--- title: "How LockCommand works, from ring to paid · LockCommand" description: "Every step from the first ring to the paid receipt, and how a locksmith shop gets set up: price book, greeting, hours, number forwarding, techs and payment accounts." url: https://lockcommand.com/how-it-works --- Ring to paid in one app # From the first ring to the paid receipt What happens on every call, in order, and the eight steps a shop goes through to get set up. [Get early access](mailto:support@lockcommand.com?subject=LockCommand%20early%20access) ## Ten steps, most of them without you You can step in at any point: pick up the transfer, assign the job yourself, or edit the invoice before it goes. 1. 01 · AI receptionist: **The phone rings**: A customer calls your LockCommand number, or your business line forwarded to it. The AI answers with your greeting and a short recording notice, in English or Spanish. 2. 02 · AI receptionist: **The AI gets the details**: Name, callback number, what's locked or broken, the address, and for car jobs the year, make, model and color. It asks whether it's an emergency, and reminds the caller to have ID and proof ready. 3. 03 · Your price book: **It quotes from your price book**: The range you set for that job, plus your after-hours surcharge at night. The tech confirms the final price on site. 4. 04 · AI receptionist: **The job is booked**: The job and the customer are created while the caller is on the line. A caller who wants a person is transferred to your cell. 5. 05 · You or AI dispatch: **A tech gets the job**: On the Solo plan it's yours. In a dispatch shop, a dispatcher assigns it, or AI dispatch suggests, offers or assigns the closest qualified tech by live drive time. 6. 06 · Automatic texts: **The customer is kept in the loop**: A text when a tech is assigned, with the arrival time, and another when the tech is on the way. 7. 07 · The tech: **ID and proof on site**: The tech photographs the ID and proof of ownership, the customer signs on the phone, and the time and place are saved with the job. 8. 08 · The tech: **Invoice by text**: The invoice goes out by text with a pay link, starting from the job with your tax rate. 9. 09 · Your accounts: **Paid into your own account**: Card payments go to your own Stripe, Square or PayPal; pay links open your Venmo, Cash App, Zelle or PayPal.me. A receipt goes out by text, and a review request two hours later. 10. 10 · The office: **Books and notes**: The invoice and payment copy to QuickBooks Online if you've connected it. Every call keeps its recording, transcript and AI notes, so you know what happened while you were working. ## Getting your shop ready Everything is done in the app. The price book takes longest; the [price book guide](https://lockcommand.com//blog/locksmith-price-book-phone-quotes) helps. 1. **Create your shop**: Sign up with your email, start a new shop and choose Solo or Dispatch. Add your business phone; your new numbers use its area code when one is free. 2. **Start your plan**: The AI receptionist needs an active plan. Plans are monthly and include AI minutes. 3. **Edit your price book**: You start with eight common locksmith jobs. Set the low and high price for each, add the after-hours surcharge, and add the jobs you do that aren't there. 4. **Greeting, hours and languages**: Write the greeting callers hear, your hours and service area. Pick English, Spanish or both, the AI brain, and the cell number for transfers. 5. **Turn on the AI, forward your line**: Turning on the AI receptionist gets you a local number straight away. Forward your business line to it (on most US carriers, *72), forward only when you're busy or don't answer, or put the new number on your ads. 6. **Turn on texts**: Get your texting number and switch on automatic texts. Add your Google review link and license number in Shop details. 7. **Invite your team**: Send each person an invite code and give them a role. Techs install the app and go on shift. Dispatch shops pick a dispatch mode. 8. **Connect payments**: Set up Stripe or connect Square, and add your PayPal.me, Venmo, Cash App and Zelle details. Connect QuickBooks Online if you use it. ## Plans from $149.99 a month AI minutes are included in every plan. After that, from $0.16 a minute from your wallet, depending on the AI brain. No fee on your payments. [See pricing](https://lockcommand.com//pricing) [Every feature](https://lockcommand.com//features) ## Setup questions ### Do I have to move my phone number? No. You keep your number and forward it to the LockCommand number, all the time or only when you're busy or don't answer. You can stop forwarding whenever you like. ### Can I try the AI before I forward my real line? Yes. Once the AI receptionist is on, you have a working local number. Call it yourself, ask for a quote, and check the booked job and the notes in the app. ### What do my techs need? The LockCommand app on their phone, signed in with the invite code you send them, and location allowed while they're on shift. Location isn't shared when they're off shift. ### How do I get started? LockCommand is in early access. Email us for an invite while the Google Play listing gets ready. ## Keep reading - [Features All six parts of LockCommand on one page, with links to each in detail.](https://lockcommand.com//features) - [AI receptionist An AI that answers your calls in English or Spanish, quotes from your price book, books the job and transfers to your cell.](https://lockcommand.com//features/ai-receptionist) - [Solo locksmiths How a one-person mobile locksmith stops losing calls while on a job or driving.](https://lockcommand.com//for/solo-locksmiths) - [Dispatch shops How a shop with dispatchers and techs runs calls, dispatch, roles and books in one place.](https://lockcommand.com//for/dispatch-shops) - [FAQ Straight answers about numbers, prices, minutes, payments, Spanish, techs and privacy.](https://lockcommand.com//faq) ## Let the AI pick up. You pick the lock. LockCommand is opening to locksmiths now. Email us and we'll get your shop set up. [Get early access](mailto:support@lockcommand.com?subject=LockCommand%20early%20access) [See pricing](https://lockcommand.com//pricing)