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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Black ENTREPRENEURS MONTH: Louis Perry Kadima Security Service Inc.

 In addition to his job as president of Kadima Security Service Inc.

in Encino, Louis Perry is a media figure. He has appeared in more than 200 print, radio and television reports on security issues. And he has a weekly email newsletter called “In the Loop” with thousands of subscribers.

For Perry, it’s all part of marketing his company. As he told the Business Journal in a previous interview, “every chance you get to put your name out there is another opportunity.”Kadima provides security for buildings as well as individuals. Clients have included a plethora of musicians, actors and other celebrities as well as corporate executives and politicians.Question: Tell us how and when you got your business started.  Answer: After working in the security industry for many years, I decided that it was my time to do my own thing. I always got told that I am very good at it, and my personality would draw a lot of business. The positions that I held for other companies were not as a salesman, but I always outsold the salesman at any company that I worked for, so I decided to put together Kadima Security Service Inc. in 2008.  What’s the best aspect of running your own business?  You seek the rewards, and you are at the top of the chain.

 And the worst?  The worst is dealing with employees who don’t care about your business and are lost in life while having to find the right individuals who will help you with the growth of the company.

 As you were developing your business, did you ever think about trading it all for a steady paycheck?  I have had great opportunities over the years to get a steady paycheck, but, at one point in my life, I didn’t want to have to answer to anyone. And having my own company allows me to do so. So, the answer is no.

 What’s the biggest challenge that your business has faced? And how did you deal with it?  Living and owning a business in California, (I can tell you that) there are trillions of frivolous lawsuits, and we have dealt with them by protecting ourselves by implementing the proper operating procedures and paperwork. It’s all about documentation, documentation and documentation!  How has the COVID situation affected your business in 2020 and how have you navigated through the pandemic? COVID affected us with a 15 percent loss of hours, but we managed to navigate through by working hard on sales to make up our losses.

 What advice would you give someone who’s about to start their own business?  Surround yourself with great people. Keep your word. Make sure you follow all the legalities of doing your business correctly. Pay your taxes. Make sure that your business is 110 percent in compliance every which way. Have backup documentation on anything and everything.

Michael Aushenker
Michael Aushenker
A graduate of Cornell University, Michael covers commercial real estate for the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. Prior to the Business Journal, Michael covered the community and entertainment beats as a staff writer for various newspapers, including the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, The Palisadian-Post, The Argonaut and Acorn Newspapers. He has also freelanced for the Santa Barbara Independent, VC Reporter, Malibu Times and Los Feliz Ledger.

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