Locking Smithing as a part time Job

[Undergraduate]

Hey guys, I have viewed the forum now for a while, and now I think this my be something I would like to try. After loosing my job a year ago, due to NAFTA, I have decided to go back to school and finish my degree. Anyhow a few days ago I went out to warm-up my truck befor heading to class, as I came back to my truck after 5 minutes or so my driverside door had malfunctioned and I was locked out,with the truck running. My last resort was to call a locksmith to unlock my truck, to be on my way. After waiting 3 hours he finally arrived and poped the lock, it was $50. Well after noticing people being locked out at school or the grociery store, I was thinking this could be a great part time job while I'm in school. If you guys could lead me in the right direction to learn to open automobiles that would be great. I would really like to mainly start there, for I see a need for locksmithing, unlocking automobiles.
Thanks a bunch guys,

[jordyh]

Automobiles is a part of the Advanced Forum, less members get acces to that info.
You can get acces by being a member for at least 3 months and having contributed and recieved knowledge so far that you have posted at least 40 decent posts.
You really must be able to show that you have learned, and that you need a new challenge, because that's what it is. A new Mount Everest.

I hope this helped, please stay on the site and you'll have advanced acces (and thus the knowledge to open cars) in a few months, dedication is the key.


Yours,

Jordy

[SteveW]

You will have to wait for the auto info (im still waiting myself), but in the meantime try picking up a few cylinders and a basic pick set and start from there. The more skills you are able to learn the greater variety of work you will be able to do.

This site is a huge resourece of information. Read around the site and i think you will be surprised how much you can learn, and how helpfull everyone can be

Cheers
Steve

[zeke79]

Since your post does not ask specific quesitons and only inqures about the business opportunity I will chime in. If you are going to do this please, please, please get some proper training from a well known school. Also be sure that you carry insurance and operate under a business name to protect yourself. One needs to do some good research on the topic before diving in as there are legal aspects for any business that one must consider. Other than that, I wish you the best of luck .

[vector40]

Also don't think that making customers wait three hours is good business by any standards...

[Undergraduate]

O.K that sounds fair. I would like to thank all of you for your help on this topic, for I will take your advice. I am so glad, that I have stumble apon this website while searching for a smith. Well since I need to start with the basics, what do you think I should do first, get a lock from the harware store and start trying to pick it ? Oh and what about the best advise for some beginner picks?

[pajarraco]

auto opening is not lock picking, and if you dont know what your doing you can damage the is side parts, window levers...

[ldnlksmth]

There are lots of places that will teach car opening. Check out HPC, Tech Tools and anyone else when you Google 'car opening tools' and they will likely be able to help you find (or offer themselves) a school that will help.

As previously stated: do it right. Get training. Register as a business. CARRY INSURANCE (and don't open any car, even your best friends until you have it). I've been opening cars for 10 years, and I still break windows. It happens. Sometimes through no fault of your own, sometimes through careless mistakes, whatever... Get insurance and keep it up to date.

If you're going to do it, talk to as many people as you can about getting your flyer/business card in a place where it will be seen. Mall parking lots (and security offices if you can make it happen), event centres, stadiums, whatever. Talk to every security guard you can and give them a card. I did security for a LONG time, and at LEAST once a shift I was asked to help get someone into their locked car.

Talk to locksmiths and tow truck companies. Most of them don't WANT to do lockouts, and will be happy to give you the business for a cut. This also cuts down on your advertising costs. I know a guy in the city, and he doesn't even advertise anymore because of his standing contracts. He works mostly from 8pm-3am, and makes a KILLING doing it.

hope this helps, best of luck.