Why Locksmiths Need Specialized Software
Generic business software does not know how a locksmith works. You track transponder key blanks by FCC ID, match remotes to a vehicle by year, make and model, keep stock in the shop and in each van, and write the invoice at the customer's car before they drive away. Spreadsheets and general accounting tools can cover pieces of that, but the gaps show up as wrong parts, empty bins on the driveway and invoices typed in twice.
Software built for the work puts point of sale, inventory, invoicing, customer records and payment collection in one place. This guide covers what to look for, what to ask each vendor, and where the main platforms differ. Prices and features change, so confirm the details on each vendor's own site before you decide.
Key Features to Look for in Locksmith Software
Before comparing specific platforms, here are the features that matter most for locksmith operations:
- Parts records with FCC ID and OEM numbers — You need to search key blanks and remotes by FCC ID, OEM part number, supplier part number or vehicle year, make and model. This matters for every automotive locksmith.
- Inventory by location — Stock counts for the shop, each van and any storage, with transfers between them, so you know what you have before you roll to a job.
- A real point of sale — Ring up walk-in customers at the counter as well as jobs in the field, and see what each sale cost you.
- Payments you can take in the field — Send a payment link by text or email so the customer pays from their own phone. This is useful for deposits and after-hours calls.
- Warranty tracking — Record a warranty on each key, remote or fob you sell, and look it up later by customer, phone number, receipt number or product.
- Dispute evidence — A record of who approved a charge and what terms they accepted, kept with the sale, so you are not hunting for paperwork when a customer disputes it.
- Accounting handoff — Ask exactly how sales reach QuickBooks: continuously, in both directions, or as a one-way push you start yourself.
- Technician time and commission — Per-person revenue and commission reporting once you have more than one technician.
IntelliDrive OS: What It Covers and What It Doesn't
IntelliDrive OS is a cloud-based point of sale, inventory, invoicing and customer platform that runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer. For locksmiths, these are the parts that matter:
- Automotive product records — Each product can carry an FCC ID, OEM part number, supplier part number, chip type, frequency, button count, keyway, and compatible makes, models and years. Product search finds an item by any of them.
- Inventory by location — Stock is tracked per shop and per van, with exact transfers between them, stock counts with a one-click fix, reorder points with in-app alerts, and FIFO, LIFO or average costing. See inventory management.
- Quotes that become sales — Quotes convert to a sale in one click, and quotes and invoices carry the vehicle year, make, model and VIN.
- Payment links — Links go out by text or email through your own QuickBooks Payments, Square or Stripe account. The customer signs, accepts your terms and can add a tip on that page.
- Warranty records — A warranty record is created for each product on a completed sale; look it up by receipt number, phone, product, VIN or serial number. Type the serial on the product's line when you sell it, or add it later on the customer's page.
- Technician tools — Time clock, timesheets and commission reporting for your team.
- Flat pricing — $79/month for the whole business, billed monthly, with unlimited users. The first 30 days are free, and a card is required at signup.
The limits, so there are no surprises: scheduling and dispatch is a separate add-on (GetTimePad, $199/month). There are no card-present payments, so cards go through payment links. The QuickBooks Online connection is a one-way push of sales and payments that you start. And there is no AI receptionist; KeyBot at thekeybot.com is a separate product.
Best for: locksmith shops and mobile locksmiths who want one system for the counter, the stockroom, the vans and the invoice.
Comparing Jobber, ServiceTitan, Workiz and Other Platforms
Jobber, Workiz and ServiceTitan are general field service platforms. Jobber and Workiz are built around scheduling, dispatch, quoting and invoicing. ServiceTitan is aimed at larger contractors and is sold through a sales team, so you will need a written quote. They are good at the job they were designed for. What you need to find out is whether the parts of a locksmith business that sit outside scheduling are covered, and what the plan costs at your real headcount.
Ask every vendor, including us:
- Is there a point of sale for counter sales, or only invoices for scheduled jobs?
- Does inventory track quantity by location, and can I search parts by FCC ID, OEM number and vehicle?
- Which costing method does inventory use, and can I see the margin on each sale?
- How are warranties on keys and remotes recorded and looked up?
- How do customers pay in the field, and what record of their approval is kept?
- How do sales reach QuickBooks: continuously, in both directions, or as a push I start?
- What does the plan cost with my current technicians and the ones I plan to hire this year?
Get current prices from each vendor's own pricing page or sales team, because plans change. Our side-by-side pages are here: Jobber, Workiz and ServiceTitan.
Making the Right Choice for Your Locksmith Business
The right software depends on the size and shape of your business:
- Solo mobile locksmith who mainly needs scheduling and invoicing: a scheduling-first platform may be all you need today. Check what it costs when you add a second technician.
- Locksmith shop with walk-in customers: you need a real point of sale and stock by location, not only invoices for scheduled jobs.
- Automotive locksmith work: look for FCC ID, OEM part number and vehicle fit on the product record, and a warranty record for each key or remote you sell.
- Growing team: compare the monthly total at the headcount you expect in 12 months, not today. IntelliDrive OS is $79/month flat for the whole business with unlimited users, and the GetTimePad scheduling and dispatch add-on is $199/month if you need it.
The best software is the one that removes the most manual work from your week. If you still manage stock in a spreadsheet, write receipts by hand or retype sales into QuickBooks, start with whichever of those costs you the most hours.