For Just a Few Hundred Dollars in Startup, This Roadside Assistance Business Offers Exceptionally High Returns

MrQuickPick: "Uber driver with a cool set of tools"...

There are few new businesses one can start totally from scratch that offer the extremely high return on investment that the auto lockout and roadside service business does. The start-up money required is minimal, the tools required are minimal, and the training and skills are minimal. 

Please note: I am not talking about the trade of being a professional locksmith and the tools required. The auto lockout business (as part of roadside assistance) is strictly about unlocking cars and trucks, unregulated in most states and therefore not requiring one to have a locksmith license or other credentials. I'm also not talking about being a scam artist or using scammer tactics to do business. 

Being unregulated in most states, the "rip-off" artists have flocked to the fast money, high ROI of the car unlocking business. In the absence of regulation, this industry, and the unsuspecting public, need honest and fair priced options when it comes to retrieving keys out of locked vehicles. And while a traditional locksmith will provide this service, it is typically less expensive to use a lockout service with much lower overhead. Unless you actually need a key made, calling a locksmith to unlock a car is like calling a plumber to use a plunger on your toilet... most often a bit of overkill!

The actual procedure used to open most cars has nothing to do with keys or locks. It is much more like an arcade game, trying to push a button here or turn a knob there. Any locksmith will tell you that this is not really "locksmith" work. Don't get me wrong, locksmiths will do this work and do it well, but they will usually charge more than a mobile roadside assistance service.

Back to the topic...Starting your own roadside assistance service requires:

Tools - Steck Manufacturing has a kit called "The Big Easy" which will enable you to unlock 90%+ of vehicles you'll run into, quickly, efficiently and damage-free. Costs about $70. Available at http://www.mrquickpick.com/tool-shop/

Training - There are plenty of resources online (some obviously better than others) that will show you how to unlock cars and trucks. Steck actually has a video on their website that shows you how to use their kit. You can also get plenty of hands-on training at the local junk yard. Unlock about fifty+ different makes and models and you're probably better trained than most of your competition, especially the scammers!

Marketing - You have the tools and the training, now you just need the customers. What you spend to market your service will be the key to a high or low ROI. The best way to make the phone ring in this business is with a national brand and successful business marketing plan... www.MrQuickPick.com

Check out "MrQuickPick's 1-2-3 Business Plan", now available for kindle @ www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG8S1XE or visit us @ www.MrQuickPick.com.

Breaking Into Cars for a Living...The Easiest Cars to "Break Into"!

I guess I "broke into" my first car (literally, my first car) in the late 70's or early 80's. It was a 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and it was my own car, so technically I guess I wasn't "breaking in", (in fact, if you're actually "breaking" anything, you're probably not doing it right). Back then, when you locked your keys in your car, you fished them out yourself. At least that's what we did. Usually with a coat hanger, straightened out into a rod with a little loop at the end. It was kinda fun actually. Who would ever have thought you could one day make a living at it.
 Now as a "lockout professional", I've unlocked thousands of cars, trucks, big rigs...you name it. Only a handful of small damages, all within my first six months or so (the learning curve). Most vehicles provide very little challenge anymore, and can normally be unlocked within seconds...some even less!

The following are, what I consider to be, the easiest vehicles to "break into":

1. Honda Accord: As difficult (and opposite) as the Civic is to unlock, the Accord is, surprisingly, a piece of cake. Surprisingly because it is "higher end" than the Civic and because it's annually one of the most "stolen" vehicles (according to Forbes list of vehicles stolen in 2011, 2012). I would actually include most every vehicle that still has a "pull-up" knob on the door to my list of easiest to break into. A knob-lifter and wedge have you unlocked in seconds. Slim Jim or z-tool also work pretty quickly, just avoid any side-airbags!
2. Ford Focus: Pull the handle with your reach rod and you're in. Once again, I'll include any vehicle that allows you to simply pull the handle, and there are quite a few. Just don't pull too hard! I've had to replace just a few broken handles :)
3. Frame-less windows: I almost included this on my "most difficult" list because of the often tight fit (metal rod on glass), especially with most Suzuki vehicles. But proper use of the plastic wedge(s) allows for instant access and entry with most vehicles.
4. Any vehicle that is running: I don't care what the make and/or model is, if it's running you should be rolling down that window within mere seconds. I'm sure someone will probably point out an exception to this but I'm currently unaware of any.
5. Ford Explorer: And any other vehicle that has the push button, electronic entry.

These are the vehicles I have found to be the easiest to unlock in my years of running a lockout service. Maybe yours are different? If you have vehicles to add or suggestions and helpful tips, please share.

 Need help setting up a Google Adwords account for your lockout or locksmith service?
Check out our new book “Breaking Into Cars for a Living”, now available for kindle @ www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG8S1XE or visit us @ www.MrQuickPick.com.
www.QuickPick.net. www.QuickPickLockout.com. 

Breaking Into Cars for a Living...The Ten Vehicles Most Often Stolen by Car Thieves

Ten Vehicles Most Often Stolen by Car Thieves

Model: Honda Accord

Total thefts: 58,596
Most frequently stolen model years: 1990-1997

Model: Honda Civic

Total thefts: 47,037
Most frequently stolen model years: 1990-2000

Model: Ford full-size pickup

Total thefts: 26,770
Most frequently stolen model years: 1997, 1999, 2000-2008

Model: Chevrolet full-size pickup

Total thefts: 23,745
Most frequently stolen model years: 1992-1997, 1999-2001, 2003- 2004, 2007

Model: Toyota Camry

Total thefts: 16,251
Most frequently stolen model years: 1989-1991

Model: Dodge Caravan

Total thefts: 11,799
Most frequently stolen model years: 1997-2003

Model: Dodge full-size pickup

Total thefts: 11,755
Most frequently stolen model years: 2001-2005

Model: Acura Integra

Total thefts: 9,555
Most frequently stolen model years: 1994-1996

Model: Nissan Altima

Total thefts: 9,169
Most frequently stolen model years: 1997

Model: Nissan Maxima

Total thefts: 6,947
Most frequently stolen model years: 1996

Courtesy of: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/10-vehicles-most-often-stolen-car-thieves.aspx#ixzz2j7oD7T1d
Follow us: @Bankrate on Twitter | Bankrate on Facebook

Need help setting up a Google Adwords account for your lockout or locksmith service?
Check out our new book “Breaking Into Cars for a Living”, now available for kindle @ www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG8S1XE or visit us @ www.MrQuickPick.com.
www.QuickPick.net. www.QuickPickLockout.com. 

Breaking Into Cars for a Living...The Most Difficult Cars to Break Into!

I guess I "broke into" my first car (literally, my first car) in the late 70's or early 80's. It was a 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and it was my own car, so technically I guess I wasn't "breaking in", (in fact, if you're actually "breaking" anything, you're probably not doing it right). Back then, when you locked your keys in your car, you fished them out yourself. At least that's what we did. Usually with a coat hanger, straightened out into a rod with a little loop at the end. It was kinda fun actually. Who would ever have thought you could one day make a living at it.
 Now as a "lockout professional", I've unlocked thousands of cars, trucks, big rigs...you name it. Only a handful of small damages, all within my first six months or so (the learning curve). Most vehicles provide very little challenge anymore, and can normally be unlocked within seconds. But occasionally, just when you start to feel invincible, you run into one of "those" lockouts. The one's that can take more than "a few seconds".

The following are, what I consider, some of the more difficult vehicles to "break into":

1. Honda Civic: As easy (and opposite) as the Accord is to unlock, the Civic has been my challenge. I'm talking about the newer Civics, not the one with the pull-up knob (like the Accord). The unlock "switch" pushes in instead of pulling out and is normally quite rigid. I have fished keys out of a purse to push the unlock button on the fob to avoid dealing with the switch. Recently I have found using an air wedge at the top of door and sending rod straight down to button provides better leverage and works much better than coming at an angle.
2. Newer Ford Taurus: Ran into the same challenge as above with a 2012 Taurus recently that would not open with handle pull or push button. Plastic molding on door sounded like it wanted to snap. Keys were on seat so I ended up unlocking with the key fob (again). This is usually a last resort procedure for me.
3. Lexus/Avalon w/auto-lock: These are not a problem anymore but did take some getting used to. It's all about the timing, as the "unlock" will immediately "relock" and you have about half a second to pull the door handle (normally while the car alarm is going off!). Someone once told me that the rear door locks give you about twice as much time before they" relock". Not sure if that's actually the case. Someone let us know.
4. BMW w/deadlock: I used to turn down the BMW's unless the keys were in the ignition, fearing the dreaded deadlocking system. Have actually only run into it a few times and most beamers were fairly easy to unlock via push button or key fob. Included on my list only because of the deadlock possibility.
5. Older Mercedes with dead battery: The ONLY vehicle I was unable to open. Tried everything I knew. Even Googled it that evening and came back the next day. Wish I could remember the model but it had pull up knobs that wouldn't pull up because battery was dead. Couldn't get hood up to charge battery. Actually had the key but would not work with dead battery? Not sure whatever happened with that.
6. Jeep Wrangler hard-top: These used to slow me down every time. I'd use my z-tool to locate what I thought was the correct rod, once stubbornly searching for over an hour. Finally went back to the air wedge. How about 2? Two air wedges at the top of door will allow you to get a reach rod down to unlock button. Last Wrangler only took about 30 seconds.
These are the vehicles I have found to present the most challenge in my years of running a lockout service. Maybe yours are different? If you have vehicles to add or suggestions and helpful tips, please share.

Need help setting up a Google Adwords account for your lockout or locksmith service?
Check out our new book “Breaking Into Cars for a Living”, now available for kindle @ www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG8S1XE or visit us @ www.MrQuickPick.com.
www.QuickPick.net. www.QuickPickLockout.com. 

Yellow Page Ads are a Complete Waste of Money for this Lockout Locksmith Service

Pay-per-click advertising, such as Google Adwords, is the most effective form of advertising for an emergency service such as lockout locksmith. As irrelevant as phone books have become, they are even more so in a situation where time is of the essence.

So you're at the local mall and, finished with your shopping, you get back to your car only to discover that your keys are locked inside. What will you do next? Walk back to the mall and hope to find the customer service desk (if they still have one of those) and a phone book (if they still have one of those)?

Of course not! If you're like almost everyone else on the planet, you have a smart phone. If not, you will see someone walking by with one of these devices and ask for help. You will then use the Google app to search for one of the following: "Locksmith" "locked out" "keys in car" "unlock car" ... you get the picture. And it doesn't have to be at the mall. Even at your home or business, you will more than likely step over the phone book to get on the computer or smart phone and search Google for help.

Sorry Yellow, that's just the way it is, at least for this lockout locksmith business, where our customers are in an emergency situation of sorts. They need help and they need it NOW. For other businesses, this may not necessarily be the case. I have a friend, for instance, who runs a computer repair service. He still does get a good bit of business from the phone books which makes sense, as when your computer doesn't work and you may have to RESORT to finding and using a phone book. But other than a few rare examples (and old-school holdouts), these books continue to be on the way out and a complete waste of money for advertisers.

Still, to their dying breath, Yellow will argue that these books still have a great ROI and offer other marketing programs that are most beneficial... like their app! Really? I have NEVER had a customer tell me that they Googled "yellow pages" first and then searched for and found us there. Sorry, that just doesn't happen. In the end, you have been caught sleeping at the techno-wheel and Google has taken all of your business and customers. Similar to other obsolete companies, like Kodak, you snoozed and you have completely lost your market dominance. Now go rest in peace.

Need help setting up a Google Adwords account for your lockout or locksmith service?
Check out our new book “Breaking Into Cars for a Living”, now available for kindle @ www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG8S1XE or visit us @ www.MrQuickPick.com.
www.QuickPick.net. www.QuickPickLockout.com. 

Using Google Adwords to Promote Your Lockout Locksmith Service

Negative Keywords and Negative Locations Positively Save You Money

If you have a successful lockout or locksmith business you are probably already using Google Adwords. If not, you should be. Adwords is Google's pay-per-click advertising (ads that show up at the top of their search screens). We started using Adwords (and stopped advertising in the yellow pages) about five years ago and never looked back. Phone books may still have some benefit for a full service locksmith company, but a mobile "lockout-only" service should consider it a waste of money. No one is looking for a phone book when they lock their keys in their car. They just aren't. They are grabbing the nearest computer, ipad or smart phone and Googling for assistance (or calling a friend to do one of the above).

We spend right around $1000 a month on our current campaigns. It used to be much higher but, through the years (and the many Google "enhancements"), you eventually learn a trick or two that can save you a bit of money over time. Sometimes quite a bit of money. And while you can learn a lot from the many (many) pages and wealth of online instructions for setting up a "successful advertising campaign", nothing gets you up to speed faster than the traditional "school of hard knocks".

Nothing gets your attention quicker than a $30 "click" for a call asking for help with something you don't even do (can you open my grandma's safe?). Get a few of those clicks in a day and you'll quickly realize why Google's stock price is currently over $1000 per share (GOOG $1036.24, yesterday's close). Very frustrating; been there and done that. But remember, it's all about your average cost per click (CPC) and, done properly, Adwords can provide a much higher return and pin-point control of your advertising dollars than any other form of advertising. Don't let the SEO/SEM salespeople fool you with their promises of "top billing". They may be able to help you get ahead organically, but nothing beats an ad at the top of the search page. And nothing gets you on top of the Google search page but Adwords. (Bing never made my phone ring).

One of the biggest "tips" we have implemented is the use of negative keywords and negative locations.
Don't want those calls asking you to unlock grandma's safe? Add "safe" and "unlock safe" to your list of negative keywords. This ensures that when someone searches Google for "unlock my safe", your ad does not appear. We currently have a (growing) list of negative keywords (over 100), including words like "how" (no more "how to unlock a car" calls) and "learn" (no more "learn to be a locksmith" calls). You get the picture.

Same goes with negative locations. Why show your ad in areas that you do not even cover, only to have a telemarketer click your ad to call and try to sell you something you don't need (like SEO/SEM plans)? Or a click-happy competitor? I have checked Google "search" while far away on vacation and was surprised to see pay-per-click ads for companies hundreds of miles away. Granted, some larger, full-service companies may see value in multiple location settings. But for a smaller, lockout-only service in a particular city, no good can come from it. Even though you may not have included these other locations in your settings, it is wise to "block" areas you do not want your ads to show. Yes, you may miss the very occasional "out-of-town search to help a friend" in your area, but those calls are few and far between and well worth missing to avoid the possibility of bad calls.
We list every state (other than our's, obviously :) as a negative location. Then include nearby cities within our state that we do not cover. This cut's down on errant calls from areas you do not service and, therefore, your advertising costs. Remember, it's not only about generating good clicks but also avoiding bad clicks that will help to maximize your bottom line.

Need help setting up a Google Adwords account for your lockout or locksmith service?
Check out our new book “Breaking Into Cars for a Living”, now available for kindle @ www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG8S1XE or visit us @ www.MrQuickPick.com.
www.QuickPick.net. www.QuickPickLockout.com. 

Locksmith Scam Artists and Google Adwords

Locked Out? Beware The "$19 Service Call" Bait and Switch

Here's the bait...

"We will come to you for only $19. No locksmith can give you a price over the phone. Seeing what is happening with your individual situation is a must. Some cars have more sophisticated security systems that may take longer to unlock and cost more as well."

Really? You really want to put that out there for real locksmiths to see? Let's break it down, line by line (or lie by lie)...

"We will come to you for only $19"  Yeah, I'm sure you will. I like to call this the EXTRA $19 charge, as it is in addition to what "they" determine the actual work will cost you. It's the old "bait and switch". 

$19 sounds cheap but it's basically what they are charging you just to come out and give a quote. It will be added to the total once the work is completed. Don't like the quote? They still expect you to pay that $19!!

"No locksmith can give you a price over the phone"   Really? A reputable one will, all day and every day. It's called a FREE quote and it's how most real businesses operate. We always give a flat rate "total" over the phone for any lockout service, never a "service call charge, plus labor"!

"Seeing what is happening with your individual situation is a must" There is not a make or model that we haven't "seen". Unlocking a car is like delivering a pizza. Most of the job is driving to the location. The actual work normally takes seconds, if you know what you're doing.

"Some cars have more sophisticated security systems that may take longer to unlock and cost more as well"  Really? Please tell me which one's take longer? And what exactly is a more sophisticated security system? ... "oh wait a minute now, you have one of them there sophisticated security systems that takes longer to unlock" ...whatever!

Reputable locksmiths and lockout professionals know how to do their jobs, how to run their businesses and, most importantly, how to provide honest customer service.

Need help setting up a Google Adwords account for your lockout or locksmith service?
Check out our new book “Breaking Into Cars for a Living”, now available for kindle @ www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG8S1XE or visit us @ www.MrQuickPick.com.
www.QuickPick.net. www.QuickPickLockout.com.