What are your rates for LOCK-OUTS?

[Raccoon]

I'm starting this thread as a reference for aspiring locksmiths to get an idea of what people are charging for (and what people are paying for) lockout services in various areas around the world.

As there are no locksmiths that provide 24 hour lockout services in my area, I'm starting my own locksmithing business with lockouts as my prime focus. My intent is to earn some fast and large cash to get the business off the ground and evolve it into a full locksmithing service.

Calling around to locksmiths in neighboring towns, I'm getting a pretty varied price quotes, and it's difficult to get a full idea of what they charge without obvious probing into their business practices. So I'd like to ask everyone here to detail exactly what they charge and how they go about charging it.

I've already drafted up an invoice for lockouts to get some comments. That thread can be
found here. It describes rates for business hours and after-hours for cars, houses, and businesses. I admit it's not very well-thought out as I started charging for alarms going off and presence of photo ID, etc. Which is why I'm starting this thread.

So... Without taking the thread into deep discussion, I'd just like to know what rates you charge and what other known locksmiths charge for lock-outs. Essentially detail how your invoice is worded, and:

* how you charge differently for business hours and after-hours,
* what time do you consider "after-hours",
* what do you charge for vehicles, homes, and businesses,
* do you charge in the event you arrive and the person "found their key" or otherwise got in,
* do you charge any extra fees for anything odd (like no photo id, or the car alarm going off, or for having to file police reports for whatever reason, etc)?

Please also describe whether you're in a large city or outlying suburb or rural town. Giving your City/State/Country could also be useful for other readers.

Thanks.
- Eric

[vector40]

How about starting it off with your own findings?

[Raccoon]

As I said, my own findings wildly varied.
Numbers I received when calling people: $35, $50, $60, $65.
Numbers that friends told me they paid: $50, $75(night).
These are for cars. I haven't found a lockout service that does houses, or when asked they confronted me, "Are you trying to get into your car or your house?" because I had already asked them what they charge for cars. This doesn't include daytime/nighttime rates because they'd quote me for the time that I called them.

Thus, the reason of starting this thread, to get numbers (of people *willing* to share their rates) without the hassle of yanking teeth to get them.

[Varjeal]

$40 in town house or vehicle, +$0.85/km out of town. Time of day doesn't matter to me. Plus applicable taxes if not cash or they require a receipt.

[Omikron]

Thus, the reason of starting this thread, to get numbers (of people *willing* to share their rates) without the hassle of yanking teeth to get them.

Raccoon,

I don't know if things are different in New Mexico, but in the Midwest you can just straight away ask them what their rates are. Why give them such a hassle? Just tell them you're trying to find a good locksmith and you would like to know what their daytime/nighttime rates are for autos and homes. I'm fairly certain they'll just tell you. That information is going to be a lot more pertinent than any you get from this thread, as markets can vary widely even within the same state.

Good luck.

[Omikron]

P.S. The local lockie here charges $35 during the daytime for automotive lockouts and $57 at night, plus $1/mile if the job is outside the city.

Don't know their pricing for homes.

[HeadHunterCEO]

$75 service call residental
$85 commercial

[Shrub]

My rates wont be of any help to you as im here and funny enough your there but i charge the same call out rate whether its residential, commercial or vehicle, if i ever get round to doing safes it will be a differant rate,
I charge one rate from 8am-6.30pm, a differant one 6.30pm-10.00pm and a differant one from 10pm-8am.
Sundays are set at the 6.30pm-10pm charge during the day and then 9pm onwards is set at the 10pm onwards charge.
Chrismas day, Boxing day and new years eve is set at the 10pm-8pm charge for any hour of the day,
The callout covers the first hour on the job and then the cost is added again on the second hour.


I charge a set rate for programming car keys with a copier and i charge a differant rate for programming keys with a programmer, this is day time work.

I charge next to nothing for normal key cutting on a job but wont go out to key cut unless its going to be a minimum of around 6 keys.

If i get to a job and the customer says i am no longer required i still have turned out so should still get the callout fee, ive been called out and been called off halfway there in which i just turn round and go home, i have yet to charge a customer for wasting my time.

I do not knock money off for cash.

Everything gets an invoice except for keys.

If i fit a lock i say to the customer that if they have any problem except losing keys with that lock i will come out free of charge and rectify it and if the lock is faulty an exchange is done free of charge as well but thats never happened either.

If i get called to a lock out and the customer says they havent a cheque book and cant cover the bill but they look through their purse, wallet, car etc and find somthing very close i will take that as full payment.

If its an elderly person and it was their incompetance ie wrong key or if it was just a lubrication of somthng i will not charge.

I add 60% on my trade price for stock to arrive at my full price to the customer.

Im happy with my rates, my customers are over the moon with my rates for the work, care and attention done, i make a nice profit, every ones happy.

[illusion]

top man

the thing about repairing the lock free of charge if faulty must put them at rest, and the rates seem low.

I bet the small dip in profits is worth it in reputation.

If it's all about the money you're in the wrong job it seems - unless you just get yourself a drill and simply replace locks. If you're NDE it takes a fair bit of cash to merely get started. You're in the job for more than the money if you are an NDE lockie, it comes from satisfaction as well. IMO of course

[Shrub]

Well lets put it this way, i dont really advertise!!! i get my work by word of mouth, i do have some leaflets in the local hardware store and a leaflet in the local post office window but other than that its pretty much work of mouth.

For the uk residents my daytime rate is £40.

I like the look on the old dears faces when youve just serviced their locks and tell them theres no charge.

Then they go and tell anyone and everyone who will listen, they spend and hour having their hair done and tell everyone there etc what a good bloke i am

[illusion]

"ohh that nice locksmith came and looked at my locks today... you'll never guess what, but he didn't charge me a bean.. he's such a nice young man...."

I see what you mean...

[wraith]

The going rate around the KC area;

Auto - 6a-6p = $45, 6p-6a = $55+
House - 6a - 6p = $45, 6p - 12a = $55+ (depends on area of town), 12a-6a = $65+ (depends on area of town)

Holidays, add $10

I charge between $35-$55, depending on area of town, time of day, and what's involved. If the person cancels, I ask them to keep my number handy if they need me in the future (and remind them I do residential AND auto lock outs ). I also accept tips. Receipts by request.

I barter sometimes, just depends on the situation. I've also done lock outs pro bono, again, just depends on the situation. The irony is that I have beer waiting for me at almost every bar and "gentlemans club" in town - but I don't drink, and i'm not a fan of something I can't take home with me

I am advirtising in the YP, I pass out cards and flyers almost everywhere I go - you never know when someone will lock themselves out...

Trey

[Auto45]

7am to 6pm $75 after hours $100 tow truck driver are getting $100/$175 so I am lower. Not many locksmiths in my city. If I am just driving around and see someone needing help I do it free.(seeing two girls trying to use a coat hanger to open there door and tearing up there weather striping and scratching the car door thats a freebie). Plus this this is my hobby, I do not think of it as a job, just really love working with locks.
I am working on a project in regards to Ford car transponders, if works out will post in the advice forum.
auto

[NKT]

I've just VAT registered, so my £45 an hour has just gone up by 17.5% to £53. Companies love the VAT registration thing, I still can't figure out why, but they do. Perhaps they think they get more for their money?

I'm quite flexible about my charging rate, but so far, all the people who have balked at £45 to get in have called back after a short time, and I know that I'm one of the lower priced in the area, certainly (pre-VAT) as cheap as anyone in Preston! I will drop the price a bit if it's a trivial job, though, as there is a lot of competition here.

I'm still not sure about having different rates for private customers and business customers, but all the business people in my family (and there are a lot!) keep telling me to put my prices up, and to charge businesses more... I feel guilty charging a lot, though. Of course, this is my downfall! I might do, but you find companies never even ask the price, unless they want a quote. And this tallies with what my family tell me. Perhaps in the New Year...

[pinky]

i charge as follows for lock outs or first hours labour;

8am to 6pm £40 for 1st hour + £20 per hour thereafter
6pm to 10pm £60 for 1st hour + £20 per hour therafter
10pm to 8am £70 for 1st hour + £35 per hour thereafter

other than large fitting jobs few rarely go over the hour, if 15 mins over i dont charge the extra. i have a fixed price for programming vehicles and cutting keys, ie for a ford mondeo, to gain entry and supply 1 new red master plus 2 working programmed keys when keys lost i charge £120 all in.

In the above prices, i guarantee that if i drill or damage the lock whilst gaining entry i replace the lock with a like for like new lock free of charge guaranteeing a total NDE service.
If i fit a lock its guaranteed , if a fault occurs i replace it or repair it free of charge, like shrub often carry out free repairs when nothing to do with my fitting for goodwill.

I do charge pensioners, single parants and students less, and offer some jobs through the police free, but the goodwill that this has built up has paid for itself 10 fold.

I carry insurance and bonding to cover myself and my customer in most forseeable situations.
Like shrub every job is invoiced, i dont do cash jobs off the books, its not worth it, as the penalties are severe if caught, i dont buy for cash and dont offer cash jobs, everything by the book.