Nick Grace (picture/ Paul Estcourt/ New Zealand Herald)

A business focusing exclusively on painting forklifts has won a small business award.

The New Zealand Herald reported Grace Painters, founded by former forklift driver Nick Grace, won the Manukau business excellence awards last week.

Grace had the idea for his business while working in a Crown forklift distributor's factory, spray painting forklifts.

He spotted potential for profit-making when a private customer asked him to paint his forklift.

After striking a deal with Crown to contract its paint work to him, Grace started his business across the driveway in East Tamaki.

On average, it takes four hours to paint a forklift and the company paints around 50 a month. It plans to operate 24 hours a day from next month.

Grace said his business was on the verge of doubling after taking on more forklift companies and private forklift owners this month. Staff numbers are expected to increase from the present eight.

Grace Painters is currently researching the Australian market in preparation for opening a similar business in Sydney.