best ways of finding work by avoiding agencys

[micky s]

whats the best way to find work im a bit put off by the agency work and the% you actually recieve for the job any help would be great thanks

[mhole]

Advertise.

You may be able to find an established local company who are willing to pass you their overspill (believe it or not, some people actually have more jobs than they can handle at times) but they'll probably only consider this if you're an experienced, fully trained and professional lockie - it looks bad for them if they recommend someone who turns out to be inexperienced/ill equipped/incompetant.

[toomush2drink]

The same way any other business gets work, learn how to market your business,network through an organisation etc etc. The list is endless. No short cuts just hardwork learning the skills you need to run a business instead of just existing as a locksmith.Your only a locksmith if you work for someone else as they then make the business decisions.If you work for yourself you need business skills to make any business work.
How do the rip off nationals and angencies get their work ? Thats a starting point.

[79commando]

Finding work depends on what area you are in. I'll not bore you with the details as it's been listed 100 times but if you have too much competition in your area be it real locksmiths or people playing at it (joiners, glaziers, Taxi drivers, maintenance companies) your stuffed. Even the Nationals are overran with wasters working for them for any one locksmith to be given all their work. It's hard to make your phone ring even with the correct business ideas. What works in one part of the Country won't necessarlily work in another part. Spy on your competitors and follow the ideas of the ones that are busy. I've seen established companies going tits up over a 6 month period and also newbies doing alright. Luck I'm afraid plays a big part as does skill. Pick a lock open with no damage infront of someone that owns loads of properties and you could get regular work. Pop out the drill and you are telling them, you are just the same as the next bloke. Most established companies that fail lose their work first to the skilled locksmith not necessarily the cheapest.

[mattman]

If a person knows how to market their business effectively, they will get calls even if they are a bad locksmith. The thing is, though, if they are a bad locksmith, they won't get the repeat calls that they will need to build a strong ongoing business.

The key to a successful business is to know how to market your business well, so that you get those initial calls, and then use your knowledge and skill as a locksmith to keep the customers that you have acquired.

-Matt