Lock installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering lock installation

Lock installation is repeat work where the customer judges you on how smoothly the lock operates a year later. Win by measuring correctly, fitting the strike properly and leaving the customer with working keys and codes.

What customers ask

  • Will this lock fit my door?
  • Is a keypad lock secure?
  • Can you install a smart lock that works with my phone?
  • How long will the install take?
  • Do you fix the strike plate too?
  • What warranty do I get on the lock?

How to win the job

  • On the call, ask for the door type, the lock type the customer wants, the number of doors, and whether any of them are exterior doors.
  • Measure the door thickness, the bore hole and the backset on site, and confirm the lock fits before you open the box.
  • Quote the strike plate and any frame adjustment as separate lines, so the customer sees the full job.
  • Test the bolt, latch and key on each door before you leave, and show the customer the result.
  • Set up the keypad codes or smart app access with the customer present, and leave the admin information with them.
  • Give the customer a short care sheet with the lock's grade, its warranty and what to do if it sticks.

What to put on your profile

  • Post close-up photos of strike and deadbolt installs with clean edges and an aligned bolt
  • List the lock brands and types you install, including keypad, smart and high-security locks
  • State the door types you work on, such as wood, steel and fiberglass exterior doors
  • Show your measuring and testing process in a short note

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer to rekey the other exterior doors when the customer is replacing one lock
  • Suggest a strike and hinge tightening visit after the first season of use
  • Recommend frame reinforcement when the frame has splits near the strike

Licenses and permits

Lock installation is often done without a separate license, but some states and local areas license or register locksmiths, and wiring a powered lock to building power may need a licensed electrician. Confirm the requirements with your state or local licensing agency before you take paid work.

Questions

Do I need a locksmith license to install locks?

It depends on where you work and what the job includes. Check with your state or local licensing agency, and confirm whether a business registration applies to you.

Should I warranty the install or only the lock?

Write it down. Say whether you warrant your labor, the lock or both, and who handles a manufacturer claim, so the customer knows who to call.

What do I do if the customer's door is too damaged to fit the new lock?

Explain the damage in writing with photos, and quote the repair as its own line. Do not install a lock into a door or frame that cannot hold it.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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