Storefronts
Single-location retail with a register area, sales floor, and back stockroom. Two indoor + two outdoor cameras typically covers it.
Who Basic is for
If you're running a single location with simple coverage needs and don't have a complex IT footprint, Basic gets you a real camera system without the SaaS bill. You get the same vendor-independent stack as Advanced or Custom — just sized down.
Salons & small services
Hair salons, nail salons, barber shops, small repair shops. Front desk + waiting area + lot are the typical zones.
Small offices
Two- to four-person offices: lobby, file room, parking lot, and a server closet camera if there is one.
What's included
- 1–4 PoE IP cameras selected from a vetted set of mainstream models (Reolink, Hikvision/Annke, Amcrest). RTSP/ONVIF standard so any future tech can swap them.
- Single NVR in a locked closet or rack, 4TB drive, 14-day retention at 1080p (longer at 720p).
- PoE switch sized to your camera count + 50% headroom for one future add.
- On-prem motion alerts to your phone via the NVR's native push (no monthly fee).
- Hardened admin account with a password vault entry handed over on day one. The default-vendor password is removed.
- Weekly off-site backup of the recordings index (the metadata, not the footage). Lets you reconstruct a timeline if the NVR fails.
- Written operator runbook (~2 pages) covering: how to view live, how to scrub, how to add a user, who to call if something breaks.
- 30-day check-in visit to verify everything is still aligned and answer questions.
Spec sheet
| Item | What you get |
|---|---|
| Cameras | 1–4 PoE IP cameras, 1080p or 4MP. Mix of indoor + outdoor as needed. |
| Field of view | Wide-angle (110-130 degrees) on entries; medium (90 degrees) on registers. |
| Night vision | IR illumination to ~30 ft. Color-at-night optional on outdoor cameras. |
| Recording | Continuous + motion-triggered. 14 days at 1080p on 4TB drive. |
| Network | Cameras on their own switch + VLAN (kept separate from your business Wi-Fi). |
| Mobile access | Native NVR mobile app. No monthly subscription. |
| Off-site sync | Recordings INDEX synced weekly to a backup destination you control. |
| Power resilience | UPS optional (recommended for critical sites; ~$120 add). |
| Warranty | 30-day workmanship + manufacturer warranty pass-through. |
Pricing notes
How quotes work: A Basic install is fixed-price after a 30-minute site walk. Most Basic quotes land between $1,400 and $2,800 depending on cabling difficulty (drop ceiling vs. running through walls), camera count, and whether you need a UPS. The quote is in writing before any wire is pulled.
- Hardware is at-cost + small markup (you can compare prices yourself; nothing is hidden).
- Labor is flat-rate per cabling run. Difficult runs (through brick or insulation) get an explicit add-on line.
- No monthly fees. No SaaS lock-in. You can call me whenever something needs attention and pay per visit.
- Verified nonprofit code TCG26FREE applies to design + labor. Hardware not included.
Common questions about Basic
Can I add a camera later?
Yes. The PoE switch is sized with 50% headroom, and the NVR licenses up to its channel count (typically 8 even on Basic). Adding a fifth camera is a quick visit.
Will Basic work with my existing analog cameras?
Sometimes. If they're recent enough to support RTSP/ONVIF over an analog-to-IP encoder, we can keep them short-term. I usually recommend swapping them on a phased schedule because picture quality on modern PoE cameras is dramatically better.
What if I want AI vision later?
All Basic systems are AI-ready. The cameras and NVR don't change — you just add the on-prem AI vision worker (a small server with an RTX GPU). See the AI Integration tier for what that adds.
Do I need to be present for the install?
For most of it, no. I'll need a brief walk-through at the start (where you want cameras pointed, where the NVR closet is, network credentials) and at the end for the runbook handoff. The middle is just me running cable.