New York locksmith turns $7,000 tool outlay into round-the-clock trade work

Sahar Yona, a 27-year-old New York locksmith, says a $7,000 investment in tools and a round-the-clock schedule have helped her build an independent residential and commercial service. After a January TikTok video drew more than 600,000 views, she says Locksmith Girl of NYC has reached as many as 60 jobs a week.

Yona launched the business under its current name in July 2025 after deciding in November 2024 to work for herself. She declined to disclose her personal income, saying fees depend on the complexity of each job, but said she now earns more than she did as a subcontractor for larger locksmith companies. Indeed lists the average annual locksmith salary in New York at $82,161.

A small-business model built on availability

Yona says she keeps two phones and a laptop beside her at night with the volume high so she can respond when customers call. She works 24 hours a day because, as an owner-operator, each assignment affects revenue and customer acquisition. On her busiest day this summer, she said she worked from 4 a.m. until 1 a.m. the next morning.

The economics of a solo locksmith business differ from a fixed-location retail model. Jennifer Richards, a fourth-generation locksmith in Hickory, North Carolina, and an ALOA Security Professionals Association member and instructor, said many locksmiths operate alone. The required equipment, including locks, drills and key-cutting machines, can be expensive, but Richards said the business can often be started with a vehicle rather than a shopfront and staff.

Yona said her initial equipment cost was $7,000. She entered the trade after interviewing in 2021 for a receptionist position at a locksmith office while working at her father’s Muay Thai studio. The interviewer, whom she later described as a mentor, encouraged her to seek a locksmith license, she said. Yona said she had no prior tool experience, then spent two years training, applying for licensing and assembling equipment before taking subcontracting jobs across the city.

Demand after a targeted social post

The January TikTok video that changed the pace of her business addressed women in New York who might feel uncomfortable calling a man to unlock a door at night. Yona had posted only nine videos on the account as of Friday afternoon, but said the clip led to work from both women and men.

She says customers who find her through TikTok understand that she works alone and tend to be more patient. She also applies screening practices she learned while subcontracting: before accepting a job, she asks to see a photo or video of the lock and speaks with the customer by phone.

The trade remains heavily male. Women account for less than 1% of more than 5 million U.S. installation, maintenance and repair workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. An ALOA spokesperson said more women are entering locksmithing than in the past. Richards said she has seen more women in her classes over the last three years and said a light touch can help when working with lock pins.

Yona said subcontracting gave her steadier hours and more predictable income, but she also encountered misogyny from customers, colleagues and managers. As an owner, she says she feels pressure to stay near her car, which carries her tools and allows her to respond quickly. She is also considering a physical storefront for Locksmith Girl of NYC and practices lock picking during free time.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.