Ticket Snipers, a traffic ticket dismissal service, Northridge

EMPLOYEES: 3

FINANCIALS: It took about $15,000 to start the company; expected revenue for 2012: $160,000.

What was the biggest challenge starting your own company?Securing the educational background that I would need to operate a business of this nature. I spent a total of 10 years in higher education after graduating from high school in 2001. I wanted to offer the drivers of the state of California a cheap, legal and easy alternative to contest their moving violations.

Where did you get the startup money?

During college, I worked about 30 hours per week in the food service industry and was actually able to graduate with a bit of money in the bank.

How many hours a day do you put in?

To keep my overhead low, I try to oversee all the phases of the operation, which can add up to a lot of hours per day. On average, I put in 12 hours a day, six days a week.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned?

That persistence pays off. As long as you are sure that you have a good, well-thought-out idea, don’t be discouraged by those who point out the potential difficulty of the task at hand.

Could you ever work for someone else?

If the right situation came along to work for someone else, I would certainly consider it.

Will you ever start another company?

Yes. I have the entrepreneurial spirit and am always rolling around ideas in my head.

What do you do to relax?

Keeping with my northern Idaho roots, I love to play ice hockey in my spare time. I also snowboard, surf and hack a golf ball around.