Start a Painting Bussiness? Please Help - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Truble · 06-03-2007, 11:02 PM

Well i have to say this is the first time I have ever posted anything on the web but i need some input. I am 30 yrs old and have painted for 11 yrs. I have a very wide range of experience in commercial, residential, and production painting. I currently am considered an industrial painter and do alot of jobs for the military. The money is pretty good and i like the company I work for. I owned a painting bussines about 7 yrs ago and had to give it up for various reasons but I did very well. I am now married with 2 children and want to start my bussiness back up. I have moved to a larger city and have met realestate investors and various contractors who have asked of my service and I have refered them elsewhere because lack of time. I am hesitant to start bidding jobs and get them then having them interfere with my job. Should I just say screw it and quit my job start my bussiness or bid the jobs and if I get them call into work until Im fired? I am really confused on what to do.

If I quit my job my wife will probably loose her mind but I feel confident that we will do just fine, and i keep getting a funny feeling that i should be out there doing my own thing instead of giving away all that I know and have learned just for peanuts.

If someone can help I would greatly appreciate it..

send_it_all · 06-03-2007, 11:24 PM

It sounds like you have the experience you need to do the work, but that is actually a small part of being a contractor. If you are going to quit your job, do yourself and your family a big favor and go into it with your eyes wide open. You said you had your own business in the past....what was the reason that it failed? Have you addressed this problem? How good are your estimating skills?...do you have or intend to get a license, bond, liability insurance? Do you have enough operating capitol to advertise for and survive a slow first year? (this is critical).....How good are you at running your business...(not painting...running it)...This list could go on for pages, but really sit down and consider everything. Hopefully some more people will chime in on this to help you. Also, I think you should hang onto your job until you really get going. work on weekends, whatever it takes (short of calling in sick and being unproductive for your current employer...that would be very unfair to him/her)

mdshunk · 06-03-2007, 11:38 PM

http://www.100ktheeasyway.com/

http://www.paypiecework.com/

Richard · 06-04-2007, 05:21 AM

Took a double take when I saw this post. I read your other one on paint talk first, lol. So, I'll post it here as I feel it's good advice...

First read "The E Myth"
Second read "Run Your Business so it doesn't run you"

When you're done reading those, still have a job, still have a happy wife, and now have a great plan of attack-then decide whether or not to start the business again.

My point is that there is much more to starting/owning/running a business than just 'wanting' to maybe do it again. These books will show you that you can't do it all yourself and that a business is not a job, it's a business....and they will help you attack any ideas you have.

You can probably find them on www.amazon.com www.ebay.com or www.overstock.com

Good luck man, please read these books if you haven't already.

amauri · 06-04-2007, 11:55 AM

hey Rich.

I want to buy it but,which E-Myth you're talking about ?

Revisited or Contractor?

I want to know which one you read.

Thanks.

Richard · 06-04-2007, 12:25 PM

I have revisited...haven't read contractor although that one came first, lol

amauri · 06-04-2007, 04:16 PM

i've read some reviews on amazon and it looks like the people like the revisited better.

I,m gonna buy that one.

Thanks.

Dave Mac · 06-04-2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by send_it_all

It sounds like you have the experience you need to do the work, but that is actually a small part of being a contractor. If you are going to quit your job, do yourself and your family a big favor and go into it with your eyes wide open. You said you had your own business in the past....what was the reason that it failed? Have you addressed this problem? How good are your estimating skills?...do you have or intend to get a license, bond, liability insurance? Do you have enough operating capitol to advertise for and survive a slow first year? (this is critical).....How good are you at running your business...(not painting...running it)...This list could go on for pages, but really sit down and consider everything. Hopefully some more people will chime in on this to help you. Also, I think you should hang onto your job until you really get going. work on weekends, whatever it takes (short of calling in sick and being unproductive for your current employer...that would be very unfair to him/her)

very good advise

make sure you got enough cash flow, and line up work for a month or two before you dive in.

good luck

dirt diggler · 06-04-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truble

Should I just say screw it and quit my job start my bussiness

you don't have to have your own business to think like a businessman

"screw it and quit my job" is not good for business

do you have a savings at least built up that you could live on?? you won't get jobs overnight just starting out

heck - and once you do .... the well can always dry up.

Not sure what made you quit last time

BUT - if it had ANYTHING to do with the uncertainty, insecurity, unstable nature of owning a business, much less a contracting business -

then I would rethink the whole thing.

know what i mean?

Danahy · 06-04-2007, 05:54 PM

Do your estimates in the evening... It's busy season, so tell people you are booked for about 6 weeks... If they'll wait, and you have atleast a month of painting work lined up, it'd maybe risk selling the farm and go full time. You may even get booked out further than you think, allowing yourself time to give an appropriate notice to your current employer. That way should you need to go back, the door may still be open?...

If you're not comfortable with that, perhaps it's worth it to start back up doing weekend work... Doesn't make for a fun life, however there's low risk...

Brian · 06-04-2007, 06:35 PM

I agree about reading E-Myth Revisted. Do that before you do anything.

Then, develop a plan. Too many people jump into business without a plan, and then struggle for years to keep it going. I did it for more than 12 years, and once I started planning and then working the plan, things improved.

There are many ways to skin a cat, but the cat doesn't like it while it's going on. But if you have a plan, it can go a lot better for everyone involved (except maybe the cat).

Knowing how to paint isn't the issue. Knowing how to run a business is. I'm not a very good painter, but I've been in business for 20+ years. You don't have to be a good painter to have a successful painting business-- you do have to be a good businessman.

Brian Phillips

PressurePros · 06-04-2007, 06:37 PM

Rich, you have been reborn!

Richard · 06-05-2007, 05:05 AM

Ken

Yeah, I baptized myself with a 5 of Cabot's the other day.

No, actually I have listened to the successful guys in here and your advice. First I realized I can't possibly be successful doing every aspect of a business myself. Not to mention, I'd never get the houses I'm currently painting completed (in good time) by myself.

I try to be a humble guy and change when I need to- I grabbed some books, hired my first employee, got more focused and am focusing much farther into the future than before. Even if it's just us 2 for a while, I am determined to make us a well oiled machine. I felt instant relief the minute I realized all this too, big weight off the shoulders. Keep the great advice coming all!

PressurePros · 06-05-2007, 05:24 PM

Great job, man, it says a lot about your character. You need a certain degree of ego when it comes to business but too much and one can stay blind to things that help them improve. It sounds like you have it together. I look forward to hearing about your continued success.

BMAN · 06-05-2007, 05:29 PM

No matter what anyone asks tell em your always busy. When a customer calls your booking 4-6 weeks out and then if they say oh that won't work say you would be glad to take a look to see if you can squeeze them in. people like to feel like they got something they couldnt have. Always be thinking of next season during this season.
If you live where you can't paint all year then have an alternative (like a wife who has a good job) LOL, be ready to be humbled for a few years.

Brian · 06-05-2007, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMAN

No matter what anyone asks tell em your always busy. When a customer calls your booking 4-6 weeks out and then if they say oh that won't work say you would be glad to take a look to see if you can squeeze them in. people like to feel like they got something they couldnt have.

I may be wrong, but it sounds like you are advocating that we lie to our customers. "No matter what... tell em your always busy." If it's not true, it's a lie.

In my opinion, there is no greater sin in business than to lie. One lie begets another lie, and soon we forget the truth. It ruins our credibility and reputation, it severs our connection to reality, and it does nothing but create destruction.

My advice is: Always tell the truth, no matter how unpleasant. Customers can smell BS a mile away. They appreciate the truth, and it will differentiate you.

Brian Phillips

send_it_all · 06-05-2007, 07:50 PM

I would normally agree with you view on honesty, but I'm on the fence with this one...A contractor who isnt doing any work looks tainted in some way....I might not claim to be 6 weeks out, but I might say "let me check my schedule" or something other than "Thank God you called..I almost starved to death"!!!!

Brian · 06-05-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by send_it_all

I would normally agree with you view on honesty, but I'm on the fence with this one...A contractor who isnt doing any work looks tainted in some way....I might not claim to be 6 weeks out, but I might say "let me check my schedule" or something other than "Thank God you called..I almost starved to death"!!!!

Mike,

Saying "let me check my schedule" isn't dishonest. Saying "I'm booked 6 weeks out" is (if you aren't).

Certainly a contractor who has no work is tainted. But that's another issue.

We don't need to tell the customer everything, but we should never lie to him. I have holes in my schedule at times, and am happy when something comes along to fill it. But I don't lie to the customer-- I tell them I have a hole.

Even if that hole was 2 weeks or 4 weeks or forever, I would do the same. (My holes are usually a day or 2 because someone isn't ready for us.) The customer doesn't need to know how big the hole is, and I haven't lied.

This may seem like splitting hairs, but it isn't. A hole is a hole. But if we say we are booked for 6 weeks we imply that there is no hole. I have a problem with that.

I've been doing this 20+ years, and I've been in some tough situations. But one thing I have never done, and will never do, is lie to a customer (or anyone for that matter). That would only make matters worse.

I can deal with the truth, no matter how bad it may be. If my customer can't do the same, I don't want him for a customer.

Brian Phillips

lornmastro · 06-05-2007, 09:14 PM

I started my business...not knowing much about running a business...i soon got a big kick in the ass. Painting was the easy part running a business for me was not. so now i find myself busy painting and running my business while trying to learn the things i need to know to run a SUCESSFUL business;quickbooks,marketing plan, business plan.......I would read e-myth revisited and Paint contractors handbook and Get all your ducks in a row... learn all you need to know before you dive in. GOOD LUCK!!

Danahy · 06-05-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

Mike,

Saying "let me check my schedule" isn't dishonest. Saying "I'm booked 6 weeks out" is (if you aren't).

Certainly a contractor who has no work is tainted. But that's another issue.

We don't need to tell the customer everything, but we should never lie to him. I have holes in my schedule at times, and am happy when something comes along to fill it. But I don't lie to the customer-- I tell them I have a hole.

Even if that hole was 2 weeks or 4 weeks or forever, I would do the same. (My holes are usually a day or 2 because someone isn't ready for us.) The customer doesn't need to know how big the hole is, and I haven't lied.

This may seem like splitting hairs, but it isn't. A hole is a hole. But if we say we are booked for 6 weeks we imply that there is no hole. I have a problem with that.

I've been doing this 20+ years, and I've been in some tough situations. But one thing I have never done, and will never do, is lie to a customer (or anyone for that matter). That would only make matters worse.

I can deal with the truth, no matter how bad it may be. If my customer can't do the same, I don't want him for a customer.

Brian Phillips

Saying your booked for 6 weeks (when you're not) could be considered a lie...

...however, it's the delivery

"I'm booking new jobs six weeks out"

...