I'm the entire RAXO team. I cut and program car keys at your driveway, your parking lot, wherever your car happens to be. No call centre between you and the work. No subcontractors. No dispatcher. The person who answers your text is the person who shows up — every single time.
Who I am
I'm Leonid — Leo to almost everyone. I run RAXO Locksmiths as a one-person operation by design. Bigger doesn't make this job better; the opposite, usually. The minute a locksmith business hires a dispatcher and routes calls to "available techs," the quote stops being honest and the customer stops being the priority.
So the setup here is straightforward: you text the local 204 number, I read your message, I quote you, I drive to your car, I do the work, you pay after it works. There's nobody between us. No "service area franchisee." No phone tree. No upsell because no commission. The same hands answer the phone and cut the key.
RAXO is a DBA of RAXO Group Inc., Winnipeg MB — a Manitoba corporation. The phone, the kit, the insurance, the NASTF VSP authorization — all under that one entity, all run by me.
Why solo matters in this trade
If you've Googled "locksmith near me" in the last few years, you've probably noticed that most of the top ads aren't local — they're routed through a national dispatcher. Here's what changes when you cut the middleman out.
Single point of contact
You text the same person who replies, quotes, drives over, does the work, and bills you. Never a stranger arriving at your driveway with no idea what was discussed on the phone.
Honest math
Call-centre routes bake in margin for the dispatcher AND the subcontracted tech AND a marketing budget for ads with "$19" headlines. Solo means the price is the work, plus the parts, plus tax — that's it.
No upsell pressure
If a battery fixes your fob, I tell you. If a dealer is the right call for your specific vehicle, I tell you. Nobody's counting how many extras I sold this week — because there's no "this week's quota" when I am the company.
Same hands every job
When you check the Google reviews and the customer says "Leo did this and that," they're describing the same person you'll get. Most national dispatchers can't claim that — the technician quality varies wildly.
The kit
No mystery — every job needs the same core gear. Here's the four categories of equipment that ride with me on every call.
Category 1
Professional-grade dealer-level access tools covering most major immobilizer systems — Ford PATS, GM Hi-Sec, Stellantis FobIK, Toyota Smart Key, Honda Smart Key, Hyundai/Kia transponder, Nissan I-Key, newer BMW / MINI platforms, and more. Software stays current; tools are kept up to date.
Category 2
Two cutting platforms in the kit: a mechanical edge-cut machine for traditional transponder blanks, and a laser-cut (sidewinder) machine for high-security keys on most 2010+ vehicles. Plus a manual cutter as backup. Cuts are accurate to spec — that's the part the mall kiosk can't match.
Category 3
Common blanks and fobs for every brand family I service — Ford, GM, Stellantis, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, plus the newer BMW / MINI blanks I've added. Reputable aftermarket parts (Hopkins, Strattec, OEM-equivalent). Stored organized, not loose.
Category 4
Proper auto-locksmith tools for lockouts — wedges, long-reach probes, lockout tools for most modern vehicles. No drilling, no broken windows. Plus the ID-check + ownership-verification paperwork I'm required to keep on every key-generation job.
The calls I take and the brands I cover. If it's a car key, fob, or lockout, it's probably me.
Credentials & insurance
The locksmith trade has a credibility problem in Canada specifically. Here's how I think about it — and the actual paperwork that backs me up.
Insurance
Standard commercial liability coverage. A real insurer behind the work, not a verbal promise. Certificate available on request.
Industry vetting
Vehicle Security Professional under the National Automotive Service Task Force — the same ownership-verified, dealer-level access used to program keys. Identity-verified, business-verified, renewed every 2 years. Read more →
The "licence" myth
Locksmith licensing in Canada is provincial. Alberta requires it. BC requires a Restricted Locksmith Licence for automotive work. Manitoba — where I work — and most other provinces don't. So "licensed locksmith" as a marketing claim in Manitoba is meaningless. What is real: insurance, NASTF VSP, and reviews from real customers. That's what I have.
Nine verified Google reviews so far — early but real. Here are three.
"I was very impressed. He was on time and set up both key fobs and cut both keys for my car and it only took about an hour. He really knows his stuff and I really appreciated it."
— Glenn Buckboro · Google review
"Great service! He quickly made a copy of my car key, and it works perfectly. Friendly, professional, and fair price. Highly recommend!"
— Oleh Vashchenko · Google review
"Precise, polite and punctual."
— Dominic Ibeme · Google review
9 verified reviews · 5.0 average · all on the Google Business Profile. No padding, no buying.
If yours isn't here, just text me. Service-specific FAQs live on the dedicated pages. More on the full FAQ page.
Yes. The person who answers the text, sends the quote, drives to your car, cuts the key, programs the immobilizer, and takes payment is the same person. That's me. There's no dispatcher, no service-area franchisee, no 1-800 routing. The 204 number is a local cell.
You'll see the Open/Closed status badge at the top of every page — it reflects America/Winnipeg time and my actual schedule. If I'm closed or fully booked, the badge will say so and the bottom-bar Text button will queue you up for the next opening. I always respond — never silently.
Specialization. Automotive locksmithing is a different trade from residential / commercial — different tools, different security models, different liability profile. Doing both at one-person scale would mean doing both badly. I focus on what I do well: cars.
It varies by province. Alberta requires a provincial locksmith licence. British Columbia requires a Restricted Locksmith Licence for automotive lockout and key work. Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba — where I'm based — and most other provinces don't require a provincial licence. So "licensed locksmith" as a marketing claim from a Manitoba business doesn't refer to a verifiable provincial credential. What does matter here: NASTF VSP authorization, business registration with Manitoba, and reviews from real customers.
The 204 number goes to my cell. The form below comes straight to my inbox. Either way, you're talking to me.
204-599-5117 goes to my actual phone. The reply you get is from me. The person who shows up is me. That's the whole pitch.
