The way to make it in locksmithing like any other biz is to f*ck the customer as long and hard as possible. Most guys make maybe 60 - 80 bucks off a car lockout. I usually make a couple hundred and half the time make the key by VIN on the way to the f****ng job. These idiots don't know the difference. They just wanna get back in the car and get to f****ng church on time.
When you do residential lockouts never pick the f****ng lock. Tell them it's unpickable and drill it that way you can sell them a new one for triple what it cost and ream them on keying alike to what they already have. Always let them see how easy it drills and then sell them $800.00 worth of new locks. Don't mention that criminals almost never drill the f****ng things I mean they could so just replace them. Always keep the biting for all your customers locks. If they ever call you for a lockout you can just make the key and open it up but make sure to give them a BS story or make it look like your picking it or making a key by some secret technique. Make it look hard and like you are going all out for their dumb ass. They love that shit. You can make $100.00 or more easy for 2 minutes work making the damn key.
Get a kickback deal going with an alarm installer. He can ream them on the electronic stuff you can ream them on the locks and everybody's happy.
Ethics are the main thing. You can't f****ng have any. Ethics will kill your ass. The main thing about being a locksmith is to do as little f****ng work as possible and jam them whenever you can. Hardwork is stupid and useless. I'm one lazy SOB and still make twice what most idiot locksmiths do. How? I SCREW MY FUCKING CUSTOMERS. The best part is all the fun you have. I usually laugh my ass off all the way home.