Not having done this before, is learning curve very steep? Where would suggest going
to learn the best way to use? Thanks for your input.

    I don't think there is a general instruction manual on how to since every vehicle is different. sometimes even on the same vehicle make it changes from one year to the next. take Toyota lexus for instance from 98 to 03 or 04 many of them the eprom needs to be virginize in order to program new keys  when they are all lost, even on newer model we need to do same some times. whatever procedure worked on one model year may not work on the next one and it will continue to get worse and some of them even not possible to do. take benz,bmw,Volvo,and vw audi after 05 or 06 very hard to do and even impossible in many cases. even American and japs are getting harder to do lately. ford pats no longer available on the ids after 2012,mazda pats also changed they are being immobilized. Nissan after 2012 uses a 20 pin rolling codes and not to many tools are capable of programming such vehicles. locksmiths spend thousands of dollars every year to keep up and there are  vehicles they cant do either, I know cuz they call me all the time.  you will learn as you go like we all did and still doing believe me no one knows it all its humanly impossible and not even practical trying to remember.  hope I helped you in something but regardless if you run into anything I will be happy to help when I can. good luck. best regards ede.

 
There is no single answer to this question. As a locksmith, I will share the following:

I refer auto repair to auto repair specialists. In turn; they call me in for auto lock and programming.

That said and done, there is crossover between the two. I often am called for  diagnostic work to mate ECUs, reflash ECUS etc.

There is no one magic bullet device. Some devices can program keys, but you need a seed code or pin code, that the tool can not produce. In other instances, Maxidas can program the keys.

As far as BMW, Mercedes, Fiat and nearly ALL new applications, you will encounter the need to be a NASTF Automotive Security Professional for access to the "security side" of each manufacturers' site. They generally allow this only for locksmiths. EVERYONE can access the auto repair side these sites. Nearly everything new is being phased over to a J-XXX pass-through. Kudos to the firms ( Such as Autel ) that reverse-engineer, and make vehicles serviceable off-line.

So, to become an Auto Locksmith, and have the capability to do all cars, you will need:

1.ALOA Membership or equivalent
2. 4 programmers est $25,000.00 plus annual updates at about $2500.00/year
3. At least 2 Key machines est $18,000.00
4. Nastf membership, which is subject to a very thorough background check and verification of business entity
5. Subscriptions to each manufacturer ( they are annual, monthly or short term, and NOT included in the mechanical repair subscription. )
6. You can not give employees access to logins to mfr sites, each employee needs a NASTF membership to have access
7. Inventory of keys, remotes, prox etc  $25,000.00

To those that desire to become locksmiths, welcome aboard. But do a cost-benefit analysis first. I am sure the interwebs will tell how to do it all cheaper, but we are all working to being BETTER at what we do by going deeper, not wider and shallow.

 Your post was in no way a runaway rant... You took the time to show it is not just a "one best tool" solution. Just like with any industry, it is a specialty area. Few have the volume to learn another trade, just to do it all in house. The tools are too expensive to have walk off, and access to the mfr websites has been tightened for the security access areas. I keep relationships with repair facilities and a few diagnostic tool distributors who are my gurus, and a lot of local repair shops call upon me when they get stuck. This is a more efficient means of delivering good service than if I try to be everything to everyone. In the end, mutual relationships bring back happy clients.

   yes becoming a locksmith is not an easy thing anymore and in some states like mine florida  even harder. but our investment is much greater than a locksmith. we do all 8 fields on automotive plus a dozen of sub system on over 40  vehicle makes. that's a good 200k and counting plus subscriptions. this is the investment most of us have made and will have to continue to make as they change tools  and software every so often  .thanks god for Chinese clones which is saving thousands of dollars to us on both fields of the trade otherwise not possible for many that are starting in the trade/profession now in this economy or any economy for that matter.  programming keys eventually will get much harder even American vehicles are going into immobilizer which will only be available for license locksmith, which by the way I don't think is fair for us  that you replace a module/node then have to call a locksmith to finish the job for you and take all the credit for starting the vehicle. where on the other hand all they need is a sub of 55 dollars  or less to flash the module and an ase license maybe  which we all know is a joke and  do our job. will this regulation stop auto theft I don't think so, it won't even slow it down  a bit in any case increase it. but nothing makes sense anyway take for instance the fact that we get fine for not having an ase license and other infractions but auto parts are exempt to the law yes auto parts are immune to this laws they can do what ever  they like in their property and not get fined , they are in part ruining this business with all their mikey mouse employees and so call free diagnostic which they have no clue of what they are doing  and  are screwing the public out of their hard earned money every day . so my final words will be become a license locksmith while you can, laws are getting tighter every year and will put many out of business if you cant keep up. best regards to everyone  ede.  this reply is mostly intended for the other members for educational purposes only, not to insult anyone not to brag, no disrespect  nor anything of that nature. we need each other on this trade to survive.