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Starting your own locksmithing company

Starting your own locksmithing business can be a daunting prospect, as can starting any kind of business.  It is a profession that is always moving, evolving and you will have to keep up if you want to be successful.

If you can cope with the constant learning and development, then locksmithing is a rewarding career.  It is one of the few permanently “in demand” businesses.  Despite the economic gloom of the last couple of years, those of us in security have seen no drop in demand for our services.

If the economy is doing well, our services are in demand because criminals want all the nice fruits of people’s labor.  If the economy isn’t doing well, criminals are more desperate for money and burgle more.  For us, it’s a win-win situation.

A lot of the job is about allaying fear.  While the majority of people will never be burgled, they will be affected by the fear of being burgled.  Our job is to make them feel as secure as possible by providing the best advice, guidance and equipment to help them secure their property.

The vast majority of us are “one man bands”, sole operators who run our own business and work alone.  There are larger firms out there, but they are in the minority.  It’s often by choice that locksmiths stay small.  It keeps things simple and allows you to specialize in something.  Growing large complicates matters somewhat and you will invariably spend more time running the business side of things than helping people.

While it may sound morally wrong, we work on fear.  People are afraid of being burgled or attacked in their home, and we have to capitalize on that.  There is nothing wrong with demonstrating how easy it can be to break into a clients car or home to show them how vulnerable they are.  You have to keep it within limits though, and only do it to prove a point, not to scare them into buying stuff they don’t need.

To last any amount of time in this business you will need to join trade associations and any local locksmith guilds.  Not only will they add a bit of credibility to your operation, but they can also help with advice.  They helped me with business advice, financial as well as trade skills, training and holding seminars describing the new innovations in the industry.  While you may be a sole trader, no man is an island.  Engage your local locksmiths and keep in touch.  Don’t be afraid to share information and be nice.  There is enough business out there for us all.

Being a locksmith involves constantly working, developing and training.  Keeping on top of developments is almost a full-time job in itself.  As long as you are the type of person who can cope with constant change, and have a genuine desire to help people, this could be a trade for you.