How can I get into sub-contracting?

[cred]

hi,
how would i go about getting into sub-contracting work?
thanx

[marso]

There are so many posts on this. Do a search on "lockout" or something like that. Also look at the law sections. Phone your local organisation/department that licenses security professionals/locksmiths. Perhaps phone a locksmith in your area and ask him. Perhaps he is over worked and might take you on. Varjeal answered this really well in the past.

Keep in mind you may want to get insurance (letting a burgular into a house is bad), and you may need a license. Also your area may have a form you must fill out for each lockout as there may be a requirement to keep a minimum amount of information about the person.

[marso]

Varjeal or another locksmith could you please let me know if hobby pickers are valid options when it comes to lockouts.

I mean the client does not always know what they want and once you let them in they may ask oh btw can you make all the doors use the same key etc.. And a person who just picks/defeats may not do your business justice and lose work.

Also if its an old lock and they break it or similar what happens then, will the hobby picker be comfortable repairing/replacing the lock.

Are there that many circumstances where the locks that you come across during a lockout would be more advanced than a typical hobby picker? I mean some major damage can be caused to a car if you use the wrong defeat for that make/model.

I have no intention going into work as a lockout person I am content in my current position in life. Above are just some thoughts that I had when reading this thread and would like someone to let me know if it is true.

Oh yeh and my pet hate about backyard operators is probably showing a little

So is there a place in this world for hobby pickers to earn money on the side doing lockouts?

[Luke]

Well just thinking about this, a lockout specialist would have to be able to open the door as well as repairing any defects in the lock afterwards. So pretty much if you own the tools, have the skills to use them you should be set to go. ( I dont know about liscensing and the likes )
What tools would you need?

Lockpick set - Hand picks and Pickgun
Pinning Kit
Drill and the required drill bits. ( Found out that a really good battery drill cost a local locksmith $500 )
Car opening tools - Made by tech train and i think high tech (They do seem expensive)
Anyone want to add anything else?

It seems that pretty much any lock hobbiest who can comprimise locks, repair and rekey them, install them could be a lockout specilist (Hey I can do most of those, why dont i get a job, oh thats right im to young lol)

[Varjeal]

marso: Not sure what you're asking exactly. But if you're asking if hobby pickers can make money on the side the answer is "yes."

To do it as a business such as a "lockout specialist" you can choose what work you will/will not do. Just make sure that your advertising, etc. specifies what you do. It might be a way to hook up with a locksmith company. Offer your services in return for referring them the "extra" business that comes your way.

Better, yet, dive in and learn how to rekey and replace locks yourself. It doesn't take a lot of time, and there's tons of basic courses (in America at least) that you can learn the standard skills necessary to do such work.

[Red]

I am unclear about what you're specialty or niche is but I thought I'd offer an opinion that may help.
One of the jobs that are often offered to subs are by the 24 hr. locksmith services (in metropolitan areas) for lock-outs of a different nature than has been discussed in this thread.
All retail stores in shopping malls contract services that can come at a moments notice when the electric gates malfunction or when an employee loses a key and can't lock up the store. Many of these stores close late or have employees that stay very late to clean or take an inventory etc.
There are also situations where an employee is fired for theft and possibly has made a copy of the store or gate keys.
Essentially the employee CANNOT leave the store until it is secure.
Most of the services have a file of subcontracters that they can call at any hour to get the job done...and most of the time the job only lasts for 10-15 minutes. We're talking $150 for a weekend emergency call plus parts plus labor.
How do I know this? I was a regional retail director and worked for several national chains over the course of 15+ years. I had to sign the invoices for all emergency calls made in the Boston, New York, Hartford, Newark, Detroit and Los Angeles areas.
The prices were pretty consistent across the nation and all we (the store owners/management cared about was protecting the inventory; cost was never an issue.
Thought I'd give you something else to think on Subbing can be extremely lucrative and still be part-time.

All the best!

[randmguy]

Yes Cred you can make some decent money as a "lockout specialist". If you are sincerely interested you should approach a local locksmith and talk to him about taking any calls that he doesn't have the time/inclination to deal with himself.

There are some shortcuts to getting things done too...

1. Get a business license before you talk to anyone about doing this kind of work. Your local state or county can give you all sorts of info on how to do this.

2. Get a bond to cover yourself. This is one of the reasons to get a business license. The National Locksmith and The Locksmith Ledger both offer $15,000 bonds with a picture ID for $15 but they will want a copy of a business license and whatever other paperwork you need in your area before they will issue this. On a side note, the picture ID will work wonders at local lock suppliers if you wish to purchase supplies at much lower prices than you'll find as a hobbiest.

3. Find out if your local police force opens locked cars and/or property for free. In areas where they do this you may want to speak with someone on the city council and give them the line about how they are taking away business from local companies. Most cops do not like to open cars now anyway as it has become a liability nightmare for them.

4. Get a decent set of auto lockout tools. Yes, you can pay upwards of $300 for them but if you want to make some money you almost need to do auto lockouts. There are far more of them than home lockouts. The most important thing to look for in auto tools is an up-to-date and updatable manual. I would recommend High Tech Tools, I bought from them for 5 years before I got out of the lockout biz.

5. Talk to local locksmiths only after you have done all this. You have a much better chance if you present yourself as a professional with all the licenses and permits in your hand when you show up. The reason that so many people think locksmiths are a rip off is because of (and I hate to say it) scabs who put an ad in the yellow pages and think that a slim jim and a set of picks are going to be all they need. Most locksmiths in metropolitan areas end up with more lock out calls than they can handle. If you can come to a gentleman's agreement that you will send any sales or installation work their way most of them are pretty good about sending work to you.

6. Say good-bye to your nights and weekends. One of the reasons I don't do lockouts anymore (other than friends, family and people that could fire me) is that I wanted to spend more time with my family.

7. If you want a lot of detailed info and some very informative videos there is a guy in New Mexico who sells a how to kit for $250. One of my student workers swears that it is a good deal and actually has a lot of good info on how to run a successful small business. Its available at http://www.locksmithbiz.com

Good luck

[cred]

thanx randmguy for taking the time to reply to my post very good info

[RedMcSwede]

be very carefull...check out everything dealing with liability...licensed locksmiths MUST have a minimum of either 100,000 or 1 million dollars(i forget which is true) of insurance for a reason...if they work on any lock and for some reason that lock doesn't function properly they can be held responsible for the incident that happens...there is also a standardized form for the customer to sign if there is signs that work has been performed before...don't mean to put a sour note on your idea...i think it's a great idea...just be carefull and look into it deeply...hope this helps