I think I'm about to get into the business, and was wondering if someone can make a decent living at it. Any input would be helpful.

 

you could do it part time

why?

key cutting is done everywhere
HD and Lowes make it pretty damned easy to change your own locks
there are kits to change your lock pattern for $10

 

If you get in to high-tech locking mechanisms, such as what BEST uses or ILCO access systems... etc... you will make some serious cash.

But if IIRC, you need to sign a contract with them or something... so no Joe Blow can get the key cutters and X-CORE keys from them. Hence that is why it says on their keys, "Duplication Prohibited"...

In fact, the way BEST keys are made, they are pretty damn copy proof. Because each core uses a difference thickness key and such... so it's something that HD or Lowes or even some small Mom and Pop locksmith services wouldn't have. Also, the way BEST keys are cut, they are cut using either a hydraulic or manual punch system made ONLY by BEST.

But there is a good reasoning behind this. Security, security, security...

 

I'm very familiar with BEST. When I was in the Navy, I was in charge of our lock program, and kept track of well over 3,000 keys, and implemented a re-coring program in order to better track the keys b/c control was lost before I took over. I changed over 700 cores in a month, and knew everyone who had a key to everything. Thats one reason I'm thinking about getting in the business, b/c I do have expirience.

 

You aren't going to make squat doing key cutting. You will make your money doing lockout service at all hours of the day and night. Last time I had to call a locksmith, it was 75 bucks to slim jim my door, took him less than 5 minutes, and this was at 3 in the afternoon and the locksmith was about 2 miles away.

 

thats why you shouldve called a cop, they do it for free.

 

Can't rely on that, many departments have stopped doing that due to liability issues... You ask a cop to help you out of a situation, then sue the dept b/c he damaged your weather stripping...

 

that is true... i dont know of a P.D. in wv that will unlock a locked vehicle anymore... gotta shell out the cash to have a locksmith do it. I'd just figure out howmany people in your area do that kind of stuff... figure out their prices, undercut them, then ADVERTISE!

 

10-4 on that.

 

I tried the police first, they wouldn't do it. Not a small town where everyone knows everyone, it was a major Chicago suburb.

 

Once set up you can always become a distributer and bid new construction for supply and possably the install. Highrise towers would have double door locks, panic hardware, nrp hinges etc..

Government sites would have the gm keys and a temp construction core before the perm. cores went in.

bring in a custom line and go after the architects for inclusion with their site specs.

 

Heck... go into the card access systems and stuff... that stuff makes some SERIOUS $$!

 

Gator I had a buddy at work a few months ago that locked his keys in his car. He called a cop and they told him they will no longer slimmy doors for people anymore. Seems that some people have had trouble afterwards, and as usual they want to blame the police department. That was the Fort Worth PD so other cities might still be willing. Someone always has to go ruin a good thing.

 

fine suggestions all, but really how much money is there to be made by someone just entering the business?

Okay fine, $75 lockout call fee. How many of them will be happening in his town?

How many people on average will pay for these high-end locks and special hydraulic cut keys?

Okay, let's move to ICI sector. Guess what? Lots of established guys there that have all the contracts locked up.

Oh, get a distributorship. What if someone in his town already has all the good ones locked up?

Again, I really don't see this as a full time gig. Part time at best.

 

Sorry I didn';t make myself clear... I'm being taken on as a partner in a business that's been established for 8 years. I've seen his books, he's got lots of commercial accounts locked up, i.e. gas stations, Walmarts, a hospital... Down here after Katrina all kinds of business took off booming, and I'm just trying to make sure that he's not just riding that wave and business will suck in a year or two.