Small business idea... and a few questions

[triman247]

I am thinking of starting a small business. Cutting Keys and I have a few quick questions.

First, In order to leagally cut keys, is there any permits and certifications that I need?

Second, Is it really a worthwile thing to do? With the price of a machine, key blanks, permits/certifications... and then charging like a buck for a key. Maybe a little more. The local store charges $1.50 american for a house key.

And Third, If I somehow was able to do all that needed to be done, and ran a machine from a batery out of my car or something, would people come? I'm really only thinking of getting customers from my school. Like kids who loose one of their sets of keys or just want an extra just in case.


Thanks for any help, and I dont recall ever seeing a question like this, and I dont really have time tonight to search. So sorry if this is some sort of repeat post.


triman


P.S. Is there anyone who wold have an extra used machine or just wants to get rid if theirs? I would take it off their hands for a reasonable price. Even if the business idea doesnt work, I'd still like to learn to cut keys in conjunction with learning to impression keys.

Thanks again

[Edgaro55]

IMO it would be a good idea if you could go battery powered in your car, you would make much more money if you could make emergency calls and drive over to do whatever keying you need.

[pip]

i would first check to see if you need a permit/license
and then check your state/city laws
to see if you have to ask for ownership of the key being copied

i'm just thinking that if someone asks you to
make a key ( that they don't own )
would you be liable for anything that happened later
( i'm thinking civil court here, not criminal )

maybe make up a spreadsheet in excel
figure out what startup costs you would have
and how many keys you would have to cut to break even

[CapnCurry]

What I've found from doing market research in my area is that if someone just needs a house key or two cut, they'll nip through the local hardware store. If they're going to see a specialist about things, it's either because they have an unusual key to copy (say, a motorboat key for which the local hardware shop might not have a blank), because they have a security auto key (VATS, transponders, etc.), or because they want a specialty service performed (rekeying a cylinder, for example.)

It seems like in order to make a go of it, you'll need to hit on at least one of these points. If you're looking to avoid the "locksmith" label for legal/licensing/other purposes, it looks like the third point (about specialty services) is right out. That leaves you with the options of either stockpiling a very wide array of blanks, much of which will be stagnant inventory, and/or keeping the machines and specialty blanks necessary for automotive work. The upside to automotive work is that the profit margin is better, but the downside is that there's a lot of up-front investment to be made: a single transponder blank can cost upwards of $35, even at wholesale.

Again, this is all just from some quick market research I've done here in Virginia; YMMV. I hope this is some help to you, though!

[vector40]

From your description... no, I would say that is probably not worth it.

[lockedin]

Well, I've seen little kiosks dedicated solely to key copying. Back in my home town there was one in the parking lot by the kmart. I don't know if you want to put that much time or investment by the sound of working out of your car idea, but I'm pretty sure they were profitable.

[raimundo]

In some markets, a small key coping shop will not get enough business to really make it, even the cole national booths at woolworths or whereever sell a line of key fobs and tourist crap to keep the cash flow going.
A locksmith is like the maytag repair man, he waits for the people to have a problem and come to him. If you learned to craft jewelry, you could do that in the time while waiting, and cut keys or whatever when the customer has the need of your skills. a lot of jewelry craft tools are the same tools that a locksmith uses, files, small hammers, tweezers, etc, and the skills of a jeweler will make you a better locksmith, Ok, so that isn't everyones idea of how to combine two skills with similiar tools, one where you have something to do while waiting for the customers to show up, and of course, it makes no sense to the large lockshops in the big markets, but its an idea for those in that part of the country where locksmithing is a slow business. If you really want to work on locks only and do a lot of it, go into car lockout service.