realistic earnings of a uk locksmith

[Rick-the-Pick]

Never a truer word said pinky, I'd never thought it would take this amount of time to start earning a liveable income (honestly).
I've been at it approx two years since meeting Ken and Sandy. But what they taught me all that time ago,to what i know now was about 10%!
The majority of my income is by supply and fix bs 5 levers at £50 a throw and general lock changing /updating because of my location, lock outs make up about 40% of my work, and i still need more days in the week to survive purely on this money! I never drill even with in a lost key situ, but after i have explained that anybody could make an entry with there lost keys, they get me to change the lock's! it's there choice then and it bumps the money up! I cut cylinder keys at two quid a throw, i need to cut lot's of these to make anything at all, but it brings people into the shop!
It's a hard slog, sometimes very quiet, then mega busy!
Learning to open locks is the easy part and i couldn't have wished for a better introduction into this profession with the training being second to none! I have a lot to thank Justlocks for and the excellent back up that is provided with most updates as needed!
I still only know very little compared to the likes on this forum and in reality i probably need another good five years before i have the guts to call myself a locksmith! even after two years it's very easy to give up, especially when the calls come in at seven in the morning to clear glue or whatever from someones shop door lock in the p*****g rain!
It's the intriguement and the constant lessons learnt that keep me going, plus the income from elsewhere helps, but one day as long as you keep going, you have to get there!
Would i start all over again? You bet i would!

[pinky]

the sad thing about this , is the amount of gullable wannabes trotting off on a course without first researching the training, their area or competition, they believe the hype that they will earn £1000 pw following the course easily, with no thought on what the tools , adverts and set up cost will be, they then either give up or buy a big drill and add to industries problems.

i dont want to put anyone off, i just wish people would give this industry a little respect, to think you can be a locksmith in 2 days at no cost is an insult to all real locksmiths, how can people be so naieve.
and that they enter into it with eyes wide open, instead of reading the hype and being clouded by those rose coloured spectacles.

i think i lost 6 courses this week from enquiries, as i tell everyone what it costs to set up as a minimum, and what practice is involved and what they can expect to earn, i pull no punches, if they decide not to train i save them their hard earned, if they go ahead then its at least knowing what to expect and no one can then say i conned them, id rather lose courses at this stage than have a crap rep, as i believe in the fact that your reputation and integrity is all you have.

[Sabin37]

Thanks for all your input guys, you've helped me get a clear understanding of what lies ahead if I choose the career path of a locksmith.