Starting a Painting Business –

Free Guide

Author – Steve Sutherland

Copyright © 2012

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Legal Notice/Disclaimer/Disclosure
Copyright © 2012 Steve Sutherland. All Rights reserved

No part of this publication may be sold, copied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
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photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without prior written permission from
the author.

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The information contained in this guide represents the opinions of the author. The
author has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information is correct and up
to date. However, it cannot be guaranteed that this is the case and we make no
representations or warranties with respect to the completeness or accuracy of the
following information. By reading this guide users acknowledge that they cannot hold
the author or publisher liable for any losses suffered as a consequence of their actions.
This information is intended for educational purposes only and should be used at your
own risk.

Table of Contents
1) Introduction – Read This First........................................................................................3
2) Ten Reasons to Start a Painting Business.......................................................................4
3) Ideas for Choosing a Name............................................................................................7
4) Advertising your Business............................................................................................10
5) Other Marketing Strategies..........................................................................................13
6) How to Price a Painting Job..........................................................................................17
7) Hiring and Managing Employees..................................................................................20
8) Contracts......................................................................................................................23

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1) Introduction – Read This First
Welcome!
My name is Steve Sutherland. I did some research into the painting industry between
2010 and 2011. I still haven't opened a painting business as I ended up going into other
areas of business. However, I still think that painting represents an excellent
opportunity and I may get in at some point in the near future.

While I was doing this research I took a lot of notes and chatted with a few business
owners. The following guide contains the information that I uncovered.

Some of the content in this guide is fairly generic business advice and other parts
contain information that is specific to painting business owners. There is a table of
contents so you can go straight to any particular topic that interests you.

If you are looking for more information check out StartingaPaintingBusiness.com (this
guy also has some awesome information that is quite different from what you will read
below).

It can be hard to find good quality information on how to get started as business
owners in this industry are usually fairly secretive. Business owners will never let on
how good they have it or share information as they fear that newcomers will steal
locations or ideas from them.

If you have a desire to start a painting business they I strongly encourage you to pursue
your dream. Read on and find out how you too can have your own successful painting
company.

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2) Ten Reasons to Start a Painting Business
To be successful in the painting business, or any other business for that matter, you
need to have some kind of purpose. You must know why you want to get into a specific
industry and know how you want your business to develop. Everyone will have different
reasons for starting a business but there are some common themes.

Of course the motivation to take the plunge and start a company for many people
comes from the opportunity to make money. However there are many other reasons
why people go into business. Below we look at ten good reasons to start a painting
business.

1) Scale of the Industry

The painting industry is currently worth over 20 billion dollars annually and is set to
continue to grow well into the future. The sheer size of the market means that
opportunities for hard working painters are plentiful.

2) Earnings Prospects

With your own painting business you will have a great opportunity to earn an excellent
income for yourself and your family. Even working alone it is possible to break an
annual income of $50,000 fairly easily once you start to get regular jobs. And once you
scale up to the point where you are working on multiple jobs at one time and have a
team of painters working for you, then the sky really is the limit.

3) Work from Home

Many painters run their businesses from home so there is no need to go and lease
expensive commercial business premises. There are also some great tax advantages
open to those with home offices. Your ability to do this may be affected by local zoning
laws though so you must check this out at the local level first.

4) Low Start Up Costs

Compared to other business models, you don't need a lot of start up capital to start a

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painting business. If you base your business from home and have access to a suitable
vehicle then you can be up and running for well under a thousand dollars.

5) Resilient to Economic Downturns

The painting business is not completely resilient to recession. However, it is much more
recession proof than a lot of other industries. While it is true that new housing starts
slow during an economic downturn there will always be some level of new building
going on. And don't forget that existing buildings have to be maintained and this can
often mean a fresh coat of paint every now and then.

6) Low Barriers to Entry

Pretty much anyone can start a painting business. While there are skills involved in both
the practical side of painting and the business side, these are not hard to master with
the right guidance and experience. You don't need a University degree to get into the
painting game. There may be licensing requirements and compliance considerations at
the local level though so make sure that you check with your city or county.

7) Lifestyle

As your own boss you will, to some extent, be able to create your own schedule to fit
your lifestyle. You can work part-time, full-time or week days only, its up to you. Escape
your nine to five job, your cubicle, rush hour traffic and gossiping coworkers.

8) Minimal Off Season

Some trades and businesses are seasonal, particularly in the northern parts of the US
and Canada where weather conditions can make it difficult to work outdoors for large
parts of the year. Lawn care is one example. While outdoor painting may suffer a blow
in some areas over the winter, painters are lucky in that they have interior painting to
fall back on.

9) An Enjoyable Line of Work

For some people, painting can be enjoyable. If you keep a positive attitude you can
derive a lot of satisfaction from seeing a job through to the end and the reaction of a
delighted customer. Like everything though you will get sick of it after a while. You

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therefore have to plan to take on employees as soon as possible so that you can move
into a marketing and administration role and have a team doing most of the actual
painting work.

10) Prove that You Can

It takes a certain type of person to succeed in business. You must be focused and
determined and have a well rounded set of skills. While many people will doubt a new
entrepreneur, those that have proven themselves get a lot of respect and admiration.
Prove it to yourself, your family and your friends that you are one of these select
individuals. Plan to start a painting business right away and get yourself on the path to
being a successful business owner and all that comes with it.

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3) Ideas for Choosing a Name
A good business name is necessary to help you to build a strong brand and market your
services successfully. A strong brand will give your business an identity in the market
place, help you to make a good first impression on people and help to build a positive
reputation among customers in the long run.

Below we have set out a number of tips and ideas for you to consider as you proceed to
think suitable painting company names.

Don't Limit Future Opportunities

Effective business names give potential customers a clear message about what
products or services a company offers. This is one sensible approach but it is important
not to pigeon hole your business too much as you may want to change direction, sell
the business or introduce new services at a later date. Your name should indicate what
you do while still being general enough to offer flexibility.

By all means include the word 'painting' in your name, but don't be too specific about
the market that you are targeting or the exact services that you offer. If you feel that
you will branch out into other areas in the future then the word 'contractor' may be
more suitable.

You should also think twice before including the owners name in the business name.
This can offer a nice personal touch and give customers the impression that they are
dealing with somebody who has a good reputation. However, this approach can make it
hard for you to sell your business if you want to do so at some point in the future.

Including the name of the area or region where you are doing business is also an option
that usually works well. However, if you ever want to offer services outside of this zone
then such a name can become irrelevant or confusing.

Memorable and Unique

A great name for a business is one that can be easily remembered. People should be
able to recall it after hearing it only once or twice and they should be able to

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pronounce it correctly. Once you have a short list you can run some tests on family and
friends. See which ones they were able to hear clearly over the phone and which ones
they were able to remember a week later. If you can think of a name that will stick in
people’s minds then you will really have their attention.

A great name should be unique and professional at the same time. If you look in The
Yellow Pages or online you will find plenty of clever, catchy and creative painting
business names. While names that are funny can sometimes get more attention, you
may find that some sectors of the market don't relate to them, misunderstand them or
even find them offensive. The best choice is often to go with a more conservative
sounding name. This will come across as being much more professional and appeal to a
wider market.

Originality and Usage Rights

While you can look to other industries for inspiration, don’t imitate the names of other
local businesses too closely or you will risk confusing consumers. You need something
that is truly original if you want your business to stand out.

Make sure that no other companies are already using the name that you would like to
use. Search The Yellow Pages, the Internet and the database at your county clerk’s
office to make sure that you don’t infringe on the intellectual property of other
companies or individuals.

Domain Name Registration

Check that there is a suitable domain name available and register it at the same time as
you finalize your business name. You will need to get a website up at some time and it
is nice to have a domain that matches your name.

Preferential Listings

Many people name their business 'A Plus Painting' or something similar because they
want to be among the first listings in The Yellow Pages. This is becoming less important
these days though as popular search engines on the Internet don't display search
results alphabetically.

Acronyms

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Give some thought to acronyms. If done right they can be an easy way for customers
and business associates to refer to your business by using the first letter of each word.
Just make sure that you stay away from embarrassing or weird acronyms.

Expert Advice

Many people underestimate the importance of a business name. It is one of the

elements that will help your company to win the hearts and minds of the marketplace
over many years. Some smart entrepreneurs are now starting to hire naming experts to
help them make this crucial decision. While it is unlikely that a small painting start up
would go to such expense it wouldn't hurt to run your ideas past someone with a
decent level of experience in business.

Avoid a Name Change at All Costs

Sometimes it becomes necessary for businesses to change their names because they
have become old fashioned or irrelevant. This may become necessary for you at some
point in the future but you should do your best to avoid this. The costs associated with
such a change can be extensive so your selection should be able to stand the test of
time.

A Name That You Like

Above all, you, as the owner of a painting business have to have a name that you like.
There is no point in using a name that sounds embarrassing or makes you cringe every
time you say it. Your business name should inspire you and make you feel proud to be a
painting contractor.

Don’t treat the selection of your painting company name too lightly. Give this important
decision the time that it deserves and come up with something that can carry your
painting business forward to future success.

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4) Advertising your Business
It is important for a painting business to have a steady stream of fresh leads coming in.
One way to do this when you are just starting out, and on an ongoing basis is to set up
and manage effective advertising campaigns.

One thing that you must consider when it comes to your painting business advertising
is who you are targeting. There is no sense having someone in another city or someone
who is not in need of your service reading your advertisement. Your advertising will
have to be targeted towards the people in the areas that you operate in who are, or will
soon be in need of painting services.

In the following article we look at a number of options for advertising a painting

business that you can test to get word out about your service. We also provide some
tips on running effective advertising campaigns.

Business Cards

You will find that one of the best advertising tools for your painting business is you, as
the business owner. Whenever you come into contact with new people, politely
introduce yourself to them and let them know about your painting company. Hand
some cards out to friends and family members and ask them to help spread the word.
Having a set of well designed business cards that you can hand out will help you to
present a professional image.

Promotional Flyers

If you can get a hold of a database of prospective clients then direct advertising can
prove to be cost effective. Flyers or other promotional material distributed directly to
homes and businesses often bring in enough leads to justify the cost and are still a
popular method of advertising a local service business.

You can also look at more expensive promotional items such as pens, fridge magnets or
even coffee mugs. This can be cost effective if you target only properties that look like
they need painting work done in the foreseeable future.

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Advertising on Vehicles

These days it is possible to have a vehicle wrap fitted to your business vehicle for less
than a thousand dollars. Benefit from years of free advertising for your painting
business as you drive around your local area and park outside of client properties. For
even more exposure consider parking in prominent positions such as right outside the
entrance way’s to shopping malls or sports stadiums.

Notice Boards

While it may seem like a waste of time to put up flyers on community notice boards you
never know until you try it. It doesn’t take long to do this and it most likely won’t cost
you a dime. Start out by approaching organizations that have public notice boards like
churches or schools.

Business Directories and Newspapers

Local newspapers, magazines, community newsletters and business directories are all
possible places for you to get a little exposure for your painting business. Some of these
publishers are always on the lookout for new advertisers and you can often get a great
deal if you negotiate with them or get on their mailing list and wait for their offers.
Most customers have to see an advertisement many times before they pay any
attention to it so be sure to run your ads over a decent time period before you write off
any particular method.

The Yellow Pages is still the first place that people look when they need a local service
provider. You don't need to have the biggest ad in the painting contractors section but
you do need one that stands out and prompts people to call you rather than the other
guys.

A Company Website

These days it is relatively easy to get a website set up and you can get a monthly
hosting plan for less than ten dollars a month.

A website can act as a great reference point for people considering your company as a
contender for their painting job. they may have already heard about you and just want
to get a little more information before they give you a call. They can visit your website

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to learn more about you and your painting services and possibly to make first contact
with you. Make sure that you get a professional to build a professional looking site that
is effective in communicating your message. Keeping it simple and focusing on usability
is the way to go.

Websites can also be great for bringing in fresh leads. By using paid advertising, or
search engine optimization you can ensure that your business ranks highly in search
engine results when people in your area search for painting businesses.

There are also an endless variety of other methods for driving targeted traffic to your
painting business website, from local business directories to Craigslist and more.

Positive 'Word of Mouth'

Customers will naturally talk about your services. If you do a great job then you will
certainly benefit from positive 'word of mouth' and gain business through referrals. You
can also encourage your customers to talk about you by delivering much more in the
way of service than they expected or by offering them a financial incentive to refer
people to you.

The important thing with any advertising is that you are getting a return on your
investment. If you are spending more than what you gain from the new business that is
generated from an ad then you must consider discontinuing it. Try to identify the ads
that are performing well and those that are not. Your customers will usually be happy
to tell you which one of your ads they responded to.

Success with your painting business advertising will come down to a variety of factors.
You must try out different things, be prepared to alter designs and campaigns and also
be meticulous with recording results. Only then will you be maximizing the
opportunities that advertising can offer you.

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5) Other Marketing Strategies
Marketing is an important part of running a successful painting business. No matter
how good you are at doing professional paint work, it won't help you if you don't have a
marketing strategy in place to promote and sell the services that you offer.

In this article we look at how effective painting business marketing strategies can help
your company get the painting jobs that you need on a regular basis. We also off ideas
and tips on putting such a marketing plan together.

Branding Strategy

Right from the start you should set out to develop a brand. Give some thoughts to how
you want to shape public perceptions of your business. A great name and logo design
can give your brand visual representation but there is much more to it than that. A
winning brand strategy is to have the right attitude and to adopt a business philosophy
that will ensure that you slowly start to develop a good reputation. Strive to become
known as a reliable company that always meets and exceeds customer expectations.

Painting Niche Markets

Before you can start to develop a marketing strategy you need to know exactly what
painting services you intend on selling. Depending on the size of your local market and
the number of competitors you may decide to specialize in one particular area or to be
a 'jack of all trades'.

The market can basically divided into two broad areas, exterior and interior painting.
Exterior or outdoor painting work is usually easier to get as people are less likely to do
it themselves due to the perceived danger of getting up on ladders. The great thing
about outdoor painting work is that customers are usually less demanding then they
are when you are painting surfaces inside their home. With outdoor painting you do
have to consider safety to a much greater extent though, particularly for multi-story
buildings. You don't even have to limit yourself to house painting as all kinds of
buildings need painting from time to time.

Market Research

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Do some thorough market research and identify all of the opportunities that are out
there in the market. You also need to try to understand who your customers are likely
to be and how you can market your service to them in a way that they will respond
favorably. Put together some customer profiles and chat to a few typical customers to
find out more from their prospective. Get into the customers shoes and try to
understand what they are looking for in a painting company.

Networking Tips

One great way to pick up some regular jobs is to approach people who you think are in
a position to be able to refer customers to you. Try to make relationships with property
developers, interior decorators, real estate agents, home staging companies, property
management firms and others who are out there in the market. Other networking
options include joining a local builders association or the Chamber of Commerce.

Look for other well established service businesses that have large lists of clients and
regular communication with them. You may find cleaning companies or lawn care
businesses that will promote your service to their mailing list for a fee.

It can be great to have relationships with other painting contractors. While they are
competitors in some sense of the word, they can also be helpful. If you specialize in
different kinds of painting or you work in different parts of town then you may just be
able to refer business to each other. If you are lucky there may be times when you have
more work then you can handle. Being able to pass work on to other painters that you
know are reliable will be good for your customers and good for them. They may also
reciprocate and send work your way.

One great place to meet people is at home improvement stores. The painting section in
Home Depot can be a gold mine if you are friendly and strike up some casual
conversations. You will meet other contractors there and you may even meet a
customer as well.

Marketing Materials

It helps if you have some marketing materials to show to prospective customers when
you meet them for a consultation. Have some brochures made up or at least take a
folder along with you with pictures of some of the jobs that you have completed in the

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past. Testimonials from previous customers also offer the prospect the kind of
reassurance and 'social proof' that they want before they sign the dotted line.

What can you do if you have not completed any paint jobs yet or don't have any
suitable photos? One great tip is to purchase stock photography from an online retailer.
Featuring pictures of beautiful paint jobs in your brochure or on your website is not
fraudulent if you don't make false claims about the depicted work being your own.

Fine Tune your Sales Process

To be a huge success in the painting business you do have to have someone on your
team who is able to go out there and sell your services. There are many different sales
strategies and techniques and they all have varying levels of success depending on the
sales person and the prospect. Learn about some of the different approaches, test
them out and then find out what works for you.

Don't be intimidated by the idea that you have to sell. Sometimes if you just be
yourself, stay positive and guide the customer through a pleasant conversation about
how you can help them, that's all it takes.

Try to up-sell customers on additional painting work. Once they have agreed to hire you
to paint a certain area you can also start suggesting other areas of their house or
property that could do with some paint work.

Ideas on Customer Service

In the painting business you have to be a good communicator as well as a good painter.
It is necessary to take the time to understand every customers unique requirements.
Always give them the best standard of service and make sure that they have open lines
of communication with you. This should start right from the moment they get in
contact with you to inquire about your services. Try to have someone answering your
phone calls in person and if this is not possible then make sure that you return calls as
soon as possible.

Marketing to Existing Customers

Once you have a customer and have completed some work on their home, that doesn't
have to be the end of your relationship with them. Build up a client list with notes

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about each property that you have painted. You can then contact them from time to
time and offer to do any other painting work that they require.

There are many great guide books available online that will offer you additional ideas
and strategies for your painting business marketing. If you study marketing in general
you will find that most concepts relate to the painting industry and can be applied in
your business.

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6) How to Price a Painting Job
One of the things that new painting business owners often struggle with is pricing the
painting jobs that they bid on. Finding the right price to bid is an extremely important
factor that will help to determine whether you win or lose jobs. Your ability to price
accurately and competitively will also ultimately determine how profitable your
business is. Read on for ideas on how to price a paint job for your company.

The Dangers of Pricing Too Low

There will be a minority of prospective customers in your market who consider price as
the sole factor in determining which painting contractor to use. These 'cheapo' clients
are often not worth the time and headaches that come along with them. There is also
another group of clients that will associate a low price with a potentially poor quality
job and pass up on the cheapest bid that they get.

If you consistently price at levels that are so low that your ability to make a profit on
jobs is compromised then you won't be in business for long. In general, pricing at low
levels will have a negative impact on your business and the local industry as a whole.

Market Rates or Above

Prospective customers will shop around so it us useful if you have an idea of what kind
of bids they will get from your competitors. In general you should try to price your
services in line with market rates or a little higher. Don't be afraid to ask for premium
prices if you feel that you can achieve them with your salesmanship or brand power.
Many customers will take your reputation and professionalism into account as well
rather than making a decision based solely on price.

The Competition

While you don't necessarily have to price your services in line with market rates in your
area it does help to have a rough idea of what competitors are charging. Do some
investigation and try to establish what the going rate is for painting work on an hourly
basis. Get some 'dummy' quotes direct from competitors and also try chatting to paint
suppliers as they may have a good handle on the local market.

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Pricing Different Kinds of Painting Jobs

Painters generally have different ways of pricing different kinds of jobs. Painters that are
quoting on large commercial jobs often calculate rates based on floor sizes in square
feet. Residential house painters are more likely to prefer to quote on a daily or hourly
basis.

An Estimating System

While pricing does come down to intuition to a certain extent, it is not likely that you
will be able to come up with an accurate price without some kind of system. You can
get estimating software that can help you to price up jobs or you can simply put
together your own formulas and use a calculator on the spot. You need to have an
estimating system that is quick and as accurate as possible.

A Variety of Methods

In order to be able to put forward a quote to a client you need to be able to estimate
the costs that will be involved in completing the job. Costs are made up mostly of
materials such as paint and 'man hours' or labor. Other costs may include painters tape,
paint brushes and depreciation on equipment. Don't forget transportation costs and
overheads like advertising and phone bills.

Estimating the amount of time involved to complete a paint job comes down to
experience. Some painters charge based on the number of rooms to be painted and
others estimate the wall areas that need painting in square feet.

Painters basically have to make an estimate of time required and make adjustments for
any difficulty factors. Painting contractors soon learn to allow for prep time and clean
up after the job. If there are light switches and other fittings to be painted around then
this obviously adds to preparation and painting time. Ceilings are more time consuming
to paint than walls.

The basic formula is to work out total man hours and multiply this by an hourly rate of
pay that is close to what other painting companies are charging. Then you can add on
the costs for the job and a suitable amount as profit, if an appropriate hourly rate has
not already been allocated for the owner.

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Inspections

Unless you are quoting hourly rates, you should never give people a price without
inspecting the areas of a property that require painting. There are just too many
variables and the chances of getting a nasty surprise are just too great.

A Safety Cushion

As estimating is not an exact science it doesn't hurt to quote a little bit higher so that
you have a safety cushion if the job proves to be more costly than you first anticipated.
If you work out your expected costs, add on profit and then allow for 10% extra for
unanticipated expenses then you should be fine on average.

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7) Hiring and Managing Employees
Once you have your painting business running smoothly and have had experience with
a variety of jobs and customers you will want to think about taking on some workers to
help you out. However, putting together a team to work for you is not always as straight
forward as it sounds.

Let's take a minute to discuss the importance of painting business employees and go
through some points that you should consider before you start hiring.

The Need for Help

If you are working as a painter on a day to day basis you will find that you often don't
have enough time to focus on the marketing and development of your business. Only
once you have some help will you truly be able to stand back and focus on expanding
your painting business and fine tuning the systems within it.

Having a small team of employees will help you to finish big jobs much faster than you
would be able to alone. This can lead to satisfied customers who do not have to have
their lives interrupted for an extended period of time. Whereas it may take you two
weeks to finish a large painting job by yourself, a team of three could have it done in
three or four days.

Planning Staff Requirements

Ideally, you will not want to turn down any profitable painting jobs. Yet to be able to
take every job that comes along you are going to have to plan ahead so that your staff
numbers rise alongside the volume of work coming your way. The best way to deal with
the unpredictable nature of painting work in the beginning is to be prepared to do
painting work yourself when your company is busy. Then when you finally take on a
new employee you can step back for a while until your workload increases to a higher
level and it becomes necessary for you do help out with painting again.

Who to Hire

The great thing about the painting business is that you don't need to find qualified and

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experienced workers. Once you become proficient at training and supervising
employees on the job, you can hire just about anyone who is hardworking, sensible and
willing to learn.

Start off by considering people that you know and trust within your wider social
network. Trade schools are one great option for finding employees looking to learn a
trade like painting. Students often make great part time employees depending on their
schedule. You may also find people who have recently been made unemployed and are
looking for a career change.

Interviewing Prospects

When you interview potential employees you should try to find out as much about
their character as possible. You want to hire hard working, positive people who have a
desire to work as a part of a team. Always check references but place more importance
on character rather than qualifications and experience.

Employees or Contractors

There is a big difference between taking on a permanent staff member and a

contractor. While it is likely that contractors will cost you a little more on an hourly
basis, the advantages often outweigh the costs. With regular employees, you are
responsible for paying workman’s compensation insurance and taxes for them.
Contractors will generally take care of these things themselves.

You will still have some obligations when you hire contractors. You will still be liable if
contractors have an accident on the job due to your negligence. However, with the right
equipment and safety procedures this should not be a problem.

Illegal Workers

Resist the urge to save money by hiring illegal workers. While this solution may seem to
offer you considerable cost savings, it is just not worth it in the long run as the penalties
can be severe. You have to be able to sleep at night.

Treat Them Right

Always treat your employees with the respect that they deserve, especially the ones

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who are really creating value for your business. Always keep your word and reward
them fairly for their efforts. Putting an incentive system in place is one good way to
motivate your workers and bring out the best in them.

Keep good lines of communication open so that employees are aware of what is going
on and can give you valuable feedback. Listen to their concerns and seek their input
wherever possible.

Word can travel fast and you really don't want to develop a reputation among job
seekers as an employer to avoid. It can be hard to find good workers that will stick with
you over a long period of time. So when you do find loyal employees who are serious
about helping your business to succeed you should treat them like gold.

Hourly Rates

Pay your employees well. If you offer hourly rates that are slightly higher than the
market average then you should have no problem retaining your employees. Start
everyone off on a basic hourly rate, even experienced painters. If you hire workers for a
probationary period you can then assess their productivity after a few months and
adjust their hourly rates accordingly. Ask your workers to agree to keep their wage rates
confidential as the last thing you need is disgruntled employees getting angry because
they make less than other team members.

Don't Give Up Control

Never think that because you have employees working for you that you can sit back and
put your feet up. You will find that if you don't make your presence felt then standards
will certainly drop. If employees don't see you out working hard alongside them
occasionally then their respect for you can easily be diminished.

As your business develops you can slowly start to delegate additional roles to your staff.
The first thing that you will want to give up is the actual painting work. Eventually you
will also be able to hand over other important jobs such as sales and marketing to
employees as well. Don't hand over to much control to anyone until you trust them and
have systems in place to monitor their progress.

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8) Contracts
When you agree to provide painting services to a customer it is advisable to enter into a
proper written agreement with them. If you have some kind of contract in place then
both parties will know where they stand and understand their obligations.

So how can you put a contract together for your painting business? Well, a good first
step is to have a look at the contracts that other painters or general contractors are
using. You can find some good templates and examples online. These will give you
some ideas on the type of clauses that you want to include. Remember though that
every business is different so you will also have to consider adding clauses that are
relevant to your unique situation. Lastly, you should have a lawyer look over any
contract or agreement to make sure that it is set out properly and that you haven't left
anything out.

A good contract should look out for the interests of both parties. You should make sure
that you include clauses that reassure prospective clients. A contract that is stacked too
much in your favor could scare clients away.

Below are some suggestions for agreement terms that contractors may consider
incorporating into the painting contracts for their companies.

Basic Contract Details

The basic requirement of a contract is a clause that sets out the parties that are
entering into the agreement. Names and the date should be specified and there should
be lines drawn up ready for both parties to sign their names.

Company Standards and Details

Outline some basic details about your painting company to reassure clients that they
are dealing with professionals. Let them know that you are licensed, if that is a
requirement of your state. Assure them that all work will be carried out in a manner
that is in compliance with building codes and regulations for painters in your area.

Insurance Cover

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Include details on the liability insurance cover that you carry in case they suffer
damages as a result of your work on their property.

Project Dates

Set out a time-line of dates and times relating to the painting job. Let them know when
you will be starting, what days and times you will be at the house and the date that you
will be finished by.

Painting Job Description

Define which property you will working on by setting out its address and other details if
necessary. Using as much detail as you can, describe the painting work that you will be
carrying out and the quality standards to which you will be working. Include details on
all surfaces that are to be painted, the type of paint that will be used and the number
of coats that will be applied. It is common for painters to do a full clean up after a job
and dispose of any toxic substances in the correct way.

Customer Inconvenience

Being as precise as possible, set out details as to how the customer will be
inconvenienced due to the painting work going on at their property. Let them know
when their access to certain areas of their home will be restricted.

Equipment and Supplies

Painting contractors usually provide all of their own equipment and materials for a job.
State that your company will provide all of the equipment and supplies, if this is indeed
the case, and list the items that you will be using. This can be a reminder to the
customer about the value of the service that you are providing.

The other approach is for you to purchase paint and other supplies and then seek
reimbursement from the customer. Under this approach you would provide an invoice
that set out material costs and labor costs separately.

The Weather

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If you are signing a contract for outdoor painting work then you may need to include
one clause relating to weather. Your ability to paint the exterior of a building may be
limited by rain or other severe weather conditions and this could delay a job.

Payment Terms

A good agreement should set out the payment terms and the obligations that the
customer has in this respect. Set out the amount that must be paid, the dates that
payment becomes due and the methods of payment that are acceptable.

Painters usually charge a flat fee for a job no matter how long it takes. Others have a
price structure that includes hourly rates so the total cost of the painting job may not
be clear until it is complete.

Always insist on getting a partial payment before you start work. This should be an
amount that is enough to cover the basic costs that you will incur if the customer
refuses to pay the final invoice for some reason. On larger jobs it is also common to
have a payment schedule so that you can receive additional payments as the project
progresses.

Indemnity

Some painting contracts include an indemnity clause. This usually states that the
painting contractor has no right to sue the client in the event that they suffer a loss or
damages as a result of their work for the client.

Advertising Signage

These days it is common for painting contractors to include a clause in their contracts
stating that homeowners allow them to place advertising signage in their front yard.
This can be a great advertising opportunity while you are working on a painting job.
Some areas have ordinances that forbid this kind of advertising though so local
regulations may deem such a clause irrelevant.

Changes, Delays and Other Problems

While this can get complicated, it does pay to remember that things can often change
and you may need to have some kind of contingency plan. You may provide for some

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level of delay in completing the paint job and you may need to clarify what right the
customer has to make changes to the job requirements along the way. Some contracts
will also set out exit options or provide for a method of dispute resolution if such a
situation arises.

Painting contracts should not only be a means of providing legal protection for business
owners. When set out right with terms that are fair, they can also be a crucial part of
the marketing process. It would be sad to lose a job due to the fact that a client didn't
feel comfortable with the written agreement. So make sure that your painting contract
is worded in a way that is reassuring to the client while looking after your own interests
at the same time.

I hope that you enjoyed reading this free report. For more information check out
StartingaPaintingBusiness.com

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