What Access Control Costs in Utah

Every building is different, which is exactly why the assessment is free: we look at each door, its hardware, and the cable path, then quote it door by door. Many standard doors take a drop-in electric strike with minimal alteration. If your building needs the ethernet runs too, that's our home turf: see our structured cabling service.

Many access control platforms charge ongoing licensing, often billed per door per month, forever. The UniFi Access systems I install don't. Buying the hardware gives you the full feature set, permanently. No subscriptions, no per-door licensing, no surprise renewal letter next year.

Cards, fobs, and other tap credentials never carry a fee either. The one optional ongoing cost in the entire system is Touch Pass, which turns your phone into your key. It costs $5 per year. Per year, not per month.

When you compare quotes, add up five years of the other guys' per-door subscription fees before deciding. That math is usually the whole decision.

The reader at the door sets the experience for everyone who walks through it. There's a range:

• Standard readers read a phone, card, or fob and grant access. Clean, fast, and the right answer for most doors.
• Camera readers add a built-in camera with two-way voice, so you can see and talk to visitors, and every entry is recorded.
• Fingerprint readers for biometric entry where you want it.
• Keypad readers let people punch in a code, great for vendors or temporary access.

Credentials are just as flexible: cards, fobs, phones via Touch Pass, and even smart watches can unlock the door. Employees genuinely love badging in with a watch.

A recent commercial project: the business already ran a UniFi network, so the foundation was in place and we only had to upgrade the PoE switch to power the access hubs. The doors had no existing access hardware, were standard in their accessibility, and included one metal-framed storefront door. Total for all hardware, door modifications, and installation: $5,200.

That project also shows the multi-door economics: the switching and network hardware is bought once and shared, so every additional door spreads that cost thinner and lowers your average price per door.

Here's advice that saves my clients real money: you don't want maglocks unless there's no other option. They cost significantly more, and they have to be tied into the fire system to be life-safety compliant, which adds more cost and coordination. Their biggest weakness is what happens in a power outage: maglocks fail open. Power drops, and every maglock door in your building is unlocked.

An electric strike is typically set up to fail locked instead. If the power goes out, the door simply behaves like a normal keyed door: locked to the world, opened by your key. That's the setup I recommend for almost every situation, and where a door needs a request-to-exit sensor for its lock style, we install that as part of the job.

The other money-saver: you don't need to do every door. For a lot of businesses, access control on the main door your team uses in the morning and locks up at night is plenty. Keys still work everywhere else, and you can always add doors later.

One scope note, so there are no surprises: we don't install fire alarms, alarm monitoring, or elevator systems, and we never touch your fire system. When a job calls for it, we work alongside your fire vendor so the access system ties in properly and unlocks doors in an emergency.

I install UniFi Access exclusively, and the reasons are simple: it's extremely cost-effective, there are no licensing fees, and it just works. It's also seriously capable. The system handles hundreds of employees, supports multi-site configurations, and keeps working when the internet is down (you just can't change settings remotely until the connection returns).

UniFi Access is what's called a hybrid cloud/local system, and it's the best of both worlds: all of your data lives locally on your own hardware, but you still get remote management from anywhere. Revoke a credential or invite a new employee from your phone on vacation, while knowing an internet outage never locks up your doors.

The ecosystem is the quiet superpower, especially for small businesses. The same Cloud Gateway that runs your access control also handles your Wi-Fi and computer network, your security cameras, identity, and even VoIP phones, all managed in one place. And because Access syncs with UniFi cameras, every door event can have a video clip attached: you see exactly who opened the door and when. Gates can be tied into the system too.

Beyond the technology, this is one of the best upgrades you can make to streamline a business. No more tracking who has keys, no more waiting for the person with the key to show up, no more re-keying when someone leaves. Just credentials you control, an entry log you can trust, and better security all around.

I'm usually happy to tell you when DIY is a fine choice (see the shades guide for proof). Access control is different. Every door, frame, and entry situation is its own puzzle: hardware styles, strike compatibility, cable paths, exit requirements. Getting it wrong means a door that doesn't latch, doesn't lock, or isn't safe.

As an integrator, I work closely with a locksmith to set up the most effective option for each door, handle the wiring and programming end to end, and hand you a system that's tested, compliant with the exit hardware it needs, and actually pleasant to use. The assessment costs you nothing, so you can find out exactly what your building needs before spending a dollar.

• Every quote includes: on-site assessment, system design, installation, programming, credential setup, and training. Quotes are always free.
• No trip fees and no minimum job size. One door is a real job to us.
• Lead time: hardware is generally available within a couple of days, so projects move fast.
• Warranty: UniFi hardware carries a 2 year parts warranty, and our workmanship is warrantied for 6 months.

Want the broader picture of what access control can do for your home or business? Read the full access control service guide.