Quick answer: Remote video monitoring for a convenience store means an operator watches your existing cameras live during the hours you pick — usually closing, overnight and shift changes — and alerts you when something is wrong: a late opening, a drawer count skipped, a theft at the tobacco wall, a clerk alone with a crowd at the counter. With Digital EYE the standard plan is $600/month for 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, up to 4 cameras, and the workforce software that checks attendance against the schedule is free for the first 6 months.
Why convenience stores lose money in the same few places
A c-store is small, but it combines almost every retail risk in one room:
- Cash at every register, plus lottery, money orders and safe drops.
- Small, high-value products — cigarettes, vapes, alcohol, energy drinks, phone cards — that are easy to pocket and resell.
- Thin staffing. Many stores run one clerk for long stretches, especially at night.
- Long opening hours, so the owner is rarely on site for most of them.
- Many small transactions, which hide small, repeated losses such as a void after the customer leaves.
That is why owners usually describe the problem as "I can't see what happens when I'm not there" rather than "I need a guard." Live monitoring is built for exactly that gap.
What our operators watch in a c-store
Operators follow a written checklist agreed with you before monitoring starts. A typical one looks like this:
| Moment | What the operator checks | What happens if it's wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Store opened on time, lights and coolers on, drawer counted on camera | You (or the manager) get an alert with the time |
| Shift change | Both clerks count the drawer together, safe drop recorded | Logged as an exception with a clip |
| Busy periods | Tobacco/vape wall, beer cooler, register area | Theft or suspicious behavior is clipped and reported |
| Refunds, voids, no-sales | A customer is actually at the counter | Logged for your review — see register voids and no-sales |
| Closing | Doors locked before counting, safe drop, alarm set | Alert if steps are skipped |
| Overnight (if closed) | Lot, doors, back entrance | Alert to your nominated contacts |
You choose the escalation plan. We alert you and the people you name; you decide whether to call the police. Digital EYE provides operations and loss-prevention monitoring, not on-site guard services.
Where your cameras should point
Most c-stores already have several cameras, but they are often aimed at the wrong things. Before monitoring starts we review a screenshot from each camera and tell you what we can and cannot see. The views that matter most:
- Register, overhead — hands, cash drawer, lottery dispenser.
- Counter, customer side — who is being served (is anyone there during a refund?).
- Entrance, facing in — faces and the exact opening and closing time.
- Tobacco and vape wall — the highest-value shelf in most stores.
- Beer cooler — grab-and-run theft.
- Back door and stockroom — deliveries and internal theft.
- Safe — every drop and count.
If you have only 4 cameras, the register, entrance, tobacco wall and back door usually come first. Our guide on security camera placement for retail stores goes into angles and lighting.
How the attendance software helps
Late openings and no-shows are a quiet cost in c-stores. Digital EYE's workforce software compares the schedule with what the operator sees on camera:
- Clock-ins verified on camera, so a friend can't punch in for a late coworker. More in camera-verified attendance.
- No-show alerts when a shift starts and nobody is behind the counter.
- Payroll-ready hours based on verified time, not handwritten sheets.
- Incident records with clips, ready to share with police or your insurer.
The software is free for the first 6 months, then $50/month, and can be used with or without monitoring.
Which hours to monitor
Eight hours a day is enough for most single stores if you choose them well. Common choices:
- Closing plus the first overnight hours, when cash is counted and the store is most exposed.
- Opening plus the morning shift change, if late openings are your main problem.
- The night shift for 24-hour stores with one clerk.
Need longer coverage, more cameras or several stores? That needs more operator time, so we quote it. See pricing.
Getting started
- Send us one screenshot per camera so we can check coverage.
- Create a view-only user on your DVR or NVR (we explain how).
- Write down your opening, closing and cash procedures — we can help.
- Pick your monitoring hours and escalation contacts.
- Tell employees the cameras are monitored and why.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need new cameras to monitor my convenience store?
Usually not. If your recorder supports remote viewing we connect with a view-only account. You may need to move a camera so the register or safe is clearly visible.
How much does convenience store video monitoring cost?
With Digital EYE, $600/month covers live monitoring 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, up to 4 cameras. More cameras or hours are quoted because they need more operators.
Will operators call the police?
You decide the escalation plan. We alert you and your nominated contacts with what we see; you or your alarm company decide whether to call the police.
Can you monitor stores in different time zones?
Yes. Each store is monitored in its own local time, with its own procedures and contacts.