Walk the customer and staff paths
Start with entrances, reception, tills, waiting areas, hallways, loading zones, stock rooms, and staff-only doors. The best camera locations usually follow movement, not decoration.
For warehouses and yards, think about vehicle flow, delivery doors, blind corners, and where disputes are most likely to happen.
Plan around downtime and access
Commercial jobs may need evening work, staged areas, lift access, or coordination with landlords and property managers. Those details should be discussed before install day.
Recorder access matters too. The system should be secure, but not so hidden that authorized staff cannot review footage when needed.
Make expansion easier
Growing businesses often add doors, offices, shelves, and equipment. Choosing the right recorder size and cable path can make future cameras simpler to add.
Two recent jobs at opposite ends
A Markham store with no footage after an attempted break-in needed three cameras up the same day: a visible dome over the front door and two on the cash wrap. We were there 30 minutes after the call and done in 3.5 hours.
A Brampton strip plaza run by a property management group needed 12 IP cameras covering the lot and back alleys, plus an outdoor PA system for announcements. That took two full days with a bigger crew.
From our jobs
Retail store in a strip mall, Markham · 1 visible dome at the door, 2 on the cash wrap
Same-day cameras after an attempted break-in at a Markham strip mall
No footage of the attempt. On site 30 minutes after the call, three cameras and phone viewing working in 3.5 hours.
How we did itCommercial strip plaza, Brampton (property manager) · 12 HD IP cameras
Analog to IP on a Brampton strip plaza, plus an outdoor PA system
Old coax out, fresh Cat6 across the complex, 12 HD IP cameras on the lot and back alleys, PA horns for property alerts. Two days.
How we did itRelated questions
Can cameras be installed while a business is open?
Often, yes. Some work can be staged around operating hours, quieter periods, or after-hours access depending on the site.
Who should be involved in the site walk?
The owner or manager should be involved, along with anyone responsible for operations, receiving, cash areas, or building access.