Looking to set up my own locksmith business

Looking to set up my own locksmith business

Author
Discussion

auditt

Original Poster:

715 posts

185 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Well ive just trained to be a locksmith because as a landlord ive spent hundreads on getting locks bored out and changed because tenants lose there keys.

well, i was thinking maybe go mobile to earn a few extra pound (im quite young only 23)

i was thinking maybe getting an advert in my local paper and to write letters to all my local estate agents telling them about special offers i.e. lock outs/change locks/boring out locks/free survey on the property to suggest where added security could be put on doors and windows.

what else would be good? do you think i should put an add in the yellow pages?
do you think i need a website?
do you think i should flyer the half of london lol

any ideas????

The Moose

22,856 posts

210 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
yellow pages - what's the cost?

leafletting - not a bad idea - what's the cost of getting that many printed up?

website - defo (give me a PM about this if you like).

Other online directories - a possibility.

etc

Cheers

The Moose

Wings

5,814 posts

216 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Various Landlords Associations, local Housing Authorities, Letting Agents and Property Management Companies might help you.

By the way (no pun intended) are you interested in buying keying cutting machine/s and mortice, cylinder and car key blanks, pm me if you are.

As a landlord with vast knowledge of key cutting, replacing locks etc. etc.,and with trade supply info,if I can offer help in any way pm me.

DonnyMac

3,634 posts

204 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Estate agent service sounds good.

What about fridge magnets - err, no, on second thoughts, if they get locked out your number on their fridge won't help much - Key Fobs perhaps, no scrub that - must not think and type at the same time.

Advertising seems key to your success. boxedin

Simpo Two

85,490 posts

266 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
The possibilities for puns on a business name are endless... I'll go first:

'Lock, Stock and One Smoking Barrel'

sider

2,059 posts

222 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Sorry but i've got very little experience of locksmiths.

Best of luck though - a guy near me has run a business doing the same in our local town for around 20 yrs now and appears to do quite well out of it. (the red GTR on his drive would suggest so!)

V8mate

45,899 posts

190 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Leaflets and flyers are no good. No-one ever thinks they'll need a locksmith.

Best to network yourself to public/private landlords, estate agents etc.

Marcellus

7,120 posts

220 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
IIRC to be advertise as a "locksmith" don't you need to be registered and qualified??

auditt

Original Poster:

715 posts

185 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
yes, im part of the master locksmith association.

with regards to blanc etc etc, send me over your prices and key cutting machines



Kinky

39,574 posts

270 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
auditt said:
Well ive just trained to be a locksmith.

im part of the master locksmith association.
If you don't mind me asking, how much did it all cost, and how long did it all take?

I ask as I've always pondered doing the same, but never actually looked into it.

Wings

5,814 posts

216 months

leeb

1,074 posts

244 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Kinky said:
auditt said:
Well ive just trained to be a locksmith.

im part of the master locksmith association.
If you don't mind me asking, how much did it all cost, and how long did it all take?

I ask as I've always pondered doing the same, but never actually looked into it.
i too would be very interested in looking further into this, just one of those things i have never taken further than "hmm that would be good"

Kinky

39,574 posts

270 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
leeb said:
just one of those things i have never taken further than "hmm that would be good"
Exactly smile

TheEnd

15,370 posts

189 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
type in "locksmiths" into google, and see what turns up first, then advertise there, whether it's a yell.com or net directory.

The usual acid test is think where you would look for a locksmith. Personally, i'd Google "locksmith *location*" and see what that brings up.
As mentioned before, people won't hold onto flyers, but all the same, it's worthwhile to let people know there is a locksmith local to them.
A signwritten van for example will start to get the message over, as the chain of thought is
"Do i know a locksmith?" - hopefully here people will remember your van
"does anyone i know, know a locksmith" - that's just experience
"lets try to find a locksmith"- adverts on yell.com etc.

Engineer1

10,486 posts

210 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Lateral thinking wise look at advertising where people who are locked out may go, so the corner shop, the library, cards in the DIY stores, network with estate agents and other landlords. Finally get a number that is easy to remember, if you are locked out you won't have your yellow pages.

Wings

5,814 posts

216 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
quotequote all
Kinky said:
auditt said:
Well ive just trained to be a locksmith.

im part of the master locksmith association.
If you don't mind me asking, how much did it all cost, and how long did it all take?

I ask as I've always pondered doing the same, but never actually looked into it.
http://www.locksmiths.co.uk/training/index.asp

dazco

4,280 posts

190 months

Wednesday 4th November 2009
quotequote all
The number of people who do the locksmith course and then set up and fail is staggering, according to some websites I visited.

They also said you do not need any formal qualifications nor do you need to belong to a professional body.

If it was my locksmith I would drop credit card type objects through people's doors, then they may be tempted to put it in their wallet to be used in an emergency.

blueST

4,395 posts

217 months

Wednesday 4th November 2009
quotequote all
dazco said:
The number of people who do the locksmith course and then set up and fail is staggering, according to some websites I visited.

They also said you do not need any formal qualifications nor do you need to belong to a professional body.

If it was my locksmith I would drop credit card type objects through people's doors, then they may be tempted to put it in their wallet to be used in an emergency.
I suppose the question is, do more locksmith businesses fail than other trades? And are the mla accredited ones more likely to suceed?

HiRich

3,337 posts

263 months

Wednesday 4th November 2009
quotequote all
Engineer1 said:
Lateral thinking wise look at advertising where people who are locked out may go, so the corner shop, the library, cards in the DIY stores, network with estate agents and other landlords. Finally get a number that is easy to remember, if you are locked out you won't have your yellow pages.
I like this thinking. As Engineer1 says, you don't have direct access to your own stuff, err, because you are locked out. So first options might be:
  • Google (locksmith +town) on your iPhone
  • Knock on a neighbours door. They will call up Google or look in YP.
So options would appear to be:
  • Clear ad (not just a listing) in YP
  • Are you on the best link on Google?
Leaflets & newspapers are no good, but thinking laterally:
  • How about a business card with a "keep it in your wallet. You may need me one time"?
  • Can you create a leaflet/card with a "Put me in your mobile as "Locksmith" message?

dazco

4,280 posts

190 months

Wednesday 4th November 2009
quotequote all
Hear you go OP, this is what I read http://www.needalocksmith.com/locksmith_training_c...