How to Start a Painting Business
How to Start a Painting Business
1. Name your business
The best name is “(insert your city name) Painting Company”
2. Buy LLC
Go here:
3. Get Insurance
Go here:
4. Get workers comp
Search your state government website
5. Make business cards
Go here: staples.com
6. Make signs for the yards you will be working
Go Here: staples.com
7. Get a magnet sign for your vehicle
Go here: staples.com
8. Get on Social Media
-Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
-get your friends to like your pages
-follow as many other local businesses and friends that you can
-Update weekly with painting tips, tricks, facts
-post before/after pictures with permission
-ask customers to follow you or give a review
9. Buy Equipment
The following equipment will allow you to complete 95% of residential repaint jobs.
Brushes:
These Wooster shortcut brushes are great. They are cost effective, easy to clean, and make straight lines for interior cutwork.
These 2.5 inch angle sash Purdy brushes are great for trim, doors, and windows for interiors and exteriors
These 4 inch Purdy brushes are great for wide trim boards and siding on exteriors and will make things get done fast. A little costly but worth the time savings.
Ladders:
-get two Louisville 4 foot ladders - this will become your favorite ladder
-get one 6 foot ladder
-get one 16 foot ladder
-get one 20 foot ladder-this will be your second favorite
-get one 32 foot ladder
-don’t forget ladder mitts
Supplies:
-Roller Poles: the following 3 poles should cover your needs. The shurline poles are the best that I have found. They are extremely convenient once you get the hang of them.
-Roller frames
Wooster roller frames- these work great
-Roller covers- never buy cheap
Always have success with these Purdy 3/8 white dove-great price for a 4 pack
-Scrapers
These 5-1 scrapers come in handy
-drop cloth
great price for 4x12 canvas
get this plastic to cover furniture- also great price
-Rags
get some cotton
shop towels come in handy also
-Joint Compound
I find this Sheetrock to be very versatile for patching and skimming
-putty knife
this 12 inch Hyde will work for most jobs
also grab a 6 inch
-Caulk
I like the Alex plus. Cheaper in bulk.
-Tape
painters tape just in case-learn to cut in without it
-Cleaner/degreaser
Krud Kutter is great. Cleans dried latex paint. Cleans gutters.
-Broom
-Dust pan
you won’t regret this 16 inch heavy duty pan
-Wallpaper removal
If you intend to remove wallpaper you want this Wagner steamer.
Grab a pump sprayer and some terry towels to scrub off wallpaper glue
Scoring the walls and chemical additives are overrated
-Mechanical Equipment:
This 4.5 HP Stainless steel shop vac is amazon’s choice
-Power Washer
This Stanley 1600hp is very convenient for light duty
This 3200psi powered by Honda is Amazon’s choice for heavy duty
-Paint Sprayer
if you plan to spray, get a good one like this Graco
10. How to do Estimates:
-Look clean cut
-Show up on time
-Don’t make excuses to reschedule
-Create a standard checklist for each room or area to be painted that’s includes items like priming, patching, caulking, walls, trim, ceilings, windows, furniture moving. This will not only help you create a thorough estimate but will also help you remember when you go back to do the job.
-Decide how many man hours the job will take
-Multiply the number of man hours by the wage which you would like to make. ($25-$60 an hour) based on demand. Big companies have to charge up to $60 to pay employees, benefits, and still make a profit.
Man Hours: 100
Billed Wage: $35
Estimate: $3500
Paint estimate: $300
Job Price: $3800
Employee wage $25
Employee hours 100
Employee Cost $2500
Job Price: ($3800)
- Employee cost: ($2500)
= $1300
-paint: ($300)
profit: =($1000)
-Start with a lower wage until you get a few jobs under your belt.
-If numbers arn’t matching up after a couple of jobs, adjust the pricing.
11. Employees
-Check local, state, federal laws of small business employment. If they work more than a certain amount of hours you have to pay benefits
-Start with a 3 man crew
-make sure they have painted before
-Don’t hire friends
-Background check here:
-Pay a decent wage
-Don’t partner up
12. Taxes
-They have a great program here
-keep all receipts for paint and supplies
-keep records of your employees
-Pay them quarterly so you don’t get behind and pay a penalty at the end of year
Special Tips:
-Proactively give gift cards for referrals
-Paint for friends and family in the winter when things are slower
-Respond quickly to Calls!
-Don’t agree to jobs that are over your head just because you are desperate.
-It’s ok to turn away part of a job if you can’t do it properly(Paint a house but can’t stain a door)
-you can’t control the weather. Don’t force it.
-need more work? Deliver business cards and introduce yourself to local realty companies.
-still need more? Time to go door to door.
-target cookie cutter neighborhoods with newer homes
- get really familiar with your paint products and make friends with the reps at the stores!
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