How do I teach a new owner the key cutting craft and key code lookups?

Plan a handover period with real customers on real days. Start with common keys and blanks, and have the new owner learn the shelf by heart. Then add the awkward work: high-security keys, car keys, old mailbox keys, and keys worn so smooth that they are hard to match.

Treat code lookups as a separate lesson. Explain where your code references and software come from, how you keep them secure, and who is allowed to see them. Show how you decide whether a request is reasonable: what you ask for, what you refuse, and how you note the request afterward. A new owner should see your judgement, not only your steps.

Create a reference binder: cutting settings for tricky keys, supplier contacts, troubleshooting notes and a list of customers with special arrangements. Have the new owner build part of it themselves, because writing it down is a way of learning. Finally, introduce them to the suppliers and trade customers you rely on. Plan a few follow-up calls once you step away. The questions a new owner asks in the first weeks show which parts of the handover need more explaining. Keep the first weeks lighter than you think necessary.

Key takeaways

• Move from watching to cutting under supervision to working alone.
• Teach the judgement behind code lookups, not only the steps.
• Build a reference binder together, and introduce key suppliers.