Key cutting and programming is easier than ever for workshops to benefit from. Autowave argues this is a revenue stream you could be taking advantage of.
Entry to the market is no longer tens of thousands of pounds and the huge range of resources available online and via suppliers such as Autowave can quite quickly make a small investment a very lucrative income. Essentially to get started in offering a spare key service you will need a key programmer, a key cutting machine and a transponder cloning device.
Margins are huge, aftermarket remotes for everyday cars will usually cost £20-£40 and the price a customer will be charged is usually £100-£200. Often the actual job start to finish will only take 15 minutes. Not only is this a good revenue stream, it will attract new customers that would have otherwise gone elsewhere.
Key programming devices
Many high-end diagnostic devices have some form of key programming functionality, however if you want to be serious about programming keys buy a dedicated device. On the flip side, using a key programmer with diagnostic functions as your main diagnostic tool is not recommended.
The safest option would be an all-round key programmer that would handle multiple brands, devices from brands such as Obdstar, Xtool and Lonsdor. You can spend £500 all the way up to £10,000 on devices out in the market, with some promising to programme the world; but the sweet spot is around £1,500. At this price point you will get a good all-rounder and there is no need to spend much more.
A trend seen with manufacturers is the charging of “tokens” for using a key programming device, this should be avoided at all costs — otherwise, you are simply eating into your margin. Historically, token-based machines were more advanced than non-token based, however this is no longer the case.
Manual vs automatic
Key cutting machines can be broken down into two main categories, manual and automatic.
A manual machine will use a tracing technique, quite easy to use after a bit of practice and cheaper to buy than an automatic. You are often limited to a type of profile depending on the machine you choose, and the work is all done by the user. Manual machines are okay and if budget is an issue then buying one can get you started. For a manual machine Xhorse offers machines ranging from £400-£800.
Automatic machines are electronically controlled and the user just needs to load the key and select the correct options on the screen. The machine does all the work and can be left to cut unattended, most automatic machines cover various types of keys and if budget allows then this would be the route to take. There is a huge range of machines available on the market ranging from £1,500 all the way up to £10,000, but often the more expensive machines offer the same functions as mid-range machines. Spending £1,500-£2,500 on a machine will be more than sufficient and a good machine should last many years.
Transponder cloning devices are useful when offering a customer a manual spare key — a key that starts the vehicle but doesn’t have a remote. They offer a quick and easy solution for many types of spare key scenario. Devices are not expensive, usually around the £100-£150 mark. Xhorse offer a mini key tool which is considered the industry standard.
Training
Buying the equipment is one thing but having training and using it properly is another. Autowave offers onsite and web- based training, as well as a plethora of YouTube tutorials.
Ongoing support is another huge factor as devices are constantly being updated and you will always come across a vehicle for the first time, often with the customer breathing down your neck. Autowave offers varying levels of support packages and with most of the devices it can log in via TeamViewer and walk you through the job remotely.
Pricing varies with keys and there is no set formula, however because the margin is great it doesn’t mean discount is necessary. The company have seen most garages making between £70-£120 profit on a spare remote key, whilst remaining competitive.
Job selection
In an ideal world you would say yes to every job, but it is recommended that beginners avoid “all key lost” scenarios. Basically, if the customer can’t drive the vehicle to you with an existing working key, then leave it to a mobile auto locksmith. These types of job not only require lock picking/decoding skills but often have a totally different programming method which is not recommended for a less experienced technician.
The jobs to promote are the everyday cars, not too new, not too old. Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, Ford and Vauxhall are a few brands that come to mind. These vehicles are relatively easy and offer a great margin, whist also being in abundance. Once you have cracked it with these brands you can start expanding your offering and before you know it, offering a spare key will be a standard practice.
