What you need to start a uk locksmith business

[toomush2drink]

The so called "2 day experts" don't have the experience or the knowledge to adapt the skills they've aquired over the years as a locksmith to enable them to grow outside of doing lockouts, hence they fail because they have no experience.

Most of these guys dont last long enough to gain any longterm experiencee so they leave the trade.Thats nots a problem but along the way they have taken work from good lockies and also given the trade an even worse reputation along the way.Even the good lockies are finding it harder, one i know recently thought about giving it up due to lack of work yet this guy can open 110's with 2 wires, something not many can do.

[EvoRed]

Sounds to me like you're trying to put people off caused you're not happy other people are getting"you're work". Business is business. If a guy has enough motivation, a brain, and the determination to suceed. He will. It doesn't matter if you're a new locksmith or if you've been trading 30 years. We're all learning as in any other trade. Yes you are right. Nobody is an expert from the start in anything, and those who think they are deserve to fail and probably will. But as I said. Don't get your knickers in a twist cause someone else can do what you do. Grow up.

Grow up? This place seems to gets worse. A guy tries helping people out so they don't chuck their hard earned down the drain and gets told to grow up?

I don't know why some people bother.

[New-York-Locksmith]

EvoRed, yeah what you're saying makes sence.

They've said to me that after the 3 week course I should be at a standard to be able to run a mobile locksmithing business...
I would be given advise on type of vehicle, pricing, stock, tools etc and accounts with suppliers set up. Basically everything needed to get going.

Is that reslistic..??? I certainly didn't think it was with some of the 3 day courses which have told me the same..!!

I'd say that 3 weeks is pretty optimistic - I guess like in any trade it's recommendable to get some serious experience as a locksmith apprentice - use someone else's locksmith tools for a while - get to be a real locksmith pro and only then make a move towards your own business...

[CaptB]

The problem with the locksmith trade is the same of that of all others these days.
People don`t invest in training theyre staff. The staff don`t commit to the company, and younger generations seem totally disinterested (in general) in getting their hands dirty.

I began in the electronics industry which has declined seriously in the uk.
I can fault find at circuit board level, design pcb`s and program. But who wants this in the uk?? Its a japanese lead market. Which left me with maintenance and new installs. Which is why i do fire/security equipment.

I then moved into Carpentry and have been doing that since 1990 an industry that i started in that didn`t want any new blood. When i done my City and Guilds a major building firm used to put 12 apprentices in a year it now sends 0. You were outcast amongst certain groups back then for not having enough experience, but the same companies now are struggling to get enough people to take up the slack. People retire, they get ill, they die. But why aren`t these companies investing in the staff???
I worked for the same company until i got made redundent.
At that point was when loyalty to one company went out of the window after we were sold to our competitor all staff got the push and all directors got moved to the other company.

My point being if you stand still as a business you will be obsorbed by someone else. Its not nice and its not the natural way most people want to be or think but its the same way that tesco`s has made itself as big as it is.

I took locksmithing on as another string to my bow. There are many skills that I need to pick up on and i will do in time. I don`t take jobs on I can`t complete and I don`t do any damage.
I can afford to run a business at lower rates than most but i choose to run them in line with everyone else.
Although the workload maybe dropping in some instances you should find that due to customer service and quality you shouldn`t be losing any jobs unless you are being underpriced. If your being underpriced give it time they will come back. There are so many cowboys out there that customers are concerned about damage done to their property. Any job I have done have brought in referals.

Getting back to the main point. That one man to one job is rapidly being pushed out. Unless your specialised in a field.

I take any work I can get my hands on that can be done by myself and
if not i contract it out to people i know who can do the job properly.

This month on top of my general work i am also fitting a kitchen,bathroom building a porch+conservatory and also doing some decking. I overlap with gas fitters, electricians (who run cables for me and in return they pass work back to me lock and door entry wise). Plumbers, plasters.

I don`t stamp on peoples toes but i am realistic. This week I needed an odd lock, which either meant driving a 60 mile round trip or going to another locksmith. I approched the locksmith went to his shop and requested the lock. He didnt have it on his shelf but he could get me one at £100 within a couple of days. I rang my supplier as the customer had told me it wasn`t urgent. Including postage and vat it came to £24.00
That guy has been trading at the same shop for over 20yrs, and even though he knew i was trade still tried to sting me for £100.00 just seems like madness. Instead of me at least buying locks of him with a bit of a mark up he`s now sat there without the sale and i wont be using him again. Being purely locks he will also likely be feeling the pinch of a decline in work. But he could have pulled a few locks of me a week. Not a lot of money I know but its still some.

[natastna2]

yeah I seem to be experiencing the same thing from already trading locksmiths, any questino you can ask will be replied to by some people with condescending remarks and a general attitude that they will have to clear up your mess, it wasn't what i was expecting I thought it was more of a community rather than a bunch of sharks trying to eat each others fish.

[SEVEN]

Lets not go there.Old news move on.

[jiggler]

I am a recent graduate of a short course in Locksmithing skills.

I am grateful for things being spelled out in no uncertain terms as I am a straight up guy who gives and appreciates honesty. But this thread has not deterred me from going into the industry because I know that I will be a good locksmith, given time and continued practice and learning.

It is true that I am not experienced but I am working towards being experienced - which is all anyone can do.

I'd have much preferred to go the MLA way but there's no earning potential at all after their first course. I don't particulatly want to be rich from this trade but I couldn't lay out £2k and then have to lay out another £2k before I had a chance of earning any money! It's just not at all practical.

What I wanted to do was work for myself and be my own boss. I've no interest in kissing some managers a*** for a year in the hopes of a promotion. I don't do sycophantic! I never considered locksmithing as a trade until I read a fishing magazine and the guy in the article was a salesman and a locksmith. I thought "That'd be a wicked job and I'd be good at it", so on the course I went. I will find my niche and give good service and most of all leave people with a good impression about my company and I hope this will allow me to succeed. So not everyone comes into this trade for the cash, and it's a good job I didn't after reading this thread!

Of course someone coming off a short course is not reay to trade as a locksmith and honestly they're a fool if they think they are! They will not get far if they're unable to do anything but lockouts. They will try and fail; the wheat will be separated from the chaff and all will be in balance again.

A wise man said, "of the hundreds of dreamers who go on a course each year , less than 10% actualy set up, less than 5% are still in business 12 months later". I read elsewhereon this forum that there are 2000 people a year coming off courses. So, if that figure is current, of the 2000 coming off courses you've got 200 people starting and 100 making it proper. People retire and move onto pastures new and some unfortunately pass on. An influx of less than 100 people a year doesn't sound too bad to me??

As a sidepoint, it is indicative of the poor quality of the courses that only 10% of people coming off them feel confident enough to trade.

At the end of the day surely if you give good service at competetive prices you should stay in business and do well? Perhaps that is wishful thinking on my part and maybe I have a lot to learn but I have always had to make mistakes to learn anything so on I will go!

[riggers]

Which course did you attend, any good?

[lunchb0x]

i dont know if this is the area to ask, but any way.
in around 1 to 2 years i am planing on moving to america, now my questions are

*is there much work for locksmithing their
*how much is the pay, say for a 40hour week

i am qualified and have been doing it for around 5 and a half years, so even though i am qualified in australia will i still need anything else to get work in america?

thanks

[UWSDWF]

I imagine a work visa and finding out what the local legislation for the requirements to operate as a lockie in that particular state.

[lunchb0x]

mainly i want to know if the money is any good over their and how much work there is, like after hours work, being on call

[Romstar]

mainly i want to know if the money is any good over their and how much work there is, like after hours work, being on call

The depends on a variety of situations.

How large is the population in the area? How many locksmiths currently serve the area? How many are offering after hours or 24 hour service?

Do you have any areas of expertise, or do you offer a service that nobody else does?

As you may be aware, the costs of operating a shop increase exponentially as you increase the number of services, and increase the stock you carry. There will always be some "dead" stock depending on your region, and only time and experience will tell what sells and what doesn't.

If you plan to offer automotive service beyond regular openings, you will need to be equiped with at least two code machines, a regular machine, such as the HPC 1200 and a milling type machine such as the Silca Trax-E-Code or sidewinder, a transponder duplicator, at least one tool such as the Ilco SDD, and a number of transponder blanks which can range in price from $12.00 all the way to $100.00 per blank.

If you plan to offer a high security lock you will need to investigate what other locksmiths are offering, and choose something competative. This means you will be investing in a unique lock system, and carrying stock in that system.

It all boils down to where you are, and what you offer, and to be honest, how much you can afford when first setting up.

If on the other hand, you are going to start by working for an established company you only need to talk to some of those people, and decide if what they are offering for a wage can support your lifestyle and habits and if the area where they reside is suitable to your tastes.

I know a few locksmiths that could make a killing in cities such as New York, but they wouldn't life there for love nor money. They make several thousand less per year, but are happy as sin because they love where they live.

All of these things are important for you to consider in such a move.

Good luck,
Romstar

[lunchb0x]

i dont want to move their and start my own buiseness, just to work because i will be traveling around a bit(hopefully)

[Romstar]

Oh, okay.

If thats the case, then it really depends on where you are going to be going, and if you have any previous contact with locksmiths in that area.

In many places a lot of business seem to have some high turn over rates. In other places, there are a few locksmiths, but none of them have had an apprentice or employee for years.

As much as I love this business, it has always seemed to me that most people don't even think of locksmiths until they really need one. A lot of installs are done by carpenters or worse, and when those screw up somebody thinks to call a locksmith.

If you are going to be moving around, I can't stress enough the importance of networking through larger locksmith only web sites such as Internet-Locksmith, ClearStar, The National Locksmith Forums and serveral other places.

When I was working in the US, I required a sponsor to get my work permit and have my visa changed. It was a pain in the rear, but thankfully the company I worked for had offices in a variety of places. It was a short term gig, lasted maybe 8 months, but the red tape was a pain in the rear. One of the nice things about that company was that they covered the bill for all of my living expences. I wasn't living at the Ritz mind you, but no cheap motels either.

I guess that is about all I can help you with at the moment, but there are a few working locksmiths on this forum in various states who may have a comment that could help you out.

Good luck to you,
Romstar

[londonlocky]

It’s very important in this business to keep a close eye on advertising costs. How much you spend and are you getting value for money. I’ve been in this business 8 years and I have to say that I think I’ve wasted most of the money I’ve spent on advertising.

Track - ask all new customers where they heard of you.
Don’t believe everything the Yellow Pages, Thomson, etc. sales people tell you.
Newspaper advertising is a waste of money.

By far the two best forms of advertising are:
your van and
your website

Get yourself a good big sign on your van and when you’re not busy park it where lots of people will see it. I get loads of work by just parking the van in B&Q car park.

Get yourself a professionally written website. This has been by far the best thing I’ve done. Try to find a web design company that and understands the customer and how they use the web. Don't bother with those who tell you they'll give you fancy graphics and spinning logos. I have a great site - simple, effective - great value for money. Also make sure your web designers can get you a good ranking in google for locksmith searches in your area – very important.

I don’t advertise in YP, etc any more. I’m busier than I’ve ever been and now I spend hardly anything on advertising.