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by 79commando » 28 Mar 2005 14:31
As a new locksmith in business I can only add a little to the above posts. I work in a relatively untapped place for locksmiths as there are only a couple in my area. One of whom doesn't advertise much. The reason being he has his share of the big contracts. The others live off the locals, 24hrs a day.
I was initially getting about four calls a week earning about £200 total. I then thought about subcontracting for a big national. One month later I am doing about five jobs per week for the big national and only two a week for myself. As the big national takes over 50% of the job total I end up losing out. Turns out that before they had me on the books they never a had locksmith in my area and the calls I am doing for them would have had a chance of coming to me and I could have picked up all the profit.
On average you will need about 30,000 people per locksmith to allow for people losing keys, bust locks etc. Without this amount you will struggle.
Also check out how many property maintenance companies there are in your area. In Edinburgh they are swamping the market and hitting the long standing locksmiths hard.
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79commando
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by BUNGYSTRAP » 27 Apr 2005 3:24
This has been a really usefull area and so I would like to post some of my experiences. Training, tools, van and stock so far has been as expected and cost approximately £6000. Training is ongoing and no price can be put on the experience and time friends have given me. Suppliers have been patient and helpfull. I have found however that help can come from various area's. Never be afraid to ask and if approached correctly most will help or guide you to a solution. Practice, practice, practice. Some long hours in the workshop including morticing scrap wood untill it became second nature, to ensure a quality job for prospective customers. One thing to highlight is the lack of initial work. I am lucky in two area's. 1st being I am in full employment as an engineer. 2nd I have a friend who owns a property letting agency and so plenty of work. I have as yet not had a single job from advertisement. Is there as much work out there as initially thought. Key-cutting is proving to be very lucrutive with inital practice required in correctly identifying the correct blank. I thoroughly enjoy the profession though and find it very rewarding. From my experience there is no quick entry. I think it will take at least 18 months to 2 years to establish enough to give up my day job.
IF A POLAR BEAR'S SKIN IS BLACK AND IT'S FUR CLEAR, WHY DOES IT LOOK WHITE?
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BUNGYSTRAP
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by BUNGYSTRAP » 18 May 2005 3:56
An update on how things are going. Work has been slow and steady but I have definately not been rushed off my feet. The variety of jobs is good and word of mouth has been my best advertisement. I have had referals from customers that have led to bigger and better things. Key cutting is still very lucrative as no-one seems to be too bothered with it. Without giving away too much it helps to find gaps in the market where there are no key-cutting facilities and exploit it. The MLA show at the G-mex in Manchester was interesting and a chance to put faces to names. Pinky didn't look anything like I would have thought!
IF A POLAR BEAR'S SKIN IS BLACK AND IT'S FUR CLEAR, WHY DOES IT LOOK WHITE?
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BUNGYSTRAP
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by toomush2drink » 26 May 2006 9:33
Ok heres how it is a long time since i wrote this guide.
The uk locksmith market is now flooded with new lockies and wannabes,THIS A FACT.
For those of you considering this career please see beyond the pound signs and check out the reality. After spending at least 20k in 2 years im now ready to think about giving up my other income.Im also getting burnt out from the long hours ive put in and its been hard. When i do give up my other income im taking a PAY CUT, yes thats right !! Im in this career because i love it not for the money, that will hopefully come some way down the years.
Im now getting quite a few calls and emails from people asking for jobs etc and most have only done a 2 day course and think they are a locksmith.Most lack any ability i feel after failing to answer what i feel are a few basic qustions.This shows the state of the industry today and as only a beginner to it myself with a couple of years under my belt ive seen a major change in the amount joining the trade.
What i thought would be my main money spinner from the trade is not and its only now ive realised my own markets, a course cant teach you this, you have to find out for yourself and spend your money trying.Some money will be completly wasted and some will be superb value.Ive still got to find another 3-4k for all the tools i want/need on top of what i have already spent.
Just look around this forum at people asking where is the best training etc, the answers are there but everyone want everything spoon fed to them.With this give me the answers attitude you will fail, get off your a**** and do the work to find out about things. If you dont put the work in you will not even get any calls let alone make your money back from the course.
I know a few of you are bound to disagree with this but its what i feel is an honest reflection of the UK locksmith business especially when i hear of superb longterm experienced locksmiths thinking of quitting the trade due to the mass of new locksmith startups.
Look at how many training schools now exist, at least 60+, there were les than 20 2 years ago. Most have been set up by locksmiths/trainess who couldnt make a living from locksmithing itself so have gone down this route to make ends meet.
Ignore this advice at your peril.
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toomush2drink
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by pinky » 26 May 2006 10:39
A reality check is needed by almost anyone wishing to enter this industry, the market isnt just flooded, but grossly over saturated.
Training Courses
Of all the courses on offer, its IMPORTANT TO BEAR IN MIND, NO COURSE ON OFFER TEACHES YOU TO BECOME A LOCKSMITH !!!!!
all the various courses offer is one part of the business, METHODS OF ENTRY, some do this NDE and most not, a few do this well and again most dont !
FACT ! the majority of training firms have sprouted up in past 12 months, and most trained from novice within last 18 months, some as little as 3 months ago.
FACT ! most training outfits are failed locksmiths
FACT ! Most offering training are no more than novices themselves.
i can name a number now offering training, without even 18 months on the job experience, i know of a new outfit setting up with 3 virtual novices 1 a failed franchise locksmith.
many think its all you need to do, buy some safe ventures picks, learn how to look good on them on locks you know, and sell a course.
For those thinking of setting up in this industry, you need the following training;
1 ) Good NDE methods of entry training
2 ) A good course in UPVC repair
3 ) basic woodwork carpentry training
4 ) Good Access control training
5 ) some electronic access training
6 ) marketing, bookeeping and admin training
this is a minimum, and best taken as seperate units with specialists in their field. its also worth remembering that you may not have the aptitude for this type of work.
also remember that you will learn just methods of how, you will not be good or even competent at any of it, this will take months, sometimes years of hard practice.
following this you will need;
1 ) substantial investment in tools stock and advertising
2 ) Alot of Luck
This will cost you an arm and a leg, and for most success will depend upon LUCK.
FACT
9 out of 10 new start ups fail in their 1st 6 months, very few make it even to the end of year 1.
the training firms will tell you its easy money, low start up etc, after all, they want your money ! clever and attractive marketing, false hope is all tools to part you from your money.
9 out of 10 of you will have no more than a shattered dream and total waste of money, the other 10% will have a tough and very poor financialy time for a long while ahead.
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by CJM » 26 May 2006 12:46
My complete agreement with the reality checks above. I would also add a need for a good mechanical aptitude. Sick of very good locksmiths losing work to muppets after a fast buck!
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CJM
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by acl » 26 May 2006 18:27
I too will have to agree with the guys . 60 schools ?!! it gets worse.
I would never encourage anyone to become a locksmith (my son aside and that doesnt matter as hell be captain of QPR shortly!) now as things have reached a point where good lockies are jacking it in due to shortage of work.
I di things a little differently to most of the fellas here.I was lucky enough to do an aprenticeship when there were positions available,i think youd be lucky to get one nowdays but i also think that most guys would not want to spend 4 yrs making tea,sweeping up,making keys by hand to locks etc etc. The majority of the guys who ask questions on here wouldnt want to do it this way,they just want to earning that 2k a week and fast!!
As Pinky says most new starters fall by the wayside but not untill they have managed to take a bit of work of established well trained lockies.
If you are thinking of becoming a locksmith think long and hard as to why you do. If its just for the money then think again and do something else.
Im lucky enough to know some of the guys who have been doing this for 2-3 yrs such as Toomush and Evo and i know how much time and money theyve put into it,i also know that they are not expecting to be millionaires in the next year or so(youre not are you chaps?!) they have drive and ambition but are also prepared to put in the hard work thats needed to succeed in this business and to them i wish all the luck in the world. To someone who thinks they can drill and change a few euros and become the next Richard Branson i say forget it its not happening.
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acl
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by pinky » 26 May 2006 18:44
ah but its ok andy, fail as a lockie and open a training school ! always money there, a bit of seductive marketing and your in the money.
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pinky
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by acl » 26 May 2006 18:56
As ive said before Martin its really not by bag,as anyone who knows me will tell you paitence levels are set at aproximatly zero.
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acl
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by pinky » 26 May 2006 18:59
i found you to be very patient at telford ! you waited for everyone else to catch up with you on the bar count !
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pinky
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by acl » 26 May 2006 19:01
One fruit shoot and they were with me. (youve seen the pics!)
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acl
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by pinky » 26 May 2006 19:06
it was those mints that did it mate
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pinky
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by acl » 26 May 2006 19:14
Dont know how they did it but they bloody did!! Anyone who has an ice bucket with mint vodka in the back of their van is allowed on my ship any day of the week!!
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acl
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by Mark A » 27 May 2006 8:13
As I am new to this forum although not new to the industry,I thought it may be of use to anyone thinking of entering the industry, and a useful reality check before too much money/time is wasted.
If you think you will receive endless call outs to lock outs and constantly be using lock picking skills you will be in for a rude awakening!
You can expect about 10-15% of this work
40+% will be to lockouts where locks have either failed,broken,been forced and bent,superglued or seized in some form requiring a very different approach to opening with different skills required to open without wrecking the door. NO LOCK PICK SETS WILL HELP YOU OPEN THESE LOCKS!
5-10% reposession work where again you can come up against damaged locks that will not pick(Due to spite from disgruntled teants)
The rest you can expect to be made up of the more mundane but no less important work of lock changes,upgrades and fitting from scratch.
I am finding now that I get a 50% split of work with traditional locks and Multipoint Locks.
With regards to training there is a bewidering amount out there now when I trained with SAS at Cambridge you could count the number of training courses offered in the country on one hand and had to join a very long waiting list before you got started.
UPVC/MPL courses are a must as this could involve 50% or more of your work,no amount of picking training is going to help you open a seized multipoint lock!
I also trained in carpentry to City and Guilds advanced craft level, many jobs you get called to with a lock problem will turn out to be a DOOR PROBLEM.
I also trained in business/Managent/health and safety to Chartered Management full member level.
Due to the low percentage of picking/Decoding you can expect to get you will find that any picking skills learned on courses will be lost due to lack of use,meaning I have to spend hours practicing picking/Decoding in order to be able to use the lock tools under pressure on site.
IF YOU DONT USE IT YOU WILL LOSE IT!
This I think you will find is typical of what to expect workwise and training needs if you want to set up as a mobile locksmith doing general Locksmithing.
I hope this will help anyone seriously thinking about starting out and considering what type of training that you are going to need.
Mark
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Mark A
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by toomush2drink » 27 May 2006 9:55
I totally agree mark i do stacks of upvc especially as a lot of lockies wont touch it, also lock fitting and general security far out weighs my opening work.Its the training providers marketing a distorted view of what the market is like, they all focus on the opening side of things and as a licence to print money.
Its only through experimenting and spending money do you find what your own money earning stuff is, no shorts cuts there unfortunately, just got to spend the money and learn what works in your own area and market.
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toomush2drink
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