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Access Control System Installation Colorado Springs - Commercial & Smart Entry Solutions
Managing a Colorado Springs business with twenty employees and you’re drowning in key copies? Just had an employee quit and now you’re worried about whether they’ll return their keys? Running an Airbnb in Manitou Springs and you’re sick of coordinating key handoffs with every single guest? Managing an apartment building and you’re constantly getting 2 AM calls about lockouts?
Access control systems solve these problems by eliminating physical keys completely. No more rekeying when people leave. No more wondering who has access to what. No more late-night lockouts because someone lost their key. No more managing dozens of key copies and trying to remember who has which ones.
At Jefferson Locksmith Colorado, we design and install access control systems for businesses, rental properties, apartment buildings, and homes throughout Colorado Springs and surrounding areas. Whether you need a simple keypad for one door or a complete multi-door system with cards and audit trails, we’ll help you pick the right solution and install it correctly.
Call 719-419-9400 or text us photos of your doors for a free consultation and quote.
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The hidden cost of traditional locks for businesses
Every time an employee leaves your Colorado Springs business, you face a decision. Do you trust that they returned all their keys and didn’t make any copies? Or do you spend $120 to $300 rekeying your locks to be safe?
If you choose security over trust, you rekey. If you have even moderate employee turnover, you might be rekeying three or four times per year. That’s $500 to $1,200 annually just to maintain basic security, and that doesn’t include the hassle of scheduling the locksmith, collecting everyone’s old keys, and distributing new ones.
With an access control system, when someone leaves, you delete their access code or deactivate their keycard. The process takes thirty seconds. It costs nothing. You can do it from your phone while they’re sitting in the exit interview. They physically cannot access your building anymore, even if they tried.
Over two to three years, a basic access control system pays for itself just to avoid rekeying costs. That’s before you factor in the convenience of not managing physical keys, the security of knowing exactly who accessed what and when, and the ability to grant temporary access to contractors or cleaning crews without giving them permanent keys.
If you’re rekeying more than twice a year, you should seriously consider access control. If you’ve got more than ten employees, access control is almost certainly cheaper and more convenient in the long run. If you manage multiple properties or rental units, access control will save you enormous amounts of time and frustration.
Which access control system do you actually need?
There are several types of access control systems, and the right one depends on your specific situation. Here’s how to decide what makes sense for your Colorado Springs property.
Small business with 5-15 employees
A keypad entry system is probably your best option. Users enter a numeric code to unlock the door. No cards to lose, no apps to download, no complicated software to manage. You can give each person their own code or use one shared code for everyone. When someone leaves, you change their code or reprogram the entire keypad.
Keypad systems cost $250 to $450 per door installed. They’re reliable, affordable, and simple to use. Perfect for small offices, retail shops, or businesses where you don’t need detailed access logs and you just want to eliminate physical keys.
Office or retail with 20+ employees and regular turnover
A keycard or key fob system makes more sense at this scale. Each employee gets a card or fob that they tap or swipe to unlock doors. You can manage all users from a central system, add or remove people instantly, and some systems let you see who entered which door at what time.
Keycard systems cost $800 to $1,600 per door depending on the features and number of users. That sounds expensive compared to traditional locks, but remember that you’re eliminating ongoing rekey costs and gaining significant convenience. Most businesses with this many employees find that the system pays for itself within two years.
You can also set up time-based access. Maybe your cleaning crew only has access from 6 PM to 8 PM on weekdays. Maybe part-time employees can only enter during their scheduled shifts. Maybe managers have 24/7 access while regular staff can only enter during business hours. The system enforces these rules automatically.
High-security environments
If you’re running a medical office with protected health information, a legal office with confidential client files, a business that handles significant cash, or any operation where security and accountability are critical, biometric access control is worth considering.
Biometric systems use fingerprints or facial recognition instead of codes or cards. Someone can’t lose their fingerprint. They can’t lend it to a friend. They can’t claim someone else used their card. The system creates an undeniable audit trail of exactly who accessed what and when.
Biometric systems cost $1,200 to $3,500 depending on the number of doors and users. That’s a significant investment, but for high-security applications, it’s often worth it for the peace of mind and liability protection.
Rental property or Airbnb
If you’re running a vacation rental in Colorado Springs or Manitou Springs, a smart lock with app control and keypad entry is your best bet. You can create unique access codes for each booking, send codes to guests before they arrive, and the codes automatically expire after checkout.
Smart lock systems cost $250 to $550 per door installed. You can monitor when guests check in and out, unlock the door remotely if there’s a problem, and you never have to coordinate key handoffs or worry about guests making copies. Most Airbnb hosts who switch to smart locks say it’s one of the best investments they’ve made in their rental business. Learn more about our residential locksmith services including smart lock installation for homeowners.
Multi-tenant apartment or commercial building
For buildings with multiple tenants or businesses, you need a centralized access control system that can manage different access levels for different groups. Residents or tenants get 24/7 access to common areas and their own spaces. Delivery drivers get temporary lobby access. Maintenance staff get access to mechanical rooms. Property managers can monitor everything from one dashboard.
Multi-door systems for 2-5 doors typically cost $1,800 to $5,200 depending on the complexity and features. Larger buildings with more doors cost more, but the per-door cost usually comes down as the system scales up. For property managers dealing with dozens of units and constant tenant turnover, these systems are invaluable.
Real examples of access control in Colorado Springs
We installed a keycard system last year for a retail store in downtown Colorado Springs. The owner had seven employees including seasonal workers, and every time someone quit or the season ended, he faced the rekey decision. He was spending $300 to $400 per year on rekeying, plus his time collecting old keys and distributing new ones.
We installed card readers on two doors, the main entrance and the cash office, for a total of $2,800. Now when seasonal workers finish, he deactivates their cards instantly. When full-time employees leave, same thing. The system has access logs, so when $200 went missing from the cash office, he could see exactly who had accessed that room during the relevant timeframe. The system paid for itself in avoiding rekeying costs in less than two years, and he told us the peace of mind was worth far more than the money saved.
We installed keypad locks for a property management company that handles about thirty rental units throughout Colorado Springs. Before, they were constantly dealing with tenant lockouts, lost keys, and the need to rekey units between tenants. They were spending thousands per year on locksmith calls.
Now every unit has a keypad lock. When a tenant moves in, they get a unique code. When they move out, the property manager changes the code from their office. No more driving across town to let someone in at 11 PM. No more rekeying between tenants. No more wondering if keys from two tenants ago are still floating around somewhere. The company installed keypads on thirty units for about $10,000 total, and they’ve told us repeatedly that it was one of the best business decisions they’ve made.
Access control for property managers and landlords
If you manage apartments, condos, townhomes, or rental properties in Colorado Springs, you already know the key management nightmare. Tenants lose keys constantly. They lock themselves out at inconvenient times. They move out and you’re never quite sure if they returned all the copies. You’re rekeying units between every tenant, or you’re risking security by reusing the same keys.
Access control eliminates all of this. Install keypad locks on individual units for $250 to $450 each. Give each tenant a unique access code. When they lock themselves out, you can give them their code over the phone instead of driving across town with a spare key. When they move out, you change the code in thirty seconds. No rekeying necessary. No wondering about lost keys.
For building entry in multi-unit properties, install a keycard or keypad system at main entrances. Residents get cards or codes for 24/7 access. You can give temporary access to contractors, inspectors, or maintenance staff without creating permanent keys. You can track who’s entering the building and when. If there’s an incident, you’ve got a record of who had access.
The time savings alone make access control worth it for property managers. No more emergency lockout calls. No more scheduling and paying for rekeying between every tenant. No more maintaining an inventory of physical keys for dozens of units. You manage everything digitally, remotely, on your schedule.
Access control for Airbnb and vacation rentals
If you’re running a vacation rental in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas, you know how tedious key management becomes. You’re either meeting every guest to hand off keys, hiding keys in lockboxes with codes you have to keep changing, or leaving keys under doormats and hoping for the best. Guests lose keys. They check out and forget to return them. You’re never quite sure if keys have been copied.
Smart locks with keypad entry solve this completely. Install one on your rental for $250 to $550 and create a unique access code for each booking. Send the code to your guest a day before check-in. They arrive, punch in their code, and they’re inside. No coordination necessary. The code automatically expires after their checkout date. Even if they write it down and try to use it later, it won’t work.
You can monitor access remotely. You’ll know exactly when guests arrived and when they left. If they claim they couldn’t get in, you can check the access log and see whether the code was used. If there’s an emergency and you need to grant access to maintenance or cleaning staff while guests are checked in, you can create a temporary code that works for two hours and then expires.
Most vacation rental owners who switch to smart locks wonder why they didn’t do it years earlier. The convenience is enormous, and it projects a professional, modern image to guests who expect this kind of technology in vacation rentals.
Commercial access control for Colorado Springs businesses
For offices, retail locations, restaurants, medical practices, and other commercial properties in Colorado Springs, access control provides security, convenience, and accountability that traditional locks simply can’t match.
Install keypad or keycard systems on exterior doors to control who can enter your building. Install them on interior doors to control who can access storage rooms, server rooms, cash offices, or areas with sensitive information. Set up time-based access so employees can only enter during their scheduled hours. Create detailed access logs so you know exactly who accessed what areas and when.
When employees leave, deactivate their access instantly. When you hire someone new, add them to the system in minutes. When you need contractors or cleaning crews to access certain areas, give them temporary access that automatically expires. No more managing key copies, no more wondering who has access to what, no more security concerns about former employees who might still have keys. Visit our commercial locksmith services page for more information about business security solutions.
The cost varies depending on how many doors you need to secure and what level of features you want. A basic keypad on one door costs $250 to $450. A keycard system with audit trails and user management for one door costs $800 to $1,600. Multi-door systems for several entrances and interior doors can cost several thousand dollars, but the investment usually pays for itself through eliminated rekeying costs and improved security.
Integration with your existing locks and doors
One common question we get is whether access control requires completely new doors or locks. In most cases, no. We can often retrofit your existing doors with electronic components that work with your current hardware.
For doors with standard deadbolts, we can install keypad locks that replace your existing deadbolt. For commercial doors, we can install electric strikes that work with your existing lock hardware and are activated by keypads, card readers, or biometric scanners. For high-security applications, we can install magnetic locks that are controlled electronically.
We’ll assess your doors during the consultation. We’ll look at the door material, frame construction, existing hardware, and whether you need any modifications. In most cases, we can work with what you have. Occasionally we’ll recommend reinforcing a door frame or upgrading certain hardware for better security, but we’ll explain why and give you options.
Some systems require wiring from the door to a control panel or network. Other modern systems are wireless or battery-powered and don’t require any wiring at all. We’ll design the system based on your building layout, your budget, and your preferences.
Our access control installation process
When you call for an access control consultation, here’s what happens. We’ll talk through your situation. How many doors do you need to secure? How many users will need access? Do you need detailed audit trails or just basic access control? Do you want to manage everything from an app or from a computer? What’s your budget?
Based on that conversation, we’ll recommend one or two system types that make sense for your needs. We’re not going to overwhelm you with ten different options. We’re going to help you pick the right solution.
We’ll schedule a site visit to assess your doors and building. We’ll take measurements, evaluate your door hardware, check for wiring requirements, and answer any questions you have about how the system will work. Then we’ll give you a detailed quote that includes all hardware, installation labor, and setup.
If you decide to move forward, we’ll order the equipment and schedule installation. For a single door with a keypad lock, installation usually takes one to two hours. For multi-door systems with card readers and centralized control, installation might take a full day or multiple days depending on the complexity and wiring requirements.
We’ll install all the hardware including door readers, keypads, control panels, and any necessary wiring. We’ll set up the software or control system and configure all your initial users and access permissions. We’ll test everything thoroughly to make sure every door unlocks properly, every code or card works correctly, and the system is communicating properly.
Finally, we’ll train you or your designated staff on how to manage the system. How to add new users. How to deactivate people who leave. How to create temporary access. How to check access logs. How to change settings. We’ll make sure you’re comfortable managing the system before we leave.
We provide a one-year warranty on all installation work. If anything about how we installed the system isn’t working right, we’ll come back and fix it at no charge. We also offer optional maintenance and support packages if you want ongoing assistance with system management.
Why choose Jefferson Locksmith Colorado for access control
Access control installation requires both locksmith expertise and technical knowledge of electronic systems. You need someone who understands commercial door hardware, security principles, and modern access control technology. That’s exactly what we provide.
We’re licensed and insured locksmiths with years of experience installing access control systems for businesses and properties throughout Colorado Springs. We’ve installed simple keypad locks for small offices and complex multi-door card access systems for large commercial buildings. We know what works, what doesn’t, and how to design systems that are both secure and practical.
We have both a physical storefront and mobile service. Our shop at 300 Garden of the Gods Road gives you a place to see different access control options and discuss your needs in person. Our mobile service means we come to your property for assessment, installation, and any future service needs.
We work with quality commercial-grade hardware from trusted manufacturers. We’re not installing cheap residential smart locks in commercial applications where they’ll fail under heavy use. We’re installing appropriate hardware that’s designed for your specific use case and traffic level.
We provide upfront, honest pricing. When we give you a quote, that’s what the job will cost unless we discover something unexpected during installation, and if that happens, we’ll call you and explain the situation before doing any additional work.
We back our installation work with a one-year warranty, and we’re available for ongoing support and system management assistance. We’re not going to install your system and disappear. We’re here to help if you need us.
What business owners are saying
Serving all Colorado Springs
Jefferson Locksmith Colorado proudly serves homeowners, drivers, and businesses throughout Colorado Springs and its surrounding communities. Whether you’re locked out, need new keys, or want to upgrade your security, our mobile team is just a call away in the following areas:
FAQs — Access Control Systems
Is access control going to be complicated to manage?
Most modern systems are designed to be user-friendly. Adding or removing users typically takes less than a minute once you know how to do it. We’ll train you on the system during installation, and most of our clients feel comfortable managing it themselves within a few days. If you prefer, we can also provide ongoing management support.
What happens if the power goes out? Will we be locked in or locked out?
It depends on the system design. Most commercial access control systems have battery backup that keeps them running for several hours during power outages. We can also design systems with mechanical override options using traditional keys. We’ll discuss your concerns during the consultation and design the system appropriately.
How long does installation take? Will we have to close the business?
For a single door with a keypad, installation takes one to two hours and doesn’t require closing. For larger multi-door systems, we might need access to certain areas for several hours or a full day. We typically schedule installation outside business hours or during slow periods to minimize disruption. We’ll coordinate with you to find a schedule that works.
Can this integrate with our security cameras or alarm system?
Many modern access control systems can integrate with cameras, alarms, and other security equipment. We’ll discuss your existing security infrastructure during the consultation and design a system that works with what you have or recommend compatible equipment if needed.
What if someone forgets their card or code?
Most systems allow you to create temporary access methods. You can generate a one-time code, create a temporary card, or manually unlock doors remotely depending on the system. You should also maintain a traditional key as a backup for emergencies, which we can provide during installation.
Do I need internet or Wi-Fi for access control?
Some systems require network connectivity for remote management and monitoring. Other systems work completely standalone without any network connection. It depends on what features you want. If you want to manage access from your phone or monitor entry logs remotely, you’ll need connectivity. If you just want keypad entry without remote management, you don’t need internet.
How often do batteries need to be changed?
Battery-powered systems typically need new batteries every 6-12 months depending on usage. Most systems warn you weeks in advance when batteries are getting low, and changing them takes just a few minutes. Some systems are wired and don’t use batteries at all.
Get access control installed in Colorado Springs
Whether you’re running a business, managing rental properties, operating a vacation rental, or just want better security and convenience for your Colorado Springs property, access control might be exactly what you need. Call 719-419-9400 to schedule a free consultation where we’ll assess your needs, explain your options, and provide a detailed quote with no obligation.
Jefferson Locksmith Colorado. Professional access control system installation in Colorado Springs with smart solutions, expert service, and systems that actually work for how you operate.