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Private Military Contractors, or PMCs, in the real-world are legitimate privatised security forces for hire to governments for participation in warfare and close-protection, and companies also for close-protection and security.

I was wondering if a similar concept might exist in the 40k universe. Companies offering military services for hire, perhaps to aid the Imperium for operations or security, other companies for armed protection, or any heretical groups with enough money.

Yes, Mercenary groups are extremely common.

Guns for hire are a staple of any sci-fi work. They're not as powerful as irl contractors though, the imperium would be pretty quick to stomp on a private military firm that they thought was getting too big for its boots.

Noble Households often have Private paramilitary units in the imperium,

Not to mention forces that rogue traders would hire, or maybe a Inquisitor needs some more muscle.

They would be more similar to Mercenary Forces rather then PMC's which function alot differently then mercenary forces

the 40k Galaxy has mercenaries coming out the ears. They exist in every faction but the Tyranids now, and that includes Necrons (damn you Matt Ward).

Not only would it be possible it is going to be pretty common. Communities, nobles, inquisitors, merchants would all be hiring bodyguards with the best equipment they can obtain, particularly in areas where the PDF, arbites or other imperial forces are..."Less than adequate" or overstretched.

Kinda like the real world. If your local PD is full of Billy Joe Jim Bobs or massively overworked, and you had the ability to hire a PMC to protect you and your interests...You would do it.

Mercenaries and bodyguards generally appear in the setting only to be wiped out in short order by the protagonists. Warhammer 40,000 is, as a whole, mainly about those motivated by things other than money, be that faith in mankind's manifest destiny, fervent belief in the Emperor, or blind service to the Imperium.

The setting is one in which a totalitarian government is engaged in constant, total war on a galactic scale for its very survival, which isn't one suited to GK Sierra/Blackwater/Aegis-type corporations which really only exist to leech off liberal democratic governments in a world in which military commitments abroad are generally unpopular at home.

English Assassin wrote:Mercenaries and bodyguards generally appear in the setting only to be wiped out in short order by the protagonists. Warhammer 40,000 is, as a whole, mainly about those motivated by things other than money, be that faith in mankind's manifest destiny, fervent belief in the Emperor, or blind service to the Imperium.

The setting is one in which a totalitarian government is engaged in constant, total war on a galactic scale for its very survival, which isn't one suited to GK Sierra/Blackwater/Aegis-type corporations which really only exist to leech off liberal democratic governments in a world in which military commitments abroad are generally unpopular at home.

I dunno, I think the scope of the galaxy would allow for a corporation of this sort to perform quite well. Greased palms work just as well in a totalitarian government as they do in a democratic setting (one might argue even better, as you as those you bribe are still alive, you a can rest easy knowing you dont need to bribe someone else). Certainly these forces would have to manage to find ways to negotiate with the IoM for their services, but again bribe the negotiator. Its easy enough because the IoM is engaged in so many conflicts, if the IG were sitting around with nothing to do, no one would need Merc forces.

Not to mention Systems wanting to control populations without attracting attention of the Inquisitorial sort.

Or just negative attention to a planetary governor of the ambitious sort, looking to present a harmonious system without military ships running around everywhere (And the requisitioning of supplies etc, that goes along with all that)

Just some thoughts on the subject.

Or maybe you don't like that neighboring sector, you can then hire some Non-Imperial force to take that person out.

Yeah, PMCs exist in 40k, as do mercenaries, pirates, and all other sorts of things. They just arn't worthy of much mention because the game is about the clash of mighty armies duking it out over the fate of the galaxy. PMCs and stuff will really only appear as hired muscle for trade consortiums or planetary governments to deal with internal affairs.

Rogue Trader fluff will probably have more of this sort of thing in it.