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having a key-cutting machine. You need the full setup, and the costs escalate fast.
Training Myself & Others
I didn’ t go on fancy training courses to get started. I trained myself, learned it the hard way, figuring it out on the job. That’ s how I’ ve always worked, and it gave me confidence to solve problems my own way.
Now I’ ve got three vans on the road and two lads working with me. Both of my lads came from mechanic backgrounds. I trained them myself, and that’ s important, because they’ re representing my business, and being an auto locksmith isn’ t just cutting keys. You’ ve got to be able to strip cars down and rebuild them.
Keeping customers happy is really important to us, and that’ s where Karen comes in. She keeps everything organised and makes sure the lads are on their toes. We never turn up to a job unannounced because Karen always books the appointments so customers aren’ t left waiting in all day. Everyone gets a specific time slot, and she makes sure the guys phone ahead before heading over. It keeps things running smoothly and customers appreciate knowing exactly when we’ ll arrive. Communication makes all the difference.
Advice for Newcomers Since Covid there’ s been a flood of new people trying to get into the trade. Everyone wants to be self-employed, but I’ d tell them to think carefully.
If I was starting now, I wouldn’ t try to go all in like I did. I’ d start small. Do lockouts. Don’ t throw everything at it in one go, because the investment is astronomical. You can’ t just step in and compete with the guys who’ ve been at it‘ donkey’ s years’. Build it up in stages, find your feet, and don’ t overspend before you’ ve got the work.
I’ d also say, do your research. Look at the
area you want to work in. See how much coverage is already there. If you set up in a place full of locksmiths, you’ re going to struggle. Find the gaps where you can fit in.
The Advertising Struggle Advertising has been one of the hardest parts of the job for me. I don’ t trust Google. It just feels like throwing money away sometimes, with everyone outbidding each other. You end up spending willy-nilly, and the numbers don’ t make sense.
When I started, I built the business through word of mouth. I went round the garages, introduced myself, spoke to people face to face. That worked. The work grew, and for a while I was almost too busy. I didn’ t want to tread on other people’ s toes, so I stuck to my patch and the calls kept coming in.
Now it’ s not the same. Five years ago, there was too much work. These days it’ s harder, more competitive, and advertising costs more. The market has changed.
Electrification
It’ s not just the business side that’ s changed. Cars themselves are getting more complicated. Immobiliser systems, ACUs, body control modules- it’ s all a lot more electronics now. My background in diagnostics and electrics has been a big advantage.
I’ ve also done training on electric vehicle safety, and I think more auto locksmiths are going to have to take that seriously. Working roadside on electrics can be dangerous if you don’ t know what you’ re doing. It’ s not just plugging in a diagnostic machine anymore- you’ re dealing with high-voltage batteries that can kill you if you get it wrong. You’ ve got to know exactly what you’ re working with, or you’ re putting yourself at real risk.
Keeping Up & Finding Inspiration
Running flat out with work every day makes it hard to keep up with what’ s new on the market. That’ s why I try to go to the MLA Expos when I can. For me it’ s about inspiration and seeing what tools or tech might help in the future. You can’ t just keep doing the same thing and expect to stay ahead.
Where I Am Now
I’ ve got three vans, two good lads who know what they’ re doing, and enough work to keep us busy. I’ m not chasing big expansion, I just want to keep things steady and ticking over, without too much stress.
The truth is the trade has got tougher. There’ s more competition, more advertising costs, and less work to go around than there used to be. But I still enjoy it. I like fixing things, I like problemsolving, and I like knowing I built this business myself.
More information
Darren Dean founded Southern Auto Locksmiths in 2012 after a career in the motor trade. Based around Portsmouth, the business has grown to three vans with a small, skilled team specialising in auto locksmithing, diagnostics, and vehicle security. Known for combining mechanical expertise with a hands-on, practical approach, Darren continues to train his team from the ground up, keeping customer service and technical skill at the core of the business.
www. southernautolocks. com 07818 215 683 Office. salocks @ gmail. com
DECEMBER 2025
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Issue Takeover locksmithjournal. co. uk