Home |  Business Startup Guides |  About Us |  Policies |  Contact



Painting Business Guide

By Steve R.

sampleAbout The Author:

I started out working for a friend who was a painter. I was unemployed at the time and he had some work he was going to need help on. So for the next couple of years I worked with him painting and learning the little things that make you a good painter. One day my friend decided to move and left the business he had going to me. The main commercial account he had that helped pay the bills was small hotel on the beach. This job alone kept me busy 6 months out of the year. With a hotel you are constantly repainting rooms and hallways. I asked my brother if he wanted to join me in this venture he said yes so we incorporated our business as a sub chapter s corporation and started our painting business.  

One great thing about the painting business is you only need about $1000.00 to get started. If you take pride in your work you will stay as busy as you want. The downside if you just keep the business small like we did you probably won’t get rich. I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for some independence from working for someone else or is retired and just would like to make extra money then start your own painting business.

The painting business has been good to me. But you need to think outside the box. What I mean is I will also barter with people when needed. I have traded my labor for a vehicle, fishing trips, fishing poles, free food at a nice restaurant, beer etc… If it is something I need or would like then why not trade.

Download E-Book

If you would like to download this author's work in an easy to read & print E-Book format click on the button below. Thank you for your support.

Advertising My Painting Business:

I do almost no advertising. I am not even listed in the yellow pages. I have business cards and a cell phone that is it. I know many people will think I am crazy but instead of spending my money advertising and then having to charge more. I keep my costs down and have my customers advertise for me.

Every time I do a job I tell my customers that the reason I am affordable is I do not advertise. I explain I need their help if they are satisfied with my work to pass out a few of my business cards to their neighbors and friends.

Please let them know I did a good job was fair and cleaned up after myself. This alone has built my business up to all that we can handle. I just want to remind you that we keep our painting business small and manageable. We do not want the headaches that go with having 4 or 5 crews that we have to manage. We would rather not be stressed out over keeping other workers busy. Did I mention we like to fish when we can, so we look forward to a break now and then. 

When I started I did have magnetic signs on the van and I would put a yard sign out when I was painting a house. But over time we just got so busy we didn’t need to do that anymore.

Licensing & Insurance

When I started out all you needed was an occupational license that cost at that time $20.00. Every time you went to another city in that county to do work you had to get a permit to work there. Now you have to take a test to get licensed and it cost $110.00 per year but you no longer have to get a permit to paint as long as I stay in the same county.

The test can seem difficult because you have to know a lot about the business side of the painting business and you have to know OSHA safety rules besides knowing about actual painting. The best step to take I believe is to take one of those crash courses they offer over the weekend that will just about guarantee you pass the test. I spent $300.00 on the course when I took it and it was well worth if you are not familiar with these types of questions.  

You have to have insurance to be licensed in Florida. I carry one million dollars worth of general liability insurance which cost me about $1200.00 per year. I have never had to put a claim in but if you damage someone’s Baby Grand Piano you will need insurance.

Estimating & Billing:

I have no magical system I use it really just comes down to looking at a job and estimating how long I think it will take. This comes from experience so it will take you a little time to be able to just look at a job and quote it. I charge the over the counter price for the paint and supplies. This is the same price the customer would pay if they purchased at the same store. Now the local paint store gives me a 20% break on the cost so I make 20% on the paint I supply.

I want to make $35.00 per hour so however long I feel the job is going to take I would multiply by $35.00 if my brother & I are doing the same job then you multiply by $70.00 per hour but of course the amount of hours would be less. If it is a job where we need to have some help, I charge $15.00 per hour for my helper and I pay the helper $10.00 per hour. On large jobs I always get 40% down to cover materials then 50% when finished. I bill the last 10% in 30 days to give them a chance to look over the job and if I need to do any touchup I do it in those thirty days. I accept cash or check no credit cards. When you are keeping your prices down you can’t be giving 2 or 3 percent to the credit card companies. You will make your best money on re-work new construction is a grind and you always have to wait 30, 60 or 90 days to get paid.

Here are some sample prices of jobs. 

  1. Standard bedroom approximately 10ft x 12ft $150.00
  2. Raised panel entrance door $45.00
  3. Commercial new construction $2.00 per sq. ft. you spray these jobs and have a person roll the wall behind you. If you do not roll the wall then when you have to do touchup it will not match. 
  4. When wall paper needs to be removed I strictly charge time and materials. It is impossible to know what you will run into and what damage may happen to the wall.

I do not do any repair work as far as rotten wood or if a wall needs to be skimmed over because of damage. I will do small touchup of textures and such but anything bigger then 8 to 10 inches of needed repair I have the owner call someone to repair it. I try not to recommend anyone because over the years I have learned to let the home owner get who they want. In other words I am a painter and I basically just prep, scrape, sand, caulk and paint.

 I always take a picture of the room if I am going to be re-hanging all of the pictures and putting the furniture back. This way I can look to see how everything was arranged. If the customer has a lot of small ornamental items I have them remove them before I arrive to move the furniture.  

I do not give any type of guarantee I explain that they are more than welcome to watch me do the job and see I am thorough and do good work. If I offered a guarantee I would have to charge more or they would have to give me a contract to wash their house every year to make sure no mold or fungus started to grow.

Things you should consider when estimating how long the job will take.
  1. If you have to paint the ceiling you have to figure how long it will take to move all of the furniture and cover everything. Also will you need help moving everything. 
  2. If you are painting with a satin or gloss and the wall was originally flat paint you will definitely need 2 coats to cover it.
  3. When painting outside you will have to pressure wash the house to clean it before painting. 
  4. Any new wood or drywall will need to be primed.
  5. Going over vary dark colors will need a primer and will take more than one coat.
Painting Equipment & Supplies:
  1. Roller pads variety of naps (medium range) just toss them out when done.
  2. You need an assortment of brushes. (Medium to High Grade)
  3. A few reusable drop cloth
  4. Roll of plastic
  5. Roll of paper
  6. Blue painter’s masking tape a variety of sizes
  7. A paint sprayer, Lowes and Home Depot both have good ones around $400.00 that will make a great starter one. If you start spraying commercial accounts you will need one that costs around $3000.00 (Grayco)
  8. Rollers and a fiberglass extension buy a good one you will be using it a lot     
  9. Razor Knife
  10. Scrapper
  11. Some glass cleaner
  12. Ladders (4,6,8,24 foot)
  13. Mixing Drill
  14. Mixing paddle
  15. Dust Masks
  16. Filtered Breathing Mask
  17. Rags
  18. Caulking Gun
  19. Putty Knife
  20. Painters caulk
  21. Commercial pressure washer (Honda engine belt driven)
  22. Chlorine (used with the pressure washer to clean houses)
  23. Paint thinner
  24. Keep a couple of old 5 gallon paint buckets (clean them out)
  25. Van or truck (prefer van keeps everything dry and safe)
  26. Contracts and Invoices
  27. Tape machine for spray jobs Digital camera

When painting if you only need 2 or 3 gallons always mix all the paint in a 5 gallon bucket before starting. If you do not have enough to finish the last wall, wait to buy more paint and mix with the paint you have.

The first thing you bring in on your new job is your drop cloth. Then any tools you will need. Look professional and organized. The customer does not want to pay for you to bring in one tool at a time.

Once you set the atmosphere that you are neat and professional they will be a lot less picky of your work.   Once you start having a good business, don't go out and buy a brand new truck. Image is everything you want to appear affordable not that you are making a killing.

Great Startup Specials:

Get great insurance rates for your business and more with NetQuote.

You can get 250 free business cards with Vista Print.

Accept credit cards using your phone. Just $10.00 per month with Accept by Phone.

Have Logo Works design your new logo professionally.

Easiest way to incorporate with Incorporate Now.

Make your own professional custom signs, banners, magnets, etc... with Build A Sign

Get your website going with HodiHosting.net only $5.00 per month.

Painting contractor business plan click here.