The fastest way to end a business lockout is usually not the locksmith's tools but your own preparation: knowing who else has a key, having proof that you are authorized to enter, and giving the locksmith accurate details about the door. This guide walks through what to check in the first few minutes, what to have ready when you call, and how to make the next lockout shorter or avoid it altogether.

Locked out right now? Call (613) 707-4884.

First Five Minutes: Rule Out the Easy Fixes

  1. Try every entrance. A rear, loading or side door may be on a different key or already unlocked for deliveries.
  2. Call your keyholders. Managers, co-owners, the property manager or landlord, and your cleaning or security contractor often hold keys.
  3. Check your alarm company. Many businesses register keyholders with their monitoring company, which can tell you who is on the list.
  4. If you use access control, check whether the problem is the credential, the reader or the power. A dead battery in a keypad lock, a deactivated card, or an internet or power outage can all look like a lockout. Most systems have a mechanical override key; find out who holds it.

What to Have Ready When You Call a Locksmith

  • Exact address and entrance — including unit number and which door, especially in plazas and office buildings.
  • Type of door and lock — glass storefront, steel door, lever lock, deadbolt, padlocked gate, keypad or card reader. A phone photo helps.
  • Whether it is a lockout or a lock failure — a key that turns but does not open the door, or a broken key in the cylinder, needs different work from a simple lockout.
  • Proof of authority — a reputable locksmith will ask you to show that you are entitled to enter: photo ID plus something linking you to the business, such as a lease, business registration, utility bill or a letter from the owner or property manager. Have it on your phone if the paper copy is inside.

Avoid Making It Worse

Prying a door, breaking glass or forcing a cylinder usually turns a lockout into a repair job and leaves the business unsecured overnight. It can also set off the alarm. Leave entry to someone with the right tools and, if possible, let your alarm company know entry is being made.

Keep the Business Running While You Wait

  • Post a short note on the door so customers and deliveries know you will be open shortly.
  • Tell staff where to wait and whether to come in later.
  • Reschedule time-sensitive appointments or redirect deliveries to another entrance.

If Keys Were Lost or Stolen

Getting back in is only half the job if the keys are missing. Keys that might be in the wrong hands mean the locks should be rekeyed, starting with exterior doors. If your building uses a master key system, a lost master key affects every door it opens. Our office rekeying checklist explains the order to work in.

How to Prevent the Next Lockout

  • Keep a written list of keyholders and their phone numbers somewhere you can reach from outside the building.
  • Store a spare key off-site with a trusted keyholder or in a secure lockbox.
  • Fix sticking or worn locks early; many lockouts are actually lock failures that gave warning signs.
  • Replace keypad and wireless lock batteries on a schedule rather than waiting for warnings.
  • Use a key log so you always know who has which key. Our guide to key control for office security shows how to set one up.

What Affects the Cost

The cost of a commercial lockout call depends on the time of day, the type of lock and door, whether the lock can be opened without damage or must be drilled and replaced, and whether rekeying or new keys are needed afterward.

Next Step

Save your keyholder list and proof-of-authority documents where you can reach them from your phone. If you are locked out now, see our business lockout service or call (613) 707-4884.