As we close out 2025, it is time to look to the future and what is in store for 2026 as locksmiths look to build and grow their business in the new year. And with our State of the Industry webcast coming up on Jan. 14 at 1 ET, I am reminded of how bullish locksmiths are on their financial outlook for 2026, with many saying in our 2025 State of the Industry Report that the pipeline of projects for 2026 is better than last year.

For example, when asked if they expect their weekly schedule of projects to increase or decrease in 2026, 55% of locksmiths (compared with 40.9% the prior year) say they expect projects to either “Increase Slightly (up less than 10%)” or “Increase Significantly (up more than 10%),” which is a nice jump in terms of locksmiths’ outlook. This momentum seems to be building up the last few years, as locksmiths’ weekly schedule of projects in 2025 compared with 2024 were trending upwards as well. And we similar increases in locksmiths’ reporting of revenue and profits compared with prior years, all great signs that locksmiths are focusing more on the bottom line and planning for their future.

During our State of the Industry webcast on Jan. 14, I will moderate a panel of locksmiths as we go through additional findings from our State of the Industry report, including market and product areas where they see the most growth, as well as technologies and trends they are most excited or concerned about. In this roundtable discussion, we will also look at current trends in the locking and access control world, such as the continued move to electronic access, the rise of smart locks and mobile access, consolidation among lock manufacturers, finding the next generation of locksmiths, training opportunities in 2026, etc.

As Wayne Winton, owner, Tri County Locksmith Service, pointed out during a recent Locksmith Ledger webcast, he hears far too often of locksmiths who end up with much less than they expected when they retire, even sometimes not even being able to sell their business and having it auctioned off.

“Make sure that you're setting things up and you're planning for the future because just having a van with some tools in it isn't really that valuable anymore,” says Winton. “Having a shop in an old, condemned building isn't that valuable anymore. You need to have recurring revenue and have a good client base. You must have a flawless, amazing Google business account. And you must have well-trained employees. And that's where the value is these days. If you don't have those components and those ingredients, you're not going to have a successful sale and an acquisition of your company that's going to be able to support you through your retirement years.”

This webcast is a must watch for locksmiths looking to make their business stronger and more efficient, and worth more when it is time to retire or sell, so be sure to register today!