper upfront but often cost more in the long run due to reliability issues and poor footage quality.
Ready to Get Started?
Power Up Boston has installed over 500 security camera systems for businesses across the South Shore. We also handle structured cabling, access control, and complete IT infrastructure.
Contact us for a free on-site assessment. We'll walk your property, identify the best camera positions, and give you a detailed proposal — no pressure, no obligation.