There's nothing quite like a fresh coat of paint to instantly bring living spaces to life. Research has shown that even children's study habits improve in a home with a great paint job.
But most people consider painting their own space a headache. They don't have time for the research, setup, labor, and cleanup, and would much rather outsource this important job to a professional painting contractor. If you have a thorough approach and a steady hand, starting a successful house painting business could be a profitable and enjoyable path.
Let's cover four major areas you'll need to focus on to start off on the right foot with the steps to starting a painting business: how much to invest, business structure, steps to starting your business officially and how to advertise painting business.
If you are already running a house painting business, follow these same steps to take your services to the next level. Either way, you know that running a successful painting business is not always straightforward, and we hope this guide will help.
How Much To Invest in a House Painting Business
At the beginning, your costs for starting a house painting business can be relatively low-on average, less than $2000. When you're first starting out, you'll need:- Brushes
- Rollers
- Paint trays
- Tarps
- Tape
- 2 ladders (8′-12′ and a 28′-32′ sizes)
- Sandpaper
- A wire brush
- A caulking gun
- Protective clothing
- A breathing mask
Choosing The Best Structure For a House Painting Business
There are three forms of business structure for you to choose from. Each one has unique benefits for you to consider when you are starting out. As your painting business grows, you'll want to reconsider which structure is best for you. Independent Contractor Being an independent contractor is a great way to start off solo. You can make your own contracts and work directly with your clients (as opposed to an employee who works for a company), giving you the flexibility to take on a large range of painting projects, at whatever pace works best for your life and business. Partnership Starting a successful painting business in a partnership allows you to share expenses and risk with your partner. Another plus is that you can build off of each others' business skills-as the saying goes, two heads are better than one. Limited Liability Corporation An LLC is its own entity. This means you will not have personal liability and your personal finances won't be vulnerable to covering potential small business debt. And out of the three options available, putting your employees on a payroll is easiest with an LLC in place.Steps to Starting a Home Painting Business
Certification There are no national certification requirements in order to break into the painting business, but there are lots of ways to acquire your skills. Most house painters take at least one professional painting course to learn the basics. Becoming a formal apprentice to a professional painter, with coursework and hands-on experience, is another excellent way to get started. Assisting a professional painter would be another route to consider, in order to gain confidence and see what really works. If you're already established in the field and you're looking to expand your offerings, you might consider getting certification in specific areas of expertise like industrial coating. If you'll be working on buildings built before 1978, remember that the The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires house painters to get certified through the Renovation, Repair, and Painting program (RRP). Licensing Depending on your state's requirements, you might need a painting contractors' license. The process can range from filing a simple registration form, to being tested on your industry know-how. Insurance There are a handful of factors to consider when choosing insurance for your home painting business. Look for a plan that is tailored, affordable, and simple to understand. Like most businesses, it's likely that your painting business will need liability insurance and insurance for painting contractors. If your business is slapped with a lawsuit, your personal finances could (or could not) be on the line depending on your business structure. Choosing to work with a partner and/or employees will also affect the types of insurance coverage you'll need. A painter's insurance plan will cover all of these bases and allow you to focus on building your business.