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What will I be doing ?

Painting is one of those jobs that most people don’t like to do. It’s messy, it takes time, it’s boring and it means working on a ladder. Not fun. If painting is fun to you-or at least something you’re able and willing to do quickly and efficiently-consider offering a house-painting service. You may include homeowners as well as businesses among your clients. And you mau find yourself working indoors as well as outdoors.

What will I need to start ?

You should have experience in the trade. Maybe you’ve been a painter and now want to work for yourself. Or maybe you’ve painted so many of your own homes or apartments that your experience level is high. Even so, read and practice more. You won’t be paid as much for your painting skills as your painting efficiency.

You’ll need some equipment : a ladder, brushes and rollers, sprayer, etc. You’ll also need work clothing. In addition, you will need paints and maskings, but those can be purchased as you do the jobs.

Who will my customers be ?

It’s pretty easy to spot a potential customer for your exterior-painting service. One successful painter simply drove neighborhoods in the springtime, looking for houses that showed signs of needing painting. He then gave a quote to the owner and suggested that he needed to schedule all jobs by June 1 to ensure he could do them over the summer. In the fall he followed up with his exterior customers to find out if they needed interior painting over the winter months.

A small service ad in the local newspaper and your business card on area bulletin boards can help your potential customers identify themselves.

How much should I charge ?

House painters get paid well. This is because of the skills and equipment they need as well as the fact that most people don’t want to do the job themselves. The hourly rate for a house-painting service is $35 to $75.

Most jobs are quoted by size or complexity once you estimate the time needed. Learn from each job, calculating

what you should have charged and how to price more accurately in the future. For exterior jobs, some painters

calculate the square footing on the main floor then multifly it by their pricing factor. If there is a second floor or doormers, the surface area to be painted is multiplied by a factor of 1.5 or 2 depnding on how difficult it will be to paint. A smart painter drove around until he found a painting in progress, where he stopped to interview the owner about pricing. A few calculations netted not only a fair pricing factor, but also guided him in setting his own hourly rate.

How much will I make ?

Marketing your services will take much of your effort until you get a few jobs. Then you will probably be able to keep busy by spending 10 to 20 percent of your time looking for new jobs. If your pricing is reasonable and your work is good, referral business will do most of your marketing.

Overhead costs will range from 25 to 40 percent, depending on equipment and whether you include the cost of paint in your bid. Some quote a labor charge with paint and supplies extra.

How can I get started ?

You must be more than a painter to succeed at this business. You must be an efficient painter. Develop your skills. Learn techniques that reduce time without reducing quality. Learn from each job you do. Buy quality equipment that will save you time in the long run. Let others know that you’re in the house-painting business. Many customers will come to you.
Read Painting Contractor : Start and Run a Money-Making Business by Dan Ramsey (TAB/McGraw-Hill).
The SIC code for house-painting services is 1721-01.

From the book of Dan Ramsey, Title : 101 Best Home Businesses, CAREER PRESS, 3 Tice Road, P.O. Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, 1-800-CAREER-1, 201-848-0310 (NJ and outside U.S.), FAX : 201-848-1727

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