The Hidden Costs of Giving Employees a Physical Key

That $5 key might be costing you hundreds.

Let's talk about the thing everyone still does... but probably shouldn't.

Handing out physical keys to employees.

Seems harmless, right?

They're cheap, they work, and you've always done it this way.

But when you zoom out, each key creates hidden costs that pile up fast.

1. Rekeying Isn't a "Sometimes" Problem

Every time someone quits, doesn't return a key, or ghosts after a shift, you're left with a decision:

-> Hope nothing bad happens

-> Or pay to rekey the locks

And if we're being honest, you usually wait until something bad does happen.

Rekeying costs $75+ per lock. Multiply that by a few doors and a few people, and you've got a recurring bill you didn't plan for.

👉 See how much rekeying really costs in Stop Rekeying Your Retail Store

2. Lost Keys = Lost Time

Here's how your day goes when someone loses a key:

-> You stop what you're doing

-> You call around trying to track it down

-> You drive across town to let someone in

-> You stress about who might've picked it up

All that just to open a door.

Is that really the best use of your time?

👉 Learn how one coworking space cut down on key chaos in Insights from Coworking Managers

3. No Logs. No Trail. No Accountability.

With physical keys, there's no record of:

-> Who came in

-> When they came in

-> Or if they copied the key and gave it to someone else

You're running your business on the honor system.

That's fine-until it's not.

👉 This risk doesn't go away when employees leave. Read The Employee Left, the Risk Didn't

4. Keys Multiply Behind Your Back

Ever been to a hardware store?

You don't even need ID to make a copy.

So when you hand someone a key, you might actually be giving out three.

And you'll never know.

👉 If that makes you nervous, you're not alone. Check out Silent Security Risks Hiding in Your Business

5. There's Always Someone You Forgot About

An old contractor.

A part-timer who left last year.

A friend-of-a-friend who needed to "check something real quick."

Once they have a key, they're in.

Forever.

Unless you spend money to lock them out.

👉 This is especially tough in growing teams. See The Growth Paradox

What Smart Access Looks Like

Now picture this:

-> You tap a button and remove access instantly

-> You see who unlocked what, and when

-> You give time-limited access to vendors or new hires

-> You stop wasting money on keys, rekeys, and lockouts

That's Nexkey.

We make it easy for businesses to stop handing out physical liabilities-and start handing out control.

👉 Want to see it in action? Smartphone Door Access for Business

The Bottom Line

That $2 key?

It's not just a key.

It's a bill waiting to happen.

It's wasted time.

It's a security risk.

You wouldn't let just anyone into your bank account.

So why are you giving out unlimited access to your business?

👉 Talk to Nexkey and stop paying the hidden price of "cheap" keys.