The locksmith industry is closely scrutinized by law enforcement authorities because there are far too many locksmiths, and there are many who are there to make a quick buck at your expense than to help you with your problem. That’s why it is so important to be very careful when choosing a residential locksmith, and not call the first name you come across.

In this article, we discuss 4 important facts you should know about the locksmith industry so that you know what to expect from us. It always helps to have an insight into a business before hiring them.

#1: The locksmith industry in the US is headed for a 12% year-on-year growth.

The locksmith industry is one of the fastest growing in the US, and has been experiencing a strong growth over the last decade and a half. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that by 2018, there will be 24,800 licensed locksmiths in the country and projects a consistent increase in job opportunities for locksmiths. If you are a consumer, this is actually a combination of good news and bad news for you – it’s good that there will be so many locksmiths to attend to your problems, and it’s bad because there’s always a possibility that many of them are likely to be unlicensed technicians. So don’t hesitate to ask a locksmith for proof of their licenses before hiring them.

#2: There are only 15 states that require locksmiths to be licensed.

This is a very important but little known fact – only 15 out of 50 states require professional locksmiths to be licensed. The states that require a locksmith to be licensed are: Texas, Alabama, Illinois, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Virginia.

This is a shocking fact, but true. It’s shocking because outside of these 15 states, anyone can claim to be a locksmith and doesn’t have to show you any certification for it. This makes it all the more difficult for legitimate locksmith companies to stand out in the crowd. However, more states are calling for greater regulation on the locksmith industry, which is good news for real locksmith professionals such as us – and good news for you.

#3: The locksmith industry is actually unregulated in most countries.

This follows up from the earlier point. It is only in some states in America and Canada, where locksmiths are required to undergo strict background checks and carry licenses. Japan, Poland and Hungary require locksmiths to be licensed as well. But apart from these countries, we cannot think of any where the local locksmith industry is regulated. That’s shocking isn’t it, that an industry that’s as important as locksmithing is largely unregulated?

#4: There’s no uniformity in the locksmith industry when it comes to pricing.

Every residential locksmith is well within their right to charge their own price. There’s no standard price in this industry. There are different prices for various services such as lock picking, emergency lockout assistance, key cutting, lock replacement, etc. A locksmith can only give you a complete price range after assessing the nature of the damage. But you should expect them to give a full explanation of the prices based on the work needed to be done.

These are some of the points to be kept in mind when calling a reputable locksmith service that you can trust. With a little research and some effort you are sure to build a relationship with a locksmith that will last for years to come.