question for pro paint contractor

jeremy30 said:

what do i need to do to get started

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Read.

Spend about 3-4 days reading the tons of already posted info on this site. The info is out there for your taking. Browse around and try the search feature.

Then after reading your eyes tired, if you have any specific questions, post again. There's info posted on here by guys with decades of experience. You cannot expect someone to just lay it out in front of you in a single post.

One of the largest tasks you'll have as a business owner is researching answers to your questions. Now is a perfect time to teach yourself how to find the answers that are already out there so you don't have to rely on someone else. :thumbsup:

An important step is deciding what kind of paint contractor you want to be and doing some guestimate math to figure if the model you have is sustainable. One issue is licensing and liability.

I think most small time paint contractors get tagged for 1k - 1500 a year. More if your credit is bad. Bonding is also more expensive with bad credit.

You may find that your agent tells you that doing exterior painting will double your insurance cost.

You may also want to start by talking to an insurance agent that you don't intend to do business with so you can ask them all sorts of uncomfortable questions. Such as "if I set a house on fire will you send hit men to kill my family?" or more seriously questions like "What is your audit procedure, do you want to look at my books, what do my books need to look like?" Etc...

jeremy30 said:

i have been in the high end residential painting buissness for ten years from the bottom to foreman there is nothing i can not do i am running a seven man crew now on a 2 million dollar home and i make 18 an hour and 28 an hour spraying but am ready to go out on my own but have no idea about workmans comp and liability all i want to run is just a one man crew (myself) doing repaints remodels and exteriors what do i need to do to get started

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"Pat,I'd like to buy a period".

Here is my bit of advise.Read "Markup and Profit".....Twice.

jeremy30 said:

i have been in the high end residential painting buissness for ten years from the bottom to foreman there is nothing i can not do i am running a seven man crew now on a 2 million dollar home and i make 18 an hour and 28 an hour spraying but am ready to go out on my own but have no idea about workmans comp and liability all i want to run is just a one man crew (myself) doing repaints remodels and exteriors what do i need to do to get started

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Jump in its the only way.Make sure you have a little something before you quit. Make sure have some money to back up on in early times. Then think about making money and only making money. The managing, accountants, insurance and experiance will come later. Its an evolving process. Oh and you also have to think quality as well as price. Return business is big.:shutup: