Lock Smith: A Lucrative Business Opportunity During a Recession or Depression

I've been researching possible business opportunities, and in my opinion, locksmithing is one attractive possibility. My interest in locksmithing was triggered by several factors, the first being a problematic lock on our office door. Sometimes that lock would open, and sometimes it wouldn't, no matter how much we jiggled the key, pounded on it, or turned the doorknob. We had to pay a small fortune to have it replaced.

Another factor was the dramatic increase in crime we've witnessed in the last couple of months. On 2 different occasions, we've returned to our vehicle, only to find that cars parked close by ours had been broken into in broad daylight. A neighbor of ours was recently shot 4 times; the shooting was presumably an attempted robbery, but I do not know the whole story.

I've seen conjecture that crime rates go up during a recession or depression. That point could be argued either way. Based on my own recent experiences, I believe it is a probability, at least in some areas. In a recent ABC News Article, Roger Lane was quoted as saying "The economic downturn will almost certainly contribute to increased crime rates in the near future." Mr. Lane is the author of a book called Murder in America: A History; he is also a college professor. (Source: abcnews.com's story entitled "Will Recession Make Cities Dangerous Again? Experts Debate Whether Recession Will Return Crime to U.S. Cities" By Geraldine Sealey)
If my own experiences are any indicator, Mr. Lane was correct.

It seems logical to think that, when people are concerned about keeping their property and their families safe from criminals, they will rely on the services provided by locksmiths. I have concluded that locksmithing looks like an interesting, necessary, and lucrative business, particularly during an economic downturn.

Resources For Starting a Locksmithing Business:

If you want to start a locksmithing business, the first thing you will probably need to do is get training. Locksmiths generally need to know how locks work, how to defeat locks, how to pick locks, how to re-key locks, how to make duplicate keys, how to make locks, where to buy locks at wholesale prices, how to repair locks, and how to install locks in homes, automobiles, safes, etc. Some Locksmiths may specialize in one or more of these areas. There are a variety of resources available for learning these skills, but the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) looks like a good starting point. Training through ALOA may be available to you locally, and they also offer correspondence courses and a video library. (Source.)

After you have the training and education necessary to become a locksmith, ALOA can also help with the other requirements necessary to start a locksmithing business. Requirements vary from state to state. Some states and cities require locksmith licensing. Click here to view Aloa's legislation map, which will give you more information about what your state requires.

Resources For Learning More about Locks, Lock Picking, and Locksmithing:

Locksmithing Books:

The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing
Author: Bill Phillips
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional
ISBN#: 0071448292 / 978-0071448291
Publication Date: 2005

Visual Guide to Lock Picking
Authors: Mark McCloud; Gonzalez de Santos
Illustrator: Mirko Jugurdzija
Publisher: Standard Publications, Inc.
ISBN#: 0970978863 / 978-0970978868
Publication Date: the Third Edition of the Book Was Published in 2007

Modern High-Security Locks: How To Open Them
Author: Steven Hampton
Publisher: Paladin Press
ISBN#: 1581602952 / 978-1581602951
Publication Date: 2002

Locksmithing DVD:

Lockpicking for the New Millenium
Director: David Storm
Release Date: 2005

More Articles on Associated Content about Locks and Locksmithing:

You can get a head start on your locksmithing education just by reading articles that are posted online. Associatedcontent.com is a great place to start; many knowledgeable writers at Associated Content have shared their experiences and knowledge about locks, picking locks, and locksmithing. Here are links to some of these articles:

How To Install a Deadbolt Lock

Guide To Lock Picking Master Locks

How To Pick a Lock

Locksmiths and Bump Keys: This informative article discusses lock bumping and bump keys.

Here's another article about bump keys. This one is written for an audience of homeowners, but could be helpful for prospective locksmiths also.

A Brief History of the Locksmith and the Services They Provide.