The Flying Locksmiths is a leading provider of commercial locksmith services, access control systems, and door security solutions. It was founded in 1946 in Boston, Massachusetts, by William McMenimon, who started the business from his Jeep with a portable key machine. Today, the company is headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts.

The franchise began expanding in 2016, starting with its first franchise location in Raleigh, North Carolina. Now operating under the brand FlyLock Security Solutions, the franchise has grown to cover 35 states with over 85 to 90 locations across the U.S.

The Flying Locksmiths offers a wide range of services including lock installation and rekeying, high-security locks, master key systems, access control panels, security cameras, intercoms, automatic doors, electrified hardware, ADA-compliant operators, and commercial door frames.

What differentiates this franchise is its combination of family-owned heritage and modern technology. With over 75 years of industry experience, The Flying Locksmiths has evolved from traditional locksmith services to include state-of-the-art digital access systems.

Training

The Flying Locksmiths franchise provides a comprehensive suite of training programs designed to equip franchisees and their teams with the necessary skills for successful operations. Here are the key training components provided by the Franchisor:

1. Initial Certification and Technical Training
   Franchisees must attend and successfully complete an initial training program, which includes approximately 30 hours of technical training for the lead locksmith and 38 hours of on-site business operations training. Most of this training is virtual and hosted at a designated franchisee-operated location. A $2,500 training fee is required, and all associated costs (travel, lodging, meals) are borne by the franchisee.
2. On-Site Opening Support
   Within 14 days of the business opening or ownership transfer, the Franchisor provides three days of on-site support to assist with launch operations. Additional support may be offered if deemed necessary by the Franchisor.
3. Retraining and Subsequent Training
   If the franchise is not compliant with operational standards, the Franchisor can mandate retraining. Each day of retraining costs $300 per person, plus out-of-pocket expenses like lodging and meals. New managers must also complete the training.

Territory Protection

The Flying Locksmiths franchise offers franchisees a designated territory containing a minimum of 200,000 people, with typical territories averaging around 500,000. Within this territory, the Franchisor agrees not to establish company-owned, affiliate-owned, or franchised outlets using the same trademarks to sell the same or similar services.

This territorial exclusivity is conditional and depends on meeting specified minimum revenue targets in the first three years.

However, this protection has several limitations. The Franchisor reserves the right to market and sell similar services within the territory through other channels such as the internet or catalog sales, and may redirect these sales to other franchisees at its discretion.