Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Franchise FAQ
Novak Lock & Security is the oldest brand in the Haven family, founded in 2002 and built on a single rule that still governs every job we touch: a written price before any work starts, with no exceptions. If you’re exploring ownership, the answers below cover the questions we hear most often from prospective franchisees.
Common Questions
Do I need locksmith experience to open a Novak Lock & Security franchise?
No prior locksmith experience is required. We train you on the technical work, but we’re more interested in how you run a business and treat customers. The Haven Standard covers the how: documented pricing, verified crews, photo records on every job. You bring the local ownership and the commitment to the rule that built this company since 2002. If you can follow a written procedure and respect a customer standing outside their own door, we can teach you the cylinders.
What is the total investment range for a Novak Lock & Security franchise?
Total investment ranges from roughly $180,000 to $350,000 depending on your market, vehicle count, and whether you start with one service van or three. That range includes the franchise fee, initial inventory, tools, branding, training, and working capital for the first months. We provide a written breakdown of every cost item before you sign anything, because Clause 1 of The Haven Standard applies to franchisees too: have it in writing first. No surprises, even on the way in.
Is financing available for the initial investment?
We do not provide direct financing, but we maintain relationships with SBA lenders and equipment financing partners who understand home-service acquisitions. Many franchisees combine an SBA loan for startup costs with traditional equipment leasing for vans and inventory. What we cannot do is guarantee approval or specific rates. Your financial readiness is between you and your lender, and we encourage you to have that conversation early. We’ll provide the documentation they need to evaluate the opportunity.
Does Novak Lock & Security offer protected territories?
Yes, each franchise agreement includes a defined territory based on population, housing density, and drive-time analysis. You’re not competing with another Novak Lock & Security operator across the street. The territory is designed to support a full-time operation with room for growth. We’ll show you the map before you commit, and the boundaries are written into your agreement. That’s not a handshake understanding. It’s a document.
How long does training take?
Training runs six to eight weeks total: three weeks of technical instruction on lock installation, rekeying, automotive entry, and safe work, followed by three to five weeks of business operations, The Haven Standard documentation system, and on-the-job field training with an established operator. You’ll also complete a full review of our pricing procedures, because the dispatcher-quotes-a-firm-price rule is the foundation of this brand. A technician changing the price on the doorstep is grounds for immediate termination, and you’ll understand exactly why by the end of training.
What are the ongoing fees and royalties?
The royalty is a percentage of gross sales, and it funds the shared systems: call center support, the documentation platform, brand marketing, and the buying power that keeps your lock inventory priced honestly. The exact percentage is disclosed in your Franchise Disclosure Document, and it’s a flat rate, not a sliding scale with surprises. We don’t build the model on hidden fees. You’ll know what you pay before you open, and it’s the same percentage in year ten as it is in year one. If you want the precise figure, ask us for the FDD and we’ll walk you through every line.
How long does it take to open once I sign?
Plan on three to five months from signing to your first customer, assuming your territory is secured and your van order goes in quickly. That window includes training, vehicle branding, tool and inventory setup, and your pre-opening marketing push. In some markets, we’ve seen operators open in ten weeks. In others, local permitting and commercial lease negotiations stretch it to five months. We’ll give you a written timeline with named dates, and we’ll update it if anything moves. Again: written, not assumed.
What kind of support does Haven provide after I open?
You get a named operations manager from Haven who reviews your documentation compliance monthly, a quality team that audits photo records and customer feedback against The Haven Standard, and a live call center that answers customer calls 24/7 and dispatches to your vans. You also get ongoing technical training on new lock lines, including Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy factory-authorized programs. The franchisee is the local business: your license, your trucks, your neighbors. Haven contributes the standard you agree to work to, the documentation system that proves it, and the buying power that keeps your prices honest.
What does the ideal Novak Lock & Security franchisee look like?
The operator who succeeds here is systematic, not flashy. You believe that a written price before work starts is not a sales tactic but the whole business. You’re willing to document every job with photos because you understand that a homeowner who just paid $280 for a rekey wants to see what was done, not just trust that it was done. You’re comfortable hiring and background-checking technicians in a trade where customers let strangers into their homes. And you’re patient enough to build a repeat and referral base instead of chasing one-off emergency calls. If that sounds like you, we’d rather talk to you than sell you.
What’s the next step if I want to learn more?
Call our franchise line and ask for the Franchise Disclosure Document. We’ll send it over, schedule a call to review it line by line, and introduce you to an existing operator who can answer the questions we can’t. We don’t rush this decision, and we won’t pressure you to sign before you’ve read everything and visited a territory. The brand was built on no surprises. That applies to how we recruit owners, too.
Still Have Questions?
Call (331) 310-8471 to speak directly with our franchise team and request the FDD. You can also submit the form below and we’ll respond within one business day with the documents and a time to talk. No pressure, no pitch deck theatrics. Just the facts, in writing, before you commit to anything.
Written by Daniel Novak, Owner at Novak Lock & Security, serving customers since 2002.