Since my phone number is printed each month in Locksmith Ledger I have become a popular person for every get-rich-quick scheme in the world. Once I discover that it is not a subscriber calling, the phone call is usually quickly terminated. Last week I once again got a crank call. This time I laid the handset down on the desk and let the caller message drone on. After a minute I lifted up the handset and the speaker was still going on. Before ending the call I listened long enough to get their message. They were selling some kind of product. The idea was that I would invest in this scheme and then set up a franchise system with several of my friends who would sell the product for me. I would not have to work again and the money would just roll in.
Our family ocassionally eats at a fast food restaurant chain called Culvers. The food is usually a little better than most fast food fare and their restaurants are usually busy. This prompted me at one time to investigate what it would cost to get a Culvers franchise. According to information on the internet the buy-in was approximately $500,000. That was the end of my Culvers franchise plans.
A locksmith franchise program called Pop-A-Lock just sent me a news announcement which states that Pop-A-Lock has been chosen by Forbes as the eighth best franchise in the under $150,000 investment category. According to information on the internet the investment required to join the Pop-A-Lock franchise program is between $24,000 and $100,000 "based on population". Pop-A-Lock claims to have 108 locksmith franchise units in 29 different states.
Another company called Rank Locksmith specializes in increasing business for individual locksmith businesses. Their literature claims to have marketing programs which can "... take your locksmith business to the next level". They offer "no contracts, no commitments and guaranteed results."
For many years the locksmith business had no competitors. When people needed keys they looked for the nearest locksmith shop. Under those conditions independent locksmiths could easily prosper. Franchising or high-cost advertising was never before a consideration.
People are attracted to franchise locations because that business is selling a known product or service and the product or service is the same regardless of the franchise location. The business climate of today requires new strategies. Perhaps it is joining a franchise program or perhaps it is remaining an individual business and increasing your advertising budget. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has had positive experiences in either direction.
