Paull Nicholas, Warkworth Locksmiths

My wife and I started the company seven years ago on the North Shore and set-up Warkworth Locksmiths two years ago. I typically work 40 to 45 hours a week, with the odd after hours job, usually when someone has locked themselves out of the car or home.It can be very traumatic when your home is broken in to so I get quite a sense of pride when we re-secure a premise and give our clients peace of mind, while also trying to make it harder for any repeat offenders.

Our mid-long term goal is to be the leading lock and alarm company in Rodney, and to move the workshop from the house to a retail store in Warkworth.

When we started, the quiet periods freaked me out because the money wasn’t coming is as fast as the bills were going out. But those days made me work even harder with door knocking for new clients, which paid off in the long run.

It might have been hard in the first year but the flexibility of working for yourself is priceless especially if you have a young family.

Advice: Don’t rush into it! Write down what you think it is going to cost to set up than add 50 per cent to cover all the hidden costs. And put aside three months wages on top of your start-up costs as a backer while building the work up.

Don’t tick up expensive vehicles and equipment right at the start and keep watch on your outgoings; keep them as low as possible. Always set weekly/monthly targets, too. You will be surprised how much more your can make when you have a number to focus on.