§1What this business is
The shop cuts duplicate keys on a key-cutting machine, opens and repairs jammed locks, and cuts lock slots in wooden doors with a mortising machine. Bihar's Laghu Udyami Yojana lists it as one of 61 small projects, each with a total cost of ₹2 lakh, and prints the tool kit to be bought.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A trained locksmith or carpenter with a counter in a market or near housing colonies.
Who it is not for
Someone without the hand skill or a clean local reputation.
Advantages
- Every house, shop and vehicle has locks and keys
- Cash on the spot for every job
- A small counter is enough
Drawbacks
- Small tickets; income depends on footfall
- Customers must trust the locksmith fully
- Digital and car remote keys need extra equipment
Skills you need
- Key cutting and duplication
- Opening and repairing locks
- Fitting mortise locks in doors
Why difficulty 2/5: Low cost, but it needs a practised hand and local trust.
§3Market
Who buys
- Households and shopkeepers
- Vehicle owners needing duplicate keys
- Carpenters and builders fitting door locks
How it sells
- Shop counter
- Home visits on call
Good to know
- The Bihar list prints only the tools and the ₹2 lakh total; it gives no sales estimate.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Door-lock mortising machine | 1 | ₹70,000 |
| Key-cutting machine | 1 | ₹35,000 |
| Cutter machine | 1 | ₹16,000 |
| Stand drill | 1 | ₹25,000 |
| Hand tools | 1 set | ₹20,000 |
| Counter and chair | — | ₹10,000 |
From: Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana tools and cost list — Lock/Key Repairing (Department of Industries, Bihar)
- Key blanks and lock sparesbought from hardware wholesalers
From: Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana tools and cost list — Lock/Key Repairing (Department of Industries, Bihar)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- Trade licence / Shop and Establishment registration
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§6Schemes & subsidies
The list comes from Bihar's Laghu Udyami Yojana, which gives ₹2 lakh in instalments to eligible poor families in Bihar. Elsewhere, a MUDRA Shishu or Kishore loan fits this size.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Machinery ₹1,76,000 (door-lock mortising machine ₹70,000, key-cutting machine ₹35,000, cutter machine ₹16,000, stand drill ₹25,000, hand tools ₹20,000, counter and chair ₹10,000) + working capital ₹24,000 = ₹2,00,000.
Working capital: Working capital ₹24,000 in the list.
Year not printed inside the list (the file name carries 2023-24) — check current tool prices.
§8Export potential
A local service; there is no goods export in this business.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Being blamed if a duplicated key is misused
- Shift to digital locks
- Low earnings in a poor location
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working lock and key repair shop unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, Trade licence / Shop and Establishment registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Lock and Key Repair Shop?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
- Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana tools and cost list — Lock/Key Repairing (Department of Industries, Bihar)
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.