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All I;m finding is the scammers. I'm not searching correctly. Most of the large commercial chain stores I have solicited have a contract with some National outfits that I guess sub out local locksmiths. Who are the decent companies to contact. Please help, I need the business but I don't want to sell out to the scammer outfits I campaign against out here.

Any help to this end would be much appreciated. Thanks

Bass Security is based here in Cleveland, national account work is the majority of what they do these days.

I would strongly recommend getting on a professional locksmiths site and asking which NSPs (national service providers) pay. A lot of the ones that seem legit will never pay. Bass as Jeff suggested is a good payer, General Lock/Anixter/Clark Security pays. I would steer clear of Johnson Controls, in my experience they have no intentions of paying ever (Just my opinion based on experience)

I thought Anixter/Clark was just a distributor. Didn't realize they did field work too.

LockNet. They have a strong industry presence, and commonly set up booths at conventions/trade shows. We would get everything from fast-food chains, shopping malls, Airport Authority, FCC... Doors, locks, safes, all that jazz. Play by the rules and keep the customers happy and you can earn your way to the top of their call-list. If I ever end up back as a "field technician" I would not hesitate to work for them again.

http://locknet.com/

Yeah the name they go by for that is GL Security solutions, I just remembered the name today when I was turning in the invoice. They pay well, they will send parts when they can but won't hesitate to let us put parts on depending on the circumstances. I recently replaced a safe lock with what I had in my van, the old one failed and they asked if I could provide one immediately. They sent an exact replacement a couple days later to replenish my stock.

Pop-A-Lock

Fantastic! I have gotten more information in 36 hours on this one post than from the rest of the world LOL.

Thanks so much for the information. I will be visiting websites/making calls tomorrow. I appreciate such a quick response. Thanks again

I met a bunch of Pop-a-Lock employees in Baltimore last year at the ALOA Convention. I wasn't very impressed about that FRANCHISE (more than a NSP) and I really don't want to be the locksmith who brings them to Pittsburgh, they'll be a little more welcome than the Israeli network,... but not much. We really want to keep the independent contractors independent. (and we want to keep the hard earned money of Pennsylvanians in Pennsylvania NOT Louisiana. (no offense y'all)

Out of curiosity - why don't you like the franchise idea? I'm clearly biased as I'm a new pop-a-lock employee but it's not like a fast food business - we receive training and have numerous numbers to call should we encounter anything 'unusual.'

I've seen the pop-a-lock van a fair number of times, seems like they do good business and well too! Do they work with safes at all?

I'm sure a fair number of the guys do, as for the franchise in my area.. sadly.. no. I'm really pushing it on my boss though. I would like to receive, at a minimum, a safe servicing course. I've defeated ATMs with the help of a UK contact, that's about it though.

I've turned down about 10 safe jobs in a few months. It's a disappointment to say the least.

What!!! Turned down safe jobs in my town too no less! Aggghhh... send those safe calls my way!

The OP was looking for a national outfit to get work. Pop-A-Lock is a franchise and wouldn't do for what he wants.

The local franchise that I work for does some work for a national contractor.

FWIW, I carry business cards from some of the local locksmiths so I can refer people on jobs that we don't do.

Being equipped for everything in the locksmith world is simply not cost-effective for us. I'd rather send the work to someone who is set up for it.