Student Painters?

tribe_fan

My son is a college student and was thinking about doing Student Painting as an "owner". Fortunately I was able to talk him out of it, because I could envision him and his friends getting in over their heads, getting hurt or worse. My research into it raised a lot of red flags. Sounded more like Amway to me. I just couldn't see a two day training course preparing someone to Bid, manage a crew, and also teach someone how to properly train his friends to do a decent job, make a profit, and not kill themselves.

Is this legitimate ?

Thanks

slickshift

I know about College Pro Painters
http://www.collegepro.com/
They are "legit" but...

You pretty much summed it up right there

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Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

toddcla2002

I did this three years ago after my freshmen year in college. I think when it came down to it I made about $3 an hour....paid squat for wages. They have been around for a reason.....they are a legitimate business and aren't all bad. Personally at the time I didn't like them because of how little money I made and all the false promises etc. However the greatest lesson I learned is that no one cares for you and if you want to make something happen you have to do it! I also found a lot of room for improvement....their training was minimal....I learned a lot more on my own and took on jobs that I wasn't trained by them for and I still paid my ridiculous overhead on.

If anyone has specific questions I am familiar with three of the Student Painting companies and know how they operate fairly well.

In the short run I despised them....in the long run they do have some good business systems in place. After joining the PDCA, the local builders association and then operating a quarter million dollar business at the age of 21.....I can't complain about having my butt kicked in that type of experience.

~Todd

asbestos

What a crock of @#%&
(ask me how I really feel!)
They screwed me in college
The "owner" gets a flat % of all jobs the workers get paid there wage if they finish in the time allotted by the "owner" who bids the jobs. so of course he bids low to get the jobs (10% of something is better then 10% of nothing) and says "you all should be able to paint this whole house in 30 hours" so it takes you 60 doing a crappy job and in stead of making the $7.00 you make $3.50
this was AAA student painters
what a bunch of lowballing hacks.

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Ted Koppel

Woz the Painter

I know the ones around here offer a 5 year guarantee on exterior repaints. But talking to a kid who worked for one, he said the owner would put off or ignore customers who had call back complaints. And he said as others have previously mentioned, you never make anywhere near the money, promised going in.

George Z

Student Painters, College Pro, etc.
The whole concept is based on substandard work and poverty wages.
We had someone two years ago who used to run jobs for them.
He couldn't paint at all and he was the one training the rest.

To their employees,
They offer (I am para-phrasing) outdoor fun and a tan.
Money is like an afterthought.

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cutnroller

I have never seen quality out of any of the "student" painting companies in this area. Not blaming anyones particular abilities or skills, it just seems as if the lowball system leads to poor work and even poorer workers. Is poorer a word?

Anyways, cheers to anyone that picks up a brush and loves it, it's the only thing that will get you through a summer with these guys.

Grumpy

I think if you had one guy on staff who really knew what he was doing... why not?

Why do people hire student painters (called college painters here)? Because they are cheap, doing this on the side, and not supporting a family.

toddcla2002

When I did it people hired me because they:

1) Want to support college students through college.
2) Due to stereotypes of painters they are more comfortable with college students with aspirations and futures to do the work.
3) Have been burned in the past by paint contractors and are looking for someone to hold their hand and make them feel comfortable.

Some do have shotty work and some don't. It's essentially a franchise opportunity for a college student and you get out of it what you put into it. It all depends on the individual....this is a low risk opportunity to get your feet wet in the business world. You can run your portion however you want and they essentially got the layout taken care of: marketing, license, insurance, bond, reputation/name in the area (both good and bad), they will do and help with your accounting, payroll etc.

If you look at the numbers a very few of them make 20k in a Summer.....I did my second year and have since dropped out of school and operate a paint contracting business full time and am doing quite well.

Weather it's Student Painters or "Professional Painters" it really comes down to whom is doing the work and directing it and what there goals are.

I have done bids for homeowners that have several bids with some of the college companies. They have ranged from 40% less than mine to 40% above mine......now without knowing how sucessful either is.....the homeowner may still get a quality job. Just depends if the college kid is going for quantity or quality. I did the later and have since started my own company and built a reputation off of that.

Ok....I'm done now....

asbestos

I was in college, all they supported was some A-hole future enron type sleazebag

I know I need to let it go, I'm seeking help

__________________
You want absolutely security? You want to be totally protected against terrorism? I have a proposal for you: A one way ticket to Panmunjom in North Korea. Guarantee you, they have absolute security. You will have absolute protection against terrorism. There is no terrorism in North Korea except the terrorism, of course, that is wielded by the state itself. Because there is no privacy, there are no constitutional rights, there is no freedom. But you've got security.
Ted Koppel

ByDesignGuy

Especially the students who get burned. I too started this way. I think I made $2000 that summer because I did a couple of jobs on the side! These companies are actually selling franchises to inexperienced college kids (and I do not use that term lightly), under such marketing terms as "Manage this summer." This was the poster I had answered anyway.

I spoke with a student this spring that had signed up with College Pro, and he told me that CP was to get 23% or 25% off the top. Then the new "manager" was to pay for his paint, labor, and overhead. They make big promises, and do the easy math to show how one can make $15 to $25K in a summer.

The big push is to teach the "managers" to sell...sure they make their 25% off the top, of course they want them to sell.
Todd, a previous poster thinks they have a good business model. CRAP! They lie to unsuspecting student and do nothing for the customers.

Who looses? The homeowner, the student, painting students, as well as painters that run honest and good companies that want to do a good job, and be paid accordingly.

It would be interesting if the local papers got the real scoop on these guys instead of always runnng the story: "Local Student Paints the Town Red"

I too have a successful business out of this experience, but there are so many kids that just get taken.
Nick

KellyPainting

And not to mention.... We hire these kids later in life cuz they didn't make enough money to pay for school ... and they said they can paint and we throw money away for 2 months thinking they will come around and we have to fire them and start fresh with some new bozo's constantly throwing away payroll on people who say " I can cut a straight line"

Nathan

We have a company around here that uses a student type name but no longer uses students. They are an all sub business. Pretty funny.

Anyways, whenever I bid against these businesses I always tell the homeowner not to let anyone "learn" on their house.

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

cutnroller

ya same up here. i think it sucks that people get sucked into the "lets help a poor college student" thing. especially when its just a front. would you let a college student do your accounting, fix your car, do electrical work, administer drugs, or anything else just because they were a poor student? NO. so why hire them to paint your house?

bogus bogus bogus!

George Z

Interesting experiences with College Pro.
Mostly negative of course.

http://www.discovervancouver.com/for...C_ID=77125#top

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asbestos

Good busines model my ear.
They get there cut
the managers get a cut of the gross
and if you don't finish in thetime your managers estimate said you should, your working for free.
Since a % of something is better then a % of nothing the managers lowball to get jobs.



OK, OK, I will try another therapist

__________________
You want absolutely security? You want to be totally protected against terrorism? I have a proposal for you: A one way ticket to Panmunjom in North Korea. Guarantee you, they have absolute security. You will have absolute protection against terrorism. There is no terrorism in North Korea except the terrorism, of course, that is wielded by the state itself. Because there is no privacy, there are no constitutional rights, there is no freedom. But you've got security.
Ted Koppel

Woz the Painter

COllege Painters SUCK

cbrunz

Yes, you are right, they don't run a very good business. They are currently being sued by the OHIO state attorney general.

cbrunz

As the self proclaimed CP defender, I joined this site to offer some perspectives that some of you may not have. Although, as with any company who has anybody working with them, we have had some painters, Job Site Managers, and franchise owners, who have had a dissatisfactory experience, we do our best to make sure that all of our stakeholders are well protected, and have very positive experiences. On the customer side, College Pro Painters paints a good number of homes each year. We can boast a legitimate 97% customer satisfaction rating. We have a call center that contacts within 3 days, each homeowner after they have been painted, and asks them if they would recommend us. If they say no, then our people are required to go back out, and do what ever it takes to make our homeowners happy. Everyone from the painters, to the Vice President's are bonuses on this rating. WE DO CARE!. As far as the students are concerned, we are in the business of helping them realize potential that most of them don't get the opportunity to ever achieve. We have a program that has a very low failure rate, and most of our people never owe us any money, even if they don't do well. We also have the most comprehensive safety and regulations program in the industry. To my knowledge most painting contractors aren't aware of, or don't do a good job following most of the OSHA standards. At CPP, every painter is required to where safety harnesses (OSHA law) on any level (not on ladders) about 6'ft. We also follow all LEAD procedures including full body suits, masks, bootys, wash stations, Poly, and abadement. No bad for students! My guess is that 50% of the repaints are homes with lead (built before 1972), and that 90% of the painting contractors don't abide by the laws. As you can see, we DO have our act together, care about our students, and go as far or farther than any contractors, when it comes to taking care of our customers. I do feel that there are other rip off companies, that started from our idea, that give us a bad name, by not delivering quality to all of the stakeholders.
For the most part this form seems like a whine session from contractors who can't compete, or are upset with the competition that seems to be taking a lot of their work. I hope I am not offending anyone, but that is what is seems like. I welcome any other questions that I can bring perspective on.

Double-A

Doh! I knew there was a catch.