How to Start a Smart Home Business with Little Money

Getting into tech doesn’t have to mean coding apps or building robots. Sometimes, it’s as simple as helping people make their homes smarter and safer. 

If you’ve been curious about starting a business in the smart home space, you don’t have to know everything from day one—you can begin with one of the easiest, most in-demand services on the market: installing smart locks.

Here’s how to turn a single service into a legitimate, profitable tech business—without breaking the bank or needing a degree in engineering.

Why Start with Smart Locks?

Smart locks are the perfect entry point for several reasons:

• Affordable to get started: You can get your first smart lock for under $150.

• Easy to learn: You don’t need special certifications.

• High demand: Homeowners, Airbnb hosts, and real estate agents are all looking for easy keyless access solutions.

• Quick turnaround: Most installations take less than 30 minutes.

You’re not just installing locks—you’re solving problems like lost keys, late-night check-ins, and home security concerns.

What You’ll Need to Start

1. A Few Reliable Smart Lock Brands:

• August Smart Lock

• Yale Assure Lock

• Schlage Encode

• Wyze Lock

• Eufy Security Smart Lock

Where to Buy Equipment:

• Amazon

• Home Depot

• Lowe’s

• Best Buy

2. Basic Tools:

• Screwdrivers

• Power drill

• Level

• Tape measure

• Smartphone for setup and testing

Where to Learn the Skills (Free & Paid Training)

You don’t need a tech background to install smart locks—just good training.

Free Options:

• YouTube: Channels like Smart Home Solver and One Hour Smart Home offer excellent tutorials.

• Manufacturer Videos: Brands like Yale and August provide step-by-step guides.

• Google Digital Garage: Free courses on online business, marketing, and tech.

Paid Options:

• Udemy: Courses on smart home tech and IoT for beginners.

• One Hour Smart Home: Premium step-by-step courses and business training.

• LinkedIn Learning: Smart home and IT fundamentals.

• SmartHome Installer Pro: Offers certifications and advanced installer training.

Who to Market To

There’s a huge audience for smart lock installation:

• Airbnb hosts who want to offer self-check-in.

• Real estate agents staging homes or managing multiple properties.

• Landlords who want more control and convenience.

• Busy families who are tired of losing keys or hiding them under doormats.

How to Market Yourself

You don’t need a fancy marketing agency. You just need to be visible and professional:

• Create a basic Instagram or Facebook page to showcase your work.

• Use Google My Business to show up in local searches.

• Post before-and-after photos of your installs.

• Offer a discount to first-time clients in exchange for a testimonial.

• Post in neighborhood forums like Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist.

Sales Script to Get Clients Talking

Here’s a simple script you can use when reaching out:

“Hi, I run a local smart home setup service. I specialize in installing smart locks that let you control home access right from your phone—great for guests, rentals, or busy households. Would you like a free consultation to see how it works?

 

Next Steps: Start Smart, Then Expand

Once you get comfortable with smart lock installations, you can grow your business to include:

• Smart thermostats (Nest, Ecobee)

• Video doorbells (Ring, Eufy)

• Smart lighting (Philips Hue, TP-Link)

• Security cameras and motion sensors

Start with one service, build your name, and grow from there.

The smart home industry is booming, and there’s room for everyday people to get in. You don’t have to be an engineer. You just need a screwdriver, a lock, a little training—and the drive to learn.

If you're serious about building your own smart home business, there’s no better time than now. The door of opportunity is already unlocked. You just have to walk through it.