Anybody here have their own painting business? I have been working for a company doing residential and commercial painting for three years now and want to know how one would start their own.
Painting Business
Quote: (10-07-2013 01:29 AM)Bander Wrote:
Anybody here have their own painting business? I have been working for a company doing residential and commercial painting for three years now and want to know how one would start their own.
My uncle was a homeless heroin addict and he got clean for a while after being sent to jail. For the year or two that he was sober he started a painting business and was doing very well for himself. I was running a landscaping biz to put myself through college and had some of my brothers and friends working for myself - sometimes I'd upsell clients on my uncle's services and make some loot on top of what he was making. We'd even throw down the lawnmowers, weedeaters, and leaf blowers sometimes and practice some painting with him.
Eventually my unc dropped the ball, went back to drugs, and stopped working, but he had a very good thing going for a minute.
Starting these types of businesses is fairly simple; you've just got to have the balls to throw yourself out there, pretend you know what you're doing (at first, until you actually do), and know how to talk to people. Get on Amazon and purchase the top 3 - 5 books you can find on starting the type of business you want to start with - I give this advice more than just about any advice I give online because it makes so much sense). All the info you need is out there, and these authors have already done everything wrong that you possibly can.
If I was in the states I would probably start a landscaping biz again to get some exercise when not working online. It's great work - always something different - and pays well if you bid jobs correctly.
The painting is a bit more of doing the same shit over and over again, but at least your surroundings are always different, and if you learn some other skills you can always keep your eye out for other jobs to upsell clients on. Hire a few guys eventually to do the work for you (may need a contractor's license if you want to be legit) and you can handle the business-side while less ambitious people do the labor.
Cheers
EDIT: Reading that post linked by calihunter right now and it looks very solid!
Beyond All Seas
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling
I ran a painting business for about 5 years in my early 20's. It put me through college and gave me a pretty relaxed lifestyle aside from of course... the fucking painting.
- Like you, I worked for a contractor for 3 years and learned the business. I learned from the best in my town and did commercial, new construction residential and some restoration.
- Spraying is where the money is. If you have a fast prep team, or are fast at the prep yourself you can make some very good, FAST, money by completing projects quickly.
- Mobile homes - yes.. in 1999 I could make $2000 for about 20 hours of work, in painting mobile homes. I would come on one day and pressure wash it, then come back later, maybe a few weeks later, and spend most of the day masking it off, then I would go around it and spray two coats. Unmask, hit anything would with fast dry primer and a few coats with a brush. Done, and out.......
- Big restoration projects are a mess. I wouldnt do them. Even if you get paid the big bucks, they drag on and on and on for months. There is no money in them, and most contractors break even or lost money on them. Its rewarding to paint a victorian home, but its a pain in the ass.
- Residential new construction - pretty good, but they will beat you down on price always, because there is always a retired school teacher who will do it for less than you.
- New Commercial Construction....... this is where the real business is. You can build a real company around this. Yes, its where you get paid well, work with professionals, and get steady high paying work. I never dealt with Union issues though, but I know if you sort that out, it can be worth it. I got in with one of the largest GC's in my area, and all the other GC's will be trying to hire you away, they all want a piece of a good contractor.
- Advertising. It totally works for painting. I did TV, Newspaper, Yellow Pages, Yard Signs, and as soon as I would put up an ad, the ad buy would pay for itself. Do one job and you have enough ad budget for an entire year. Get a logo professionally designed, put it on your trucks, get nice business cards, make it look like a real business. All this stuff can be paid for by one job.
Good luck man, honest days work, and an easy way to start a business.
- Like you, I worked for a contractor for 3 years and learned the business. I learned from the best in my town and did commercial, new construction residential and some restoration.
- Spraying is where the money is. If you have a fast prep team, or are fast at the prep yourself you can make some very good, FAST, money by completing projects quickly.
- Mobile homes - yes.. in 1999 I could make $2000 for about 20 hours of work, in painting mobile homes. I would come on one day and pressure wash it, then come back later, maybe a few weeks later, and spend most of the day masking it off, then I would go around it and spray two coats. Unmask, hit anything would with fast dry primer and a few coats with a brush. Done, and out.......
- Big restoration projects are a mess. I wouldnt do them. Even if you get paid the big bucks, they drag on and on and on for months. There is no money in them, and most contractors break even or lost money on them. Its rewarding to paint a victorian home, but its a pain in the ass.
- Residential new construction - pretty good, but they will beat you down on price always, because there is always a retired school teacher who will do it for less than you.
- New Commercial Construction....... this is where the real business is. You can build a real company around this. Yes, its where you get paid well, work with professionals, and get steady high paying work. I never dealt with Union issues though, but I know if you sort that out, it can be worth it. I got in with one of the largest GC's in my area, and all the other GC's will be trying to hire you away, they all want a piece of a good contractor.
- Advertising. It totally works for painting. I did TV, Newspaper, Yellow Pages, Yard Signs, and as soon as I would put up an ad, the ad buy would pay for itself. Do one job and you have enough ad budget for an entire year. Get a logo professionally designed, put it on your trucks, get nice business cards, make it look like a real business. All this stuff can be paid for by one job.
Good luck man, honest days work, and an easy way to start a business.
Thank you, I know I have the confidence to make this business work for me. I appreciate all the adive and knowledge guys
Quote: (10-07-2013 01:43 PM)Bander Wrote:
Thank you, I know I have the confidence to make this business work for me. I appreciate all the adive and knowledge guys
Do not skip that link from calihunter, Bander. Seriously golden. Almost makes me want to head back to the states and pick up a paintbrush. lol
Beyond All Seas
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling
Not sure how well trades are paid in other countries but trades in australia pay very well. My fathers a painter and hes been a sole trader for over 35yrs. Usually has a couple people working for him and i help him every now and then. One thing he told me was that he never really advertised because when you advertise you have to compete on price. All his jobs come from word of mouth and he is always usually booked flat out for the next few months in advance.
If you want a ball park he earns between 50-60 an hr I think. I can get more info off him if your interested.
If you want a ball park he earns between 50-60 an hr I think. I can get more info off him if your interested.
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