| First of all when I walk up to someones door I look | | | | on that new project I just got a down payment on. |
| like I own my own painting business because I have | | | | I love to paint I love doing restoration work and |
| my painters pants on and my estimating tools. I'm | | | | every day goes by super fast because I love what I |
| also clean shaven and neat in appearance. | | | | do. There's is nothing better than being |
| Also having your own painting vehicle helps but it is | | | | self-employed. You don't have to worry about being |
| not necessary when first starting out. When I first | | | | laid off, you can make as much money as you dare |
| started painting I worked out of my beater | | | | to dream and there is no boundaries or ceilings on |
| Oldsmobile that was a big old boat. A 1979 98 | | | | your abilities or opportunities. |
| Regency. People didn't seem to care or even notice | | | | There are a lot of great additional service to add to |
| what I drove. They just wanted painting done and | | | | a painting business also like faux painting, window |
| my prices back then were cheaper which they loved. | | | | washing, drywall repair, bathtub refinishing, light |
| That's all you really have to do to get established is | | | | carpentry work, etc. These can all be added on a |
| to look like you're ready to do some painting with | | | | little bit at a time if need be. |
| your painter's pants on and some basic painting tools | | | | Again you'll gain instant credibility if you just look like |
| to get started with. You don't need any specialize | | | | a painter. You don't need a fancy paint truck in the |
| literature or forms. | | | | beginning although it does help tool-wise. It will all fit |
| In time you'll have your own painting truck and and | | | | together in time. Just a few basic tools and a desire |
| the most important part of all you will have some | | | | to own your own business is the big issue here. |
| good quality referrals from satisfied customers. This | | | | When I first started painting I did not know how to |
| is what will get you a lot of work plus instant | | | | estimate. My first commercial job scared me to death |
| credibility. Don't forget that you'll also get repeat | | | | and it was a simple job. One thing that really helps |
| business from your existing customers. | | | | you to gain instant credibility is to have your |
| Some would lead you believe that you need a lot of | | | | confidence up. You can do this by knowing how to |
| special paper work or forms to run a painting | | | | estimate your painting jobs. |
| business. I basically use one special form and that is | | | | I can go in and estimate an interior or exterior job in |
| for estimating. I use this form to do commercial and | | | | a relatively short period of time and I look like I |
| residential painting. I like to keep it all simple. | | | | know what I am doing. And when I walk away I |
| Painting is just like any other small service business. | | | | have confidence and I know that I did a good |
| You learn as you go. There are tips, tricks and | | | | painting estimate and that I will make money. |
| techniques to painting just like any other trade. There | | | | Getting all the techniques and tricks of the trade |
| are painters that shouldn't be painters because their | | | | down is something you learn a little bit from each job. |
| work is really bad. | | | | In time you will be able to master things like drywall |
| One secret to a successful painting business is to | | | | repair, the fastest ways to get your prep work |
| develop a reliable painting business partnership and | | | | done, your own quick system for painting a room, |
| then do quality work for people together. You can | | | | painting windows and doors, etc. |
| work alone but there are many advantages to having | | | | Many people think starting a painting business is |
| a partner of two like turning your jobs faster. | | | | difficult because they get a bad case of what is |
| If you enjoy your work you'll never work a day in | | | | called "detail-itis" (the failures disease). When a |
| your life. I remember looking forward to Monday | | | | project comes along and I am uncertain how I am |
| mornings sitting in Sunday school before church. I | | | | going to get it done I don't worry about it because |
| could hardly wait to get started on Monday morning | | | | the answers fall in place as I do the work. |