Singing Pig

No such thing as a City and Guilds in locksmithing - there are no certifications in the UK at the moment in this field.  So if anyone says they are a "certified" locksmith, they are more than likely a 2 day course wonder. These guys do not possess the skills to fully operate as a locksmith, and the "guaranteed work" that is advertised will be the contact details of national companies who subcontract out work.

If a franchise is your thing - definately speak to some existing operators, and ask to see their accounts to validate what they are saying.  Every franchise operator I've come across though, is looking to get out and do their own thing.

Any locksmith should be skilled in the non-destructive opening of all types of locks - not just cylinders, and a drill is rarely required unless the lock has been damaged.  Opening locks is a small part of the job, and the locksmith needs to be skilled in other areas - safe opening/installation, access control, lock fitting, master-keying, auto entry, key cutting, lock repairs etc in order to make a living. 

With the tools, stock, operating costs, and on-going training - don't expect to make a profit for a few years.  I'd say budget on £15k+ in order start on a small scale - and this excludes a vehicle.  Take a look at the institute of certified locksmiths (do a google) if you genuinely want to look at this field.  These are an honest bunch of guys, police checked and skills checked before they are allowed to become full members, and hate with a passion the idiots that are ruining locksmithing in the UK. 

I have dealt with LockRite and found them to be ethical and honest and know for a fact that they work hard to generate business for their network.  At the end of the day, my only advice would be to use your own eyes and ears and go and see them for yourself - they can't force you to join them can they?!!

(Make sure that you ask for some Franchisees details so you can speak to them directly.)

Excellent point , The two day course i did cost approx £800 , it provided a platform to build on rather than teaching everything there is to know about the locksmith trade , it gave me a certificate which enabled me to buy specialist tools at a reasonable price and the tutors were of high integrity , there were some pretty shrewd guys on the course including myself but like you say you can,t learn everything in two days , i didn,t feel confident enough to go out and start locksmithing immediately and i have turned down some work for that reason , upvc i,m getting my head around slowly but  i have an interest and like anything the more you practice and the more research you do the better you become so you can overcome these problems ,, i would add that the demand for this type of work isn,t as great as i expected and its probably a good idea to have another string to your bow ,, personally i wouldn,t go down the franchise route either its a very expensive way of setting up , my setting up budget was £2,500 , its bought me everything i need , i,m a pretty good carpenter too which helps , and i dont cut keys at this stage either , the non destructive entry training was excellent but like you say opening doors is a very small part of the job , i couldn't rely on that to make a living ,, the course included a police check and business training , it was one of the better courses and good value for money but they can,t run your business for you and its a very competitive game and there are some unscrupulous types about giving it a bad name ,

You make some excellent valid points and from my experience now i would reccomend anyone thinking about doing this sort work should seriously take note of ...

hi  i am also looking in to it  i managed to contact someone in nottingham doing it and he said it was good but he advised me to look into buying my own van

I just sold my drainage franchise,no names mentioned as I have not recieved my cheque yet.If you are thinking of buying a franchise of this type,headbut the nearest wall,if you are still keen butt the wall again.keep repeating the process until you have knocked some sense into yourself.DO NOT spend your hard earned on something you can do yourself for a fraction of the cost.1.nearly all emergency work is generated by yellow pages,local rags are a waste of money.most other emergency work is mopped up by the various insurance companies,and unless you work for these,at low prices i might add you will struggle.The franchise companies,as mentioned earlier will put you in touch with who they want you to talk to,dig deeper and you will probably get a better idea of the deal on offer.This is just my observation,but knowing what i know now,I would not do it again.good  luck with whatever you decide   

cheers mate i yhink you are right ive just done my sums and on the figures i have  just dont add up especially when in the leeds disrict there are 11 pages of locksmiths all vying for work , i have spoken to one in leeds and he says the same as you