Paul Campbell: Market trader turned burger king

From his beginnings on an Ilford market stall aged 17, Paul Campbell worked his way to his first million via a chain of health clubs to his current clutch of brands under the Clapham House Group.

The restaurant business is highly competitive, with famously tight margins, and few entrepreneurs make real money out of it. But Paul Campbell, who does, knows all about tight margins. He learnt the hard way as a 17-year-old street trader in Ilford.

His father owned three hardware stores in Essex and London, but it was always a struggle to make ends meet. So from an early age Paul would help when he could, cashing up at the end of the day and putting up the shutters at night. For this he was paid in "love and pocket money" mostly the former. So to boost his income, Paul, now 44, decided to work for himself at weekends. He took some stock from his father, on credit, and set up a market stall in Ilford with a friend.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up
Jody Clarke

Jody studied at the University of Limerick and was a senior writer for MoneyWeek. Jody is experienced in interviewing, for example digging into the lives of an ex-M15 agent and quirky business owners who have made millions. Jody’s other areas of expertise include advice on funds, stocks and house prices.