small painting business plan

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How to Start a Painting Business in 7 Steps

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There are few certainties in life besides death, taxes, and the inevitability of home renovations, which may be good news for you if you’re looking to start your own business. If you watch home improvement shows long enough, you’ll see that a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a home.

Not everyone has the patience or skill with a brush to do the job on their own, however. That’s why learning how to start a painting business can be a great opportunity to be your own boss and unleash your inner designer.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a first timer, starting a painting business can come with plenty of questions and considerations—some of which are unique to working in the home renovation industry. Some people start a painting business with little more than brushes, ladders, and a vehicle to carry it all. That isn’t necessarily the best move, however, as there are a heap of small business finances and licenses that you might need to keep your business above board (and, most importantly, protected against accidents).

Determining how to start a painting business doesn’t need to be a challenge, but there are a few considerations that you’ll have to address before hanging your shingle, throwing on your painter’s cap, and getting down to work. We’ll help you navigate the process of registering your business, setting up a business bank account, figuring out what licenses and insurance you need, and how to secure business financing if you need it.

5 reasons to start a painting business

There are tons of reasons why you might be curious about how to start a painting business: Overhead is relatively low, particularly compared to other trades, you don’t need to have a particularly specialized knowledge to get started, and you aren’t as limited by seasonal fluctuations as other trades are.

Here are five reasons why starting a painting business might appeal to you.

1. Getting started is easy

The barrier to entry for starting a painting business is low. Painters don’t usually have to go through the same kind of rigorous education and certification processes that other tradespeople, such as metalworkers or carpenters, do. This means you’ll be able to find employees that can start quickly, learn on the job, and may not be as expensive to hire as in other parts of the industry. And, if you plan to do the work yourself, you won’t have to spend time (and money!) going through preparatory classes. It’s not a bad idea to take a continuing education class to learn the finer points of painting homes, but if you’re already well-versed, you should be fine to get started without one.

Another great reason to start a painting business is its flexibility. You can work as many or as few jobs as you want. This is particularly true if you opt to do painting work seasonally. There’s a reason for jokes about teachers being house painters in the summer—it’s a great way to put a little extra money in your pocket when your regular job (or other contract work) is slow or out-of-season. And, with most businesses, you can get started without needing a ton of paperwork to register your business. Small business insurance may be another story, though, and we’ll cover that later on.

2. Startup and overhead costs are low

Operating a painting business also requires less expensive equipment than other fields. Instead of having to stock up on power tools, welding equipment, plumbing supplies, or other overhead-heavy materials, you can get started with little more than brushes and ladders. Other equipment, such as scaffolding and paint sprayers, can come later once you’ve recouped your startup expenses. Plus, upgrading your materials over time can help pay for itself, as you’ll be able to work more efficiently and take on additional jobs.

If you end up having enough business to require an additional set of hands to get things done, you won’t likely have to spend a ton on staff, either. Unlike other trades, such as carpentry and plumbing, there is less of a learning curve involved in learning how to paint houses. This means you won’t have to necessarily spend as much on staff as you would for more skilled tradespeople. Granted, this may not be true for every market, but the national average salary for painters is almost $38,000 versus a plumber’s salary, which is just above $57,000.

3. Clients pay more for specialized painting skills

There’s a big difference between putting a new coat of paint on the side of a house and creating a German smear-style coat on a brick wall. The more specialized your painting skills get, the more you can charge for your services. These techniques may take a little longer to hone, but learning specialized painting styles and techniques could help you make major bank if you invest the time in learning them.

The proliferation of home renovation shows has made even the most DIY-averse property owners attuned to the world of unique looks and decorating styles. This trend could be a huge asset for your business and provide you with a competitive edge. Plus, some niche services, such as historically accurate painting, can mean major contracts for your business.

Most communities have strict rules about what colors (and painting methods) people can use on historical homes, and you can be one of the businesses that offer these services. You could also branch out into related tasks, such as wallpapering, which opens up avenues for growth for your business.

4. Painting businesses are in demand

The painting industry grew 4.2% from 2014 to 2019, employing more than 500,000 people according to current figures. The industry is also worth about $43 billion as well. What does all of this mean for you if you’re looking at starting a painting business? Well, in short, it means that you’d be in pretty high demand.

If you live or work in an area where the real estate market is hot, you may also be able to get in on the action by starting a painting business that works alongside home flippers. Real estate investors need home improvement work done on short order, and are usually happy to work with a reliable partner across several projects. Find a flipper who needs painting services, and you might just have yourself your first long-term client. This can help you establish positive cash flow and get your business off the ground—particularly if you can harness the power of word-of-mouth advertising.

5. You get to be your own boss

This perk might be self-evident if you’re looking to start your own painting business, but it bears repeating. One of the biggest benefits of becoming an entrepreneur is setting your own schedule, building your business the way you want to, and setting the hours you want to keep. For many, that’s a huge benefit to consider when you want to know how to start a painting business, as well as just about any other kind of small business endeavor.

Granted, that also means getting your hands dirty with financial, legal, and regulatory issues—often without much help from other people if you’re starting off on your own. Painting businesses may be subject to fewer rules and restrictions than, say, an HVAC company, but there are still hurdles to clear for any business—particularly with regard to registering your business and getting set up with a business bank account.

How to start a painting business: The basics

You’re primed and ready to start your painting business (sorry, we couldn’t resist that one). Whether you’ve already thought about your strategy to enter the market or haven’t made it past the concept stage, there are plenty of factors and next steps that you’ll want to take on if you’re going to give your company the best chance at success that you can. Here are a few business basics to consider when starting your painting business, in order of operations.

Draft a business plan

You may not think that starting a painting business would mean drafting a business plan, but there are a ton of advantages to doing your homework in this regard. Plus, your business plan doesn't need to be overly complex or detailed—it can be a long or short as you want, so long as it covers a few basic elements. Don’t be overwhelmed by the idea of having to put pen to paper (or letters to screen, as it were): The best business plan is iterative, as it changes and grows alongside your business and its needs.

A good business plan empowers you with a roadmap for how you build your company, as well as a set of guiding principles once you're up and running. Owners of successful businesses are usually short on time, which means you might not have a ton of mental bandwidth to take on big-picture strategy development tasks when you’re in the middle of juggling jobs, balancing the books, and collecting invoices. A good business plan helps you stay on track when staying afloat becomes a full-time job.

Get your business registered

Got your business proposal in the bag? Great. Now the real fun begins. By fun, we mean paperwork (to each their own, right?). Running a small business that’s protected from accidents, legal trouble, or any kind of unforeseen incidents with the IRS means filing paperwork and covering your assets. Registering your painting business is perhaps the crucial events in your business’s life, too.

It’s important to register your business—and choose the right kind of business entity—because of the liability protections and tax implications that come with each of the options out there. Depending on where you live, you may be able to set up a sole proprietorship without even needing to file paperwork. Although this is the most expedient option, it also puts you at the most personal risk if something goes wrong.

Most painting businesses can get by with a limited liability corporation (LLC) or limited liability partnership (LLP). There are several varieties of both, each designed to accommodate different business structures. Some LLCs are designed as a pass-through entity for individual owners or partners. These allow you to keep your personal assets separate from those of your business, and even allow you to file your business taxes through your own personal returns.

Other corporation types, such as S-Corps and C-Corps, involve a bit more paperwork and logistics, and require you to file business taxes separately from your own return. As with all matters legal, be sure to get in touch with a lawyer before making a decision.

Purchase insurance and get licenses

Some municipalities require painting businesses to be insured and licensed, while others may not. In all states except Texas, for example, employers are required to get workers compensation insurance. Even if you’re not required to do one or both of these steps, it’s in your best interest to get both in most cases. Some types of small business insurance will help cover you and your employees in the event of an accident while on the job, as well as financial support in the event of a lawsuit or legal issue. Your coverage will depend on the kind of policy you purchase, and there are a variety of options out there from which you can choose.

Most areas will require a business license for you to do professional painting work legally. These rules are typically enacted and enforced on a state and local level. Therefore there’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation here, as your location is likely to have its own unique rules. You’ll want to make sure you’re fully licensed and on the right side of local laws before you start working. Without proper licensure, you may find yourself on the wrong side of the law and incur penalties for working without the right permits. Again, this is where a lawyer’s expert advice can come in handy.

Set up a business bank account

Once you’ve gotten your business officially on the books with the local or state governments, you’ll want to open a business checking account to keep your personal and business finances separate. This is a crucial step in the business startup process: If you don’t route your business’s money through a business bank account, you run the risk of leaving your personal assets up for grabs if your business goes under or gets sued.

The good news is that it’s easy to set up a business bank account. Most brick-and-mortar banks will let you start the process online and finish at a local branch. There are a growing number of online-only business banks that allow you to register for a business bank account online without needing to step foot in a bank. These banks won’t work for businesses that conduct most of their transactions in cash, though, since these options offer no ATMs where you can deposit greenbacks. If you anticipate doing most of your business in cash, you may want to stick with a more typical business bank account.

How to start a painting business: The financials

Even though the startup costs involved in starting a painting business are relatively low, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have the cash on hand to pay for everything you need to get started or grow your business. There are some compelling opportunities to get the cash you need, though—primarily through loans and zero-interest credit cards. Here are your options for what you can borrow in order to start your painting business.

Get an equipment financing loan

Equipment financing loans can be a great option for people who are looking to start a painting business. These loans function differently than your typical bank term loan: instead of requiring you to put up collateral in order to get the money you need, equipment financing loans allow you to borrow the amount of cash you need to make a specific purchase. Most equipment loan lenders will ask you what you’re looking to buy and a price quote from a vendor. If approved, they’ll loan you the total cost of the equipment in exchange for repayment over a certain period of time, plus interest. What you purchase serves as the loan’s collateral, meaning that the lender will sell what bought with the loan in the event that you can’t pay what you owe.

Get a small business term loan

When you think of a conventional bank loan, you’re likely envisioning a small business term loan. These loans are given out by banks to creditworthy borrowers. They require repayment on a predetermined schedule, and come with fixed or fluctuating interest rates depending on the way the loan is set up. Business term loans can be a great option for business owners that have strong personal credit, a track record of repaying business loans, and a robust business plan. Note that small business term loans are usually difficult for first-time entrepreneurs to get, so you may not be as likely to get money through these means if you haven’t already developed a track record through prior business loans.

Get a 0% intro business credit card

If banks aren’t open to lending your business money and you can’t pinpoint a specific purchase that you need the loan to complete, you aren’t completely out of options. Getting a 0% intro APR business credit card can give you access to cash with no interest payments, so long as you use your card properly. This option lets you buy what you need to get started while avoiding interest payments during the 0% APR period. This may even be better than a loan in some circumstances as a result.

Bear in mind that you have to pay your balance off in full before the introductory period expires—otherwise you’re on the hook for interest payments on top of your credit card balance.

The bottom line

Being your own boss by starting a painting business can be a rewarding experience, particularly if you’re not averse to getting your hands dirty (metaphorically and literally). With a little bit of paperwork, cash, and drive, you can get your business scaled up and ready for primetime without having to move mountains.

So long as you’ve set yourself up for success with the right business structure, licenses, insurance, and strategy, your paint rollers should be, well, ready to roll.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

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WHY YOU NEED A BUSINESS PLAN FOR YOUR PAINTING COMPANY

Time spent thinking strategically about all aspects of your painting business will help you save time and money—and increase your chances for success.

Q: “Why Do I Need a Business Plan to Start a Painting Company?”

Business plan sections:.

• Executive Summary: This first section should describe the core of what your company is, its mission, what you’re selling, your business objectives and how you will measure success and eventually grow. You can dive deeper into this initial thinking in our guide to naming your painting business .
• Company Description: This section should provide detailed information about your company: Who owns it? Where is it located? Do you have employees? What problem will your company solve? Do you have any competitive advantages? Who will your customers be?
• Services Offered: Beyond painting interiors and exteriors, what specialty services do you offer? Is there a particular skill set or specialized focus worthy of promoting that can differentiate your business? “Consider a specialty like decorative, decks, restoration, plaster repair. There's less competition, so you can stand out more,” explains Tony Severino of Professional Painters in La Grange, Illinois. “A specialty of ours is painting kitchen cabinets, and people will pass our name around for that.
• Competitive Market Analysis: Learning about your immediate market is an ongoing endeavor. Consider these questions: Who are your main competitors, and roughly how much business do they handle? How are you different from, and hopefully better than, them? Do you see any market themes or trends? Where is there an unmet need in your market that you can fill?
• Strategy and Implementation Summary: This section explains how you will deliver the services you’ve outlined above. How will you roll out your services for launch? How will you attract business to your new company? How will you execute on that work?
• Management Summary and Staffing: In this section, don’t worry about years down the road—focus on what you need now to get off the ground. If you haven’t already, this is a good time to decide whether your business structure will be classified as an LLC, an S-corporation or a partnership. Are you doing all the work yourself for the time being? Do you have a business partner or a family member or friend who’s helping you out? Do you have subcontractors you’ll bring in and manage or part-time or full-time employees you’ll hire to help run your small business?
• Financial Plan and Growth: Being prepared is key to maximizing your success. Consider the following: What will it cost to launch your new business? What financial resources do you need, and will you need a loan from family or a bank? How do you plan to expand beyond your existing customer base, and how will you manage that additional work as well as the additional expenses involved? If you get more business than you can manage, how will you handle that? How will you weather business continuity challenges, like storms or pandemics?

Q: “What Are the Key Components of a Business Plan?”

Q: “What if I Don’t Have a Business Plan?”

- Randy Benton, Director of Intech Coating Systems

Q: “Whom Can I Ask for Help with My Business Plan?”

Set an Alert

Set a calendar reminder to revisit your business plan six months from when you create it. Make updates and check your progress at that time.

Q: “What if My Business Plan Changes Over Time?”

Q: “who is my business plan for”, remember: a business plan will help your painting business succeed.

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How to start a successful painting business.

If you have a knack for home improvement, you may be looking to turn that skill into a full-fledged business. One opportunity is to offer interior and exterior painting services. With the right business tools, you can learn how to start a painting business as soon as you’re ready.

But what if you’ve never considered the logistics of running a painting business? Do you know how to start making a name for yourself in the home improvement industry?

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn some of the most important steps to establishing a strong painting business from day one. By committing to an informed and practical plan, you can become a full-time painting business owner whenever you’re ready!

Here’s What We’ll Cover:

What Does a Painting Business Do?

8 Steps to Starting a Painting Company

Why should you start a painting business, mistakes to avoid when starting a painting company, accounting tips for painting service businesses, start your profitable painting business today, related businesses to painting, what does a painting business do .

A painting business primarily offers interior and exterior painting services to homeowners, individuals, or businesses. Skilled technicians are trained to complete different types of painting projects that range from simple to complex. 

Painting businesses also complete specialty and customized projects based on need. More unique painting assignments might require specialized skills, equipment, materials, and additional help to complete. In these scenarios, the painting company would facilitate each aspect of the custom project from start to finish.

In addition to doing the actual work of painting, most businesses provide complementary services related to the job at hand. This includes any necessary prep work (such as priming or sanding), protecting nearby surfaces, performing clean up after a job, and ensuring the proper ventilation throughout the assignment.

Types of Painting Businesses

Painting companies can choose to specialize in a particular area. Specializing in one niche allows both the business owner and hired staff members to fine-tune their skills and spend time on the projects that are most rewarding or profitable. Picking a niche for your painting business often comes down to your personal knowledge and skill set.

Some of the most common types of painting service businesses include:

• House painting services: Residential painting is a common need for homeowners. The work may include interior walls or exterior siding. House painting can include both new and existing construction.
• Commercial paint services: This type of company caters to large commercial properties with higher square footage. Projects are usually less focused on customization and more focused on paint coverage.
• Industrial paint services: Industrial painting is an option for businesses looking to get involved with large, construction-related projects. This can also include civil engineering assignments with roadways, bridges, and public places.
• Speciality design or fine arts painters: These painting companies offer a unique set of artistic services. Go this route if you’re interested in murals, interior design, or highly decorative paint projects.

As you can see, there are many options for starting a company based on your own unique skills and interests. Additionally, there’s also a considerable need for each specialty painting niche. Now, the next thing you need to do is make a plan to get started as an official business.

In the sections below, we’ll break down the eight simple steps you can follow to learn how to start a painting business quickly and efficiently.

1. Choose a Professional Name for Your Business

As a service provider, you need to begin thinking about potential names for your small business. Brainstorm ideas that are both engaging and professional. Since your business name is the first impression that customers will have of your business, you want to choose something memorable that still communicates your level of skill and knowledge.

Will you name your company something personal involving your own first and last name, or will you try to think outside of the box? Look up competing companies in your area to make sure that a more generic name isn’t already taken. You’ll also need to avoid any situations with a name that’s already in use or legally trademarked.

Once you have an official business name, you can begin to work on other more exciting steps. This includes things like your website, business cards, social media profiles, and any other outlet that a customer might use to find out about you.

2.  Get Licensing and Tax Paperwork in Order

No matter where you operate your business, chances are high that your local city, county, or state has regulations for new businesses to follow. The process to become an official local business might involve several important activities, including:

• Paying relevant administrative or legal fees
• Filing for an official business license at the local level
• Submitting what’s required to obtain an employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS for tax purposes
• Establishing your company as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company (LLC)

In some states, you might also need to file for a contractor’s license. Although this may not apply if you’re choosing to focus on small-scale, DIY-type painting projects, you’ll typically need this special license if you’re involved with any new construction. To secure this license, you may need to register for courses, take an exam, and pay fees in order to be compliant.

3. Open Separate Business Banking Accounts

When you first open for business, it could be tempting to pay for your expenses out of pocket and to transfer earned income directly into your own account. If you want to become a legitimate business, however, you should aim to separate personal and business-related finances as much as possible. Not only can this step protect you in the event of losses and debt, but it can also create more visibility into how your small business is performing.

When you do open a business checking and savings account, ask your banking institution about special incentives or offers. Many times, these options are available to help new entrepreneurs make a strong financial foundation. At the same time, you can inquire about a business credit card or a separate line of credit for expenses and startup costs.

Although it could seem cumbersome to manage and watch over another set of accounts, there are many benefits to having this structure. 

For instance, you can usually connect an account to your accounting or payroll software. This will make it easy to avoid manual uploading, and it also drastically reduces the time you’ll have to dedicate to maintaining the books. 

4. Set up a Professional Website

In today’s culture, future customers are turning to online outlets to do research on local businesses before they reach out. This means that you need to be prepared to handle that online traffic and to provide a strong first impression for potential clients.

When it comes time to establish the online presence for your business, consider the following outlets as a way to get your venture seen:

• A professional and user-friendly website that’s cohesive and straightforward
• Social media profiles on the most popular channels, such as Facebook or Instagram
• Company profiles on local review sites like Yelp or Angie’s List
• A LinkedIn business page for employees to leverage as your small business grows 
• An optimized Google listing with important contact information

Research shows that 88% of local customers perform online searches before they decide to contact a local business for their needs. This staggering statistic underscores the importance of having an optimized presence online. 

Since potential clients can also use online searches and platforms to get in touch directly for a job, it’s crucial that your company’s contact information is accurate and readily accessible online.

5. Secure Funding for Business Purchases

One of the most important questions you’ll need to answer when starting your business is, “How do I plan to fund my startup costs and initial purchases?” If you can’t or don’t need to bootstrap everything from your own personal assets, don’t worry. There are many other options available to help you get started.

One of those options involves securing a small business loan. There are both federal and private options for doing so, and you can usually start your painting company with a small loan amount at first. Financing only what you need for equipment and other startup costs will make paying down the loan in a timely manner much simpler as your business starts to earn money. 

Keep in mind that to get a loan from a local institution or federal program, you may need to have an official business plan available to share. A business plan document usually highlights your intentions for running the business and plans for profitability. In addition to knowing your baseline loan amount, you can create an advantage by having your official plan ready.

6. Make Staffing Decisions and Hire Help

Although many small businesses, including painting companies, begin as one-person operations, that’s not always the case. The number of people you decide to have on your team can influence how much new work you’re able to accept at a given time. It’s therefore important that you decide how many people you’d like to hire when you open for business.

If you do plan to have a team of employees, you must make important decisions regarding how you’ll accept applications, conduct interviews, and eventually hire new staff members. What qualifications do you want to see on individual resumes? Will you set aside time to check personal references or run background checks? 

Hiring the right people can certainly expand your potential business opportunities, but it also adds to your responsibilities as a painting contractor. 

Consider important tasks that will be associated with managing human resources, payroll, taxes, and benefits. Your employees will also rely on you to consistently generate new business opportunities so that they can continue to complete work hours and receive regular pay.

7. Run Marketing Campaigns to Attract Clients

Marketing and advertising always begins with an understanding of the type of customer you want to reach. In your painting business, are you more focused on helping individuals or other businesses? How does this change your marketing and advertising strategy?

Your marketing and advertising campaigns should always serve two purposes: To increase awareness about your brand and to get a steady stream of incoming job leads. If you’re unsure about whether your efforts are accomplishing these things, it may be a good idea to speak with a business advisor or consultant to create a plan of attack. 

With a painting business, future clients may want to see the following ideas come through in your marketing tactics:

• Trustworthiness (can they rely on you to complete the job?)
• Affordability (how do you compare to other similar companies?)
• Skill and precision (what is the quality of your work?)
• Availability (how quickly do you follow-up on questions and complete the job?)

As a painting contractor, you don’t need to invest tons of money in marketing in order to get more clients. Sometimes word-of-mouth is enough to get some new clients through your door. Whether you offer house painting, commercial painting, or some other painting service, grassroots marketing can be a good way to grow your business from the ground up.

8. Gather Client Testimonials 

Once you have several completed projects under your belt, it’s always a good idea to ask for testimonials, reviews, and feedback surveys. As long as your customers are happy with the finished product, you can ask them to review and rate their experiences. 

Additionally, you should ask permission to snap pictures of completed projects, particularly if you’re working in a private residence. You can add these images to your website or social media profiles to show off the quality of your work to potential clients or website visitors. Gradually, this builds an online portfolio that highlights the best examples of your work.

To take this one step further, you can also develop a referral program for past and future clients. You can do this by offering a discounted rate on any future contract when customers refer another customer to your services. These programs tend to generate customer loyalty and can encourage word-of-mouth marketing that helps your business grow.

There are many good reasons why you should consider starting a paint company, particularly if this is an area that interests you or if you have in-demand skills. 

In general, painting businesses have lower startup costs than other business opportunities, and it’s a service that alleviates physical work and maintenance for other people. As a result, this is an in-demand skill that people will pay for in order to save their own resources, and effort.

Additionally, starting a business allows you to:

• Use your creativity and self-expression to produce high-quality paint projects
• Earn a full-time income while working a flexible, and perhaps even reduced, schedule
• Learn more about basic business operations and management
• Provide employment for other skilled laborers with tangible services to offer

Starting a business also allows you to think big and to consider opportunities for future growth. For instance, you could start to offer more customizable services, like wallpapering or interior design. If you establish your business and wish to expand, there are also opportunities to secure an outside investment or participate in franchising. 

Are There Any Downsides to Starting a Painting Business?

As a business owner, it’s important not to let the potential challenges discourage your growth or hinder your goals. After all, everyone faces learning opportunities at some point. There are, however, a few considerations you should keep in mind with your new painting venture.

Some of the potential challenges for new painting business owners include:

• The physically demanding nature of the labor and work
• The amount of local competition from previously established business
• The seasonal nature of some of the projects you get
• The upkeep of tools and equipment, which may need frequent replacing
• The need to make adjustments and updates based on your clients’ opinions

By understanding these challenges before you start, you can make a practical plan for tackling these issues before you notice them.

Preparation is essential if you want to avoid making some common mistakes in the early days of your painting business. Now that you have some clear and easy rules to follow, it’s also helpful to know where some business owners get stuck.

Here are a few mistakes to avoid when starting your new painting business:

• Hiring inexperienced team members: Painting is a trade that relies on precision, attention to detail, and even speed. When you hire new team members, make sure you know what kind of work they perform. Trained staff members reflect your entire business, so make sure to guarantee that work is up to par.
• Failing to plan for contingencies: Working directly with customers can involve many nuances and surprises. How will you handle the times when a customer is not satisfied with a painting project? Develop clear policies so that you can respond with understanding and professionalism.
• Having an inaccurate method for expense tracking: In this type of business, you’ll need to keep stock of lots of small pieces of equipment and materials. These are items that can end up costing you a significant amount, especially if you lose track of them or go through supplies quickly. Carefully monitor all expenses so that you can calculate your overhead and even write off eligible business costs on your tax statements. 

In your new painting business, it’s never too early to get a jump start on establishing healthy accounting practices. Making this a priority from day one can help you avoid costly mistakes and issues down the line. Digital accounting software can also provide an easy-to-learn solution for common accounting frustrations.

When handling the accounting procedures of your new painting business, here are three primary areas that you should focus on:

• Estimating: Knowing how to estimate a painting contract is crucial to get new business deals and sign clients. This process includes everything from scheduling an onsite visit, to calculating the price of materials, to factoring in extra costs like labor, liability insurance, paint, job materials, etc. Proper estimating keeps you on track with your financial goals.
• Invoicing: Invoicing is the primary method that you’ll use to bill your clients. Since maintaining your business expenses and payroll might depend on how quickly you receive payment, choosing the right business invoicing software can be critical. Platforms like FreshBooks allow you to create easy templates that get quick results.
• Tax paperwork: Maintaining detailed lists of expenses, revenue, overhead, and financial records is essential. When it’s time to file taxes, you’ll be thankful to have some of the hard work behind you. You can store many of these files in your accounting system so that they are easily accessible and shareable. 

Are you eager to turn your knowledge and abilities into a new career? With a blueprint to follow, taking the first steps should be simple. By crossing off some of the most necessary to-dos, you can focus on what really matters.

As you hire your first team members and sign your first clients, remember that success comes in stages. Every completed business goal is a milestone on the way to bigger ambitions. By sticking to your business values—even in the more challenging times—you can build longevity and profitability.

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How to Start a Successful Painting Company

• Small Business
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How to make my business logo work on facebook, starting a painting business.

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The commercial painting industry encompasses painting homes and businesses, both interior and exterior. In either case it's perfectly possible to get started for under $2,000, making painting a good option for budding entrepreneurs with limited resources. Painting the exterior of buildings requires the use of larger brushes, sprayers and equipment such as ladders and scaffolding, while interior painting requires the use of rollers, smaller brushes and attention to detail.

Develop a Business Plan

Write a business plan for your painting company. Start with the purpose of your painting business. List your goals and any products or services you plan to offer your clientele. Describe how your business will differ from the other painting businesses in your area. Research your competition and project your income.

Determine how much money you will need to start your new business and how long you can expect to run your business before you hit a break-even point and start to profit from your painting. No matter which type of painting you specialize in, you will be required to purchase equipment. Having money to back you financially will help you get started.

Choose a Name

Name your painting company. Choose a name to represent your business and use it on all company methods of communication. Register your painting company's name with your secretary of state office. Fees vary depending on the state in which you file.

Organize and License Your Business

Before you begin doing business with the public, you'll need to organize, license and insure your business:

• Create a legal business for your painting company by registering it with the state. 
• Visit the Internal Revenue Service website to obtain a federal employer identification number for business tax filing purposes. 
• Visit your city government offices to determine any required licensing or certification required for your painting business to operate in your area. 
• Speak with an insurance agent to obtain insurance for your new painting business. 
• Contact a lawyer if you require assistance drawing up contracts to protect your business legally before you enter a place to begin painting. 
• Hire an accountant to prepare your financial reports and tax paperwork at the end of the year.

Select a Location

Pick a base of operations for your painting company. This can either be a shop at your home or a building that you lease or purchase. Keep all records related to the business location for tax purposes. If you choose a location outside of the home, ensure that it meets your basic painting requirements, such as including a place to wash out your brushes, test and mix colors and is large enough to store your equipment.

Hire Workers for Your Business

Hire painters. As your business grows, you will find yourself needing more time to prepare bids and paperwork to obtain new business and will require some quality workers to help you out with your business.

Develop a Marketing Plan

Advertise your business in your community and surrounding communities:

• Use the phone book, newspaper and word of mouth to advertise your new painting business. 
• Set up a business Facebook page, and ask all of your friends and family to Like it and Share it with everyone on their friends list. 
• Hand out business cards to keep your name in front of people for when they have a new project to do. 
• Start a website to advertise your business contact information online, and post galleries of projects that you have completed on your Facebook page or Instagram.

Things You Will Need

Paint brushes

Paint Trays

• Entrepreneur.com: Business Ideas -- House Painting
• U.S. Small Business Administration: Register Your Business
• Internal Revenue Service: Employer ID Numbers (EINs)

Amanda Long has been freelance writing since 2010. Specializing in technology, crafts and business practices, her articles appear on eHow and Answerbag. Long has also been published in user-training manuals. Long holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing and business management from Northwest Missouri State University.

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Painting Business Plan

Painting is a business that never goes off-trend. There will always be homes and offices that need renovation and some painting magic. So, it is a profitable business option for anyone ready to get into this colorful affair.

Your industry expertise and painting knowledge may help you get started with a new business, but you need a detailed business plan to succeed.

Need help writing a business plan for your painting business? You’re at the right place. Our painting business plan template will help you get started.

How to Write a Painting Business Plan?

Writing a painting business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce Your Business:

• This section may include the name of your painting business, its location, when it was founded, the type of painting business (E.g., commercial painting, residential painting, industrial painting), etc.

Market Opportunity:

Products and services:.

• For instance, interior painting, exterior painting, and maintenance & repair can be included as services, and specialty finishes and pressure washing can be some of your USPs.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business description:

• Residential painting
• Commercial painting
• Industrial painting
• Decorative or specialty painting
• Exterior painting
• Describe the legal structure of your painting company, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.
• Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.

Mission statement:

Business history:.

• Additionally, If you have received any awards or recognition for excellent work, describe them.

Future goals:

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

• For instance, residential homeowners, commercial property owners, and real estate agents/developers can be an ideal target audience for a general painting business.

Market size and growth potential:

Competitive analysis:, market trends:.

• For instance, tech-driven solutions like virtual consultation and 3D visualization are becoming the norm, explain if you have any plans on implementing these technologies into your business.

Regulatory environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your commerical or house painting business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

Painting services:

Mention the painting services your business will offer. This list may include services like,

• Interior painting
• Deck and fence painting
• Specialty coating
• Paint/coating removal, and more.

Describe each service:

• The color consultation service, for instance, provides expert advice and guidance on choosing the right colors, finishes, paints, coatings, etc.

Quality assurance:

• This may include overseeing the inspection and preparatory processes, choosing materials wisely, quality control checks, following industry standards, etc.

Additional services:

In short, this section of your painting plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique selling proposition (USP):

• For example, specialized expertise, high-quality workmanship and competitive pricing could be some of the great USPs for a general painting company.

Pricing strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your painting business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your painting business, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & training:

Operational process:, equipment & machinery:.

• Explain how these pieces of equipment help you maintain quality standards and improve the efficiency of your business operations.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your painting business’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founder/CEO:

Key managers:.

• It should include, key executives, senior management, and other department managers and supervisors involved in the business operations, including their education, professional background, and any relevant experience in the painting industry.

Organizational structure:

Compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

• So, if you have any advisors or consultants, include them with their names and brief information consisting of roles and years of experience.

This section should describe the key personnel for your painting services, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

• This exercise will help you understand how much revenue you need to generate to sustain or be profitable.

Financing needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

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9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the painting industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your painting business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

This sample painting business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful painting plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our painting business plan pdf.

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a painting business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful painting business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your painting company.

How to get funding for your painting business?

There are several ways to get funding for your painting business, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

Small Business Administration (SBA) loan

Crowdfunding, angel investors.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your painting business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your painting business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your painting business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any painting business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software.

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We have plenty of  free business planning resources  available to help you with your planning. You can download our resources to learn all about business planning.

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A Step-By-Step Guide To Starting Your Own Painting Business

Deanna deBara

One industry that never goes out of style? Home improvement. People are always going to be looking to update and improve their homes, offices, and other properties—which creates a lot of opportunities for businesses that can help them make those updates and improvements.

And one of the most common improvements people look to make to their properties? Painting.

A fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space—and people are willing to pay professional painters a lot of money for that transformation. If you have painting experience and are thinking about starting a new business, getting into the painting industry could be a way to start your path to entrepreneurship, become a small business owner, and build a thriving, sustainable company.

But how, exactly, do you build a successful painting business from the ground up? Let’s take a look at the step-by-step process for starting your own painting business.

Is Starting A Painting Business A Good Idea—And Is It Profitable?

First things first—before we jump into how to start a painting business, let’s quickly touch on whether breaking into the painting industry is a good (and profitable!) idea.

And the answer is—it depends.

Opening a new painting company certainly can be a solid business idea—and an idea that can drive a significant amount of revenue. But whether it’s a good and profitable idea for you depends on a variety of factors, including:

• Experience. While you don’t need decades of experience to start a painting company, you do need to know the basics of how to paint—and be able to do a professional job for your customers.
• Market. The market where you’re launching your painting business will also play into how good/profitable of an idea it ultimately is. For example, if your market already has 10 other painting companies, it’s going to be a lot harder to turn a profit than it would be if you were the only paint operation in town.
• Marketing. As a business owner, your ability to make a profit is directly related to your ability to successfully market your business—and that includes in the painting industry.

Before you make the leap into the world of professional painting, it’s important to evaluate the different factors at play—and make sure that starting a painting business is a viable business idea with plenty of profit potential.

And once you make that decision and decide to move forward? Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get your business off the ground.

Figure Out What Type Of Painting Business You Want To Start

“Painting” is a broad term; there are so many different niches and specialties within the painting industry. So, before you get too far into planning and launching your business, the first step in the process?

Figuring out what type of painting business you want to start.

For example, you might decide you want to start a house painting business and specialize in residential properties, helping homeowners with both interior and exterior painting projects. Or you might decide you want to focus on commercial painting, tackling large-scale painting jobs for office buildings, restaurants, and other commercial properties in your area.

Whatever type of painting company you want to start, it’s important to establish your niche from the beginning; that way, you can adjust your business strategy (for example, who to hire and how to market your business) accordingly.

Create A Business Plan 

Every successful business starts with a business plan—and that includes painting businesses. So, once you’ve established what type of painting company you want to create, the next step in the process is creating a plan for how to get your company off the ground.

Your business plan is like a roadmap; it helps you figure out how to get from where you are now (a budding business owner with an idea) to where you’re trying to go (an established small business owner with a thriving painting company).

But what, exactly, does that roadmap need to include? Your plan should include all relevant information about starting and growing your business (the more detail, the better!), including:

• Business Name. What are you going to name your business—and how is that name going to stand out in your market?
• Target Market. Who are your target customers? What are their painting needs? How are they currently getting those needs met (for example, through competitors or through taking the DIY route to painting)?
• Competitor Analysis. Who are your big players in your area’s paint market? What kind of presence do they have in the market? And how are you going to differentiate yourself from those competitors and show your target customers that you’re the paint company they should work with?
• Equipment And Supply Needs. What kind of painting equipment and supplies do you need from the get-go—and what kind of equipment and supplies will you need once you start booking paint jobs? 
• Startup Costs. What are your startup costs? Where are you going to get the capital to fund getting your business off the ground?
• Services And Pricing Structure. What painting services is your business going to offer—and how are you going to price those services? For example, are you going to charge clients by the hour or by the project?
• Operational Strategy. How are you planning to operate and manage your business ?
• Staffing Needs. Who do you need to hire in order to get your business off the ground? Are you going to hire full-time house painters/employees or hire subcontractors when you need them?
• Marketing Strategy . How are you going to get the word out about your painting business and connect with potential clients?
• Revenue Goals . What are your revenue goals? What are your profit margins? How much revenue do you need to bring in to get your business in the green?

You’ll need to invest time, energy, and effort into crafting your business plan. But it’s a must if you want to set yourself and your business up for success in the long-term—so make the investment and make sure you have a detailed plan from the very beginning.

Legally Establish Your Painting Company…

Once you have a plan for your painting company in place, the first step to putting that plan into action? Taking care of the legal side of starting a business. 

Before you start marketing your business or taking on clients, there are a few steps you’ll want to take to legally establish your business and protect yourself, your team, and your company, including:

• Choose your business structure and register your business. There are a variety of ways to structure a business. For example, if you’re not going to hire a team (and are just going to tackle paint jobs yourself), you may choose to function as a sole proprietorship. If you’re going into business with another business owner, you may decide to explore an LLC partnership. Depending on your business, there can be benefits and drawbacks to different types of business structures—so make sure to do your research, choose the business entity that makes the most sense for you, then take any necessary steps to legally establish your business and register it with your state.
• Get licensed and insured. You’ll need a business license in order to operate your painting business—and in order to protect yourself, your team, and your business, you’ll also want to secure the proper insurance (like general liability insurance and workers’ compensation ).
• Establish your business finances. As a new business owner, it’s important to separate your personal finances and your business finances from day one —and that means getting all your business financial ducks in a row (like opening a business bank account, securing a business credit card, and setting up a bookkeeping software) from day one. 

...And Establish Your Presence Online

In today’s digital age, every business needs a presence online—and that includes your painting company. Some steps you’ll want to take to establish your presence online before marketing your business include:

• Create a website. Your website is your most important digital asset—and it’s the first thing you’ll want to create when establishing your business’ presence online. Make sure to design a website that not only includes the key information about your business (like your contact information and services), but also looks professional and gives potential customers peace of mind that your business is the real deal.
• Create social media profiles . Social media can be a great way to network and find new clients—so make sure to create profiles on all the major social media sites (like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). 
• Get reviews . If you already have experience working with clients, ask them to write reviews about your services—then include those reviews on your website or social media profiles to help show potential customers that they can trust you with their painting jobs.

Hire A Team

Before you start marketing your business and taking on jobs, you need to ensure you have the capability to manage those jobs successfully—and, depending on what types of clients and jobs you’re going to take on, that could mean hiring a team.

If you’re going to hire a team to support your painting business, a few things to keep in mind include:

• What kind of team members do you need to hire? Again, there’s more than one way to build a team. Depending on your needs, you may choose to hire full-time employees , part-time employees , or work with painting contractors on an as-needed basis . There’s no right or wrong way to hire—just make sure that the structure you choose makes sense for your business and workload.
• What type of experience do you need your team to have? If you’re tackling simple jobs, you may be able to hire more junior painters—but if you’re going to be working on more complex jobs or jobs that require knowledge of a specific technique or piece of equipment, you’ll want to hire painters with more experience.
• What kind of people do you want to hire? Your team is an extension of your business—so you’ll want to put some thought into who you want to represent you on job sites and in working with clients. What kind of characteristics do you want your team members to have? For example, you may decide you’ll only work with people who are trustworthy, punctual, and have a keen attention to detail.

Get The Necessary Painting Equipment And Supplies

Another thing you’ll need to take care of before you start actively taking on painting work? Getting the right equipment and supplies.

The type of equipment you’ll need to get started will vary based on your business and what types of projects you’re going to tackle; for example, if you’re going to be working on interior paint jobs, you’ll need drop cloths to protect your client’s flooring—and if you’re going to be offering spray paint services, you’ll need to invest in sprayers.

One supply you can wait on? Paint. While you’ll eventually need to invest in high-quality paint, that’s a supply you can buy on a project-by-project basis based on the colors and quantity each client needs.

Get The Word Out About Your Company And Services

You’ve fleshed out your business plan. You’ve secured your painting equipment. You’ve got your staff on standby. At this point, you’re ready to start actively taking on painting work.

And that means it’s time to get the word out about your business and start marketing.

There are a number of different ways to market your new painting company, including:

• Social Media. As mentioned, social media can be a great way to connect with potential customers in your area—especially if you focus on localized social media apps like NextDoor or locally focused Facebook groups.
• Advertising . Digital advertising is a great way to deliver targeted messaging to your ideal customers and build buzz around your business and services. Depending on your audience and where you’re building your business, you might also think about exploring traditional advertising avenues, like buying an ad in the local paper or posting flyers in the local home improvement store.
• Word Of Mouth. One of the best ways to land new clients is through a recommendation from an existing client. As you expand your painting company, ask your existing clients to share your business with their friends, families, and colleagues—and offer them an incentive (like a discount on their next painting service) for those referrals.

Bottom line? As you’re building and expanding your painting business, you need to connect with as many potential clients and customers as possible—so make sure to invest plenty of time, energy, and resources into marketing your services and getting the word out about your company.

Get Out There And Build A Thriving Painting Business

Starting a new business can be hard work. But now that you know the steps to start a painting business from scratch, you’re armed with the information you need to build a successful and sustainable business from the ground up. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and build that business!

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Painting Business Plan Template

Painting business plan.

You’ve come to the right place to create your Painting business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Painting businesses.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Painting business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting is a new residential painting business located in Peoria, Illinois. We paint both interiors and exteriors of houses and apartments and offer free color and project consultations. At O’Reilly Brothers, we know that a person’s home is their place for rest and relaxation at the end of a long day. Therefore, it’s essential that we provide the best painting services possible to ensure our customers’ homes look their best. Our mission is to provide these quality services while maintaining lifelong relationships with our clients.

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting is led by Luke and Samuel O’Reilly. These two brothers have worked as contractors and painters for other companies and have built up a loyal client base over the years. After having disappointing experiences with their prior employers, the two brothers decided to work together to start a painting business that is founded on affordable pricing and client-oriented service. Their experience, education, and pre-existing client base will ensure that O’Reilly Brothers House Painting is a success.

Product Offering

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting offers residential painting services to the residents of Peoria, Illinois. These services include:

• Interior painting
• Exterior painting
• Cabinetry painting
• Ceiling painting
• Door refinishing
• Free color consultations

Customer Focus

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will primarily serve homeowners and landlords in Peoria, Illinois. The Peoria area has a booming population, with thousands of people who own their own homes. Peoria also has a large population of middle and upper-class residents who have the disposable income to invest in painting services. Therefore, we have a large target demographic to work with and are sure to be successful in this industry.

Management Team

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting is led by Luke and Samuel O’Reilly. Both brothers have extensive experience as contractors and painters, having worked for local competitors for several years. Both had disappointing experiences with their prior employers, as the companies charged high fees and were not committed to providing excellent client-oriented services. These experiences led the brothers to plan their own business that would provide better quality services at a more affordable price. The experience and expertise of Luke and Samuel will be the company’s most valuable assets.

Success Factors

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• O’Reilly Brothers is led by two professional contractors who have considerable experience in the residential painting industry.
• O’Reilly Brothers will have a full staff of friendly and qualified painters who will provide the best painting services in the area.
• O’Reilly Brothers will offer all of its services for a moderate price.

Financial Highlights

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting is currently seeking $425,000 to launch. The funds will be used for funding capital expenditures, salaries, marketing expenses, and working capital. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

• Store design/build: $100,000
• Vehicle purchase and maintenance: $100,000
• Equipment and initial supplies: $100,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $75,000
• Marketing costs: $25,000
• Working capital: $25,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for O’Reilly Brothers House Painting.

Company Overview

Who is o’reilly brothers house painting.

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting is a new residential painting business located in Peoria, Illinois. We can paint any room or part of a house or apartment, including interiors, cabinetry, and exteriors. Our company is committed to providing quality painting services for a cost that anyone can afford. O’Reilly Brothers House Painting strives to be the best painting business in the area, focusing on customer service and maintaining long-term relationships.

  At O’Reilly Brothers House Painting, we believe that every customer deserves to live in their dream home. Our expert painters will work with customers to design and create the perfect spaces that will make their current home their dream home. With years of experience, we can take on any painting project and create any space that our customers desire.

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting’ History

Luke and Samuel O’Reilly recently began researching what it would take to incorporate their business and expand their client base. They have analyzed the costs, market, demographics, and local competition. They compiled enough information to develop their business plan in order to approach investors.

Once their research was complete, Luke and Samuel incorporated O’Reilly Brothers House Painting on May 1st, 2023 as an S-Corporation. The business is currently being run out of Luke’s home, but once the lease on O’Reilly Brothers House Painting’s office location is finalized, all operations will be run from there. Luke and Samuel are currently using a personal vehicle to drive to clients’ homes but will purchase a vehicle that will be used specifically for the business.

Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

• Found a commercial space and signed a Letter of Intent to lease it.
• Developed the company’s name, logo, and website.
• Planned the suite of services to be offered.
• Determined equipment, supplies, and materials needed.
• Begun recruiting key employees.

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting’ Services

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will offer a suite of residential painting services to the residents of Peoria. Whether our customers need one room painted or their entire home, they can expect quality work and customer service every step of the way. Below is a list of our painting services:

Industry Analysis

The residential painting industry provides painting services to recolor houses and apartments. This market is typically segmented into interior house painting and exterior house painting services. The market can be further segmented into painting services for new homes vs repainting services. Painting businesses can stand out in the market by providing all of these services.

In recent years, the market has been negatively affected by COVID. Many people lost their jobs, so they did not have the extra income needed to spend on painting or other contractor work. However, the industry has been making a comeback since the pandemic ended. The unemployment rate has lowered significantly, meaning many people have disposable income for contractor services again. Furthermore, the housing boom in 2021 has led to many new homeowners needing painting and other contracting services. As such, there is a large demand for residential painting services once again.

According to OpenPR, the global home painting market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from now until 2030. This is solid growth that shows that the industry is bouncing back and thriving once again. Therefore, this is the perfect time to start a new painting business.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market, customer segmentation.

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will primarily target the following customer profiles:

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Riverside Commercial Painting

Riverside Commercial Painting has been one of the most popular commercial painting businesses in the area since it was established in 1985. This company helps offices and other establishments update their spaces by providing repainting and other interior design services. They have many loyal clients and showcase a large gallery of previous projects on their social media. Many businesses have sworn by Riverside’s services, and the company’s reputation has skyrocketed simply through word-of-mouth marketing.

Though Riverside Commercial Painting will continue to thrive, the company only provides commercial painting services and, therefore, will be a minor competitor for O’Reilly Brothers House Painting.

River City Painting Inc.

River City Painting Inc. has been a small yet profitable residential painting business for over a decade. This small company provides a variety of residential painting services, including painting ceilings, interiors, cabinetry, and exteriors. Though they are small and have limited resources, River City Painting Inc.’s team has still managed to gain a great reputation for their friendly customer service and the professional quality of their work.

Though River City Painting Inc. has gained a positive reputation, its scope of work remains small, even after a decade. They can only help with small projects and generally don’t sign up for larger-scale services. As O’Reilly Brothers House Painting grows, we will take on larger projects and aim to be the primary painting company that the residents of Peoria can rely on.

Painting And More LLC

Established in 2001, Painting And More LLC set out to be the best residential painting business in the area. Painting And More has achieved this goal, as the company is consistently given positive reviews and is usually the first painting service residents think of when they need a painting job done. Customers working with Painting And More can expect high-quality painting work paired with excellent customer service. Their popularity and success make Painting And More our biggest competitor.

Competitive Advantage

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Customer Focus : O’Reilly Brothers House Painting’s painters will provide the highest quality customer service focused on transparency, communication, and responsiveness. Clients can expect this level of service throughout the entire process, from the initial inquiry to the follow-up once the project is completed.
• Management : Luke and Samuel O’Reilly have been extremely successful working in the painting industry and will be able to use their previous experience to help clients with whatever they need. Their unique qualifications will serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than many of their competitors.
• Relationships : Having lived and worked in the community for decades, Luke and Samuel know many of the local residents and have already established a loyal clientele from their years of working in the industry. These relationships will provide the company’s initial clientele and help our business through word-of-mouth marketing.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will offer a unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Client-focused painting services, where the company’s interests are aligned with the customer.
• Service built on long-term relationships and personal attention.
• Professional industrial experience in a small business setting.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for O’Reilly Brothers House Painting is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

Social media is one of the most cost-effective and practical marketing methods for improving brand visibility. O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will use social media to develop engaging content in terms of sharing color and design ideas and posting customer reviews that will increase audience awareness and loyalty.

Word of Mouth Marketing

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will encourage word-of-mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients. The company will use recommendations and word-of-mouth marketing to grow its customer base through the network of its existing customers.

Website/SEO

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will invest in developing a professional website that displays all of the services offered by the company. It will also invest in SEO so that the company’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.

Advertisement

Advertisements in print publications like newspapers, magazines, etc., are an excellent way for businesses to connect with their audience. O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will advertise its company offerings in popular magazines and news dailies. Obtaining relevant placements in industry magazines and journals will also help in increasing brand visibility.

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting’s pricing will be estimated on a project basis drawing on Luke O’Reilly’s deep expertise in painting services. The pricing will be determined by the size of the job, the amount of paint needed, and the labor required to complete the job. Pricing will be moderate and less expensive than our competitors but more expensive than lower-quality, efficiency-driven painting businesses.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for O’Reilly Brothers House Painting. Operation Functions:

• Luke and Samuel O’Reilly will be the co-owners of O’Reilly Brothers House Painting. They will oversee the general operations of the company and manage the staff. They will also conduct all work on the painting projects for their clients until they can hire several more painters to keep up with demand. Luke and Samuel will hire the following staff over the next few months:
• An Administrative Assistant who will manage all the administrative tasks.
• An Accountant who will manage all client invoicing, billing, and payables.
• A Marketing Manager to manage all of the marketing and advertising functions.
• Several painters who will provide painting services and customer service.

Milestones:

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 06/2023 Finalize lease agreement
• 07/2023 Design and build out O’Reilly Brothers House Painting
• 08/2023 Hire and train initial staff
• 09/2023 Kickoff of the promotional campaign
• 10/2023 Launch O’Reilly Brothers House Painting
• 11/2023 Reach break-even

Luke and Samuel have worked in the industry long enough to gain an in-depth knowledge of the business, including the operations side (e.g., running day-to-day operations) and the business management side (e.g., staffing, marketing, etc.). They will hire several other employees to help run the parts of the business that they are unfamiliar with.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

O’Reilly Brothers House Painting’s revenue will primarily come from charging homeowners for completed painting services. Pricing will be determined by the size of the room, the amount of paint needed, and the amount of time it takes for our painters to complete the job.

The main cost drivers for O’Reilly Brothers House Painting will include labor expenses, materials and equipment, marketing, and the lease for the office space.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of clients:
• Year 4: 120
• Year 5: 150
• Annual lease: $30,000
• Annual maintenance expenses: $10,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, painting business plan faqs, what is a painting business plan.

A painting business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your painting business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Painting business plan using our Painting Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Painting Businesses? 

There are a number of different kinds of painting businesses , some examples include: Residential Painting, and Commercial Painting.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Painting Business Plan?

Painting businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Painting Business?

Starting a painting business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Painting Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed painting business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your painting business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your painting business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Painting Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your painting business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your painting business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Painting Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your painting business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your painting business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful painting business:

• How to Start a Painting Business

Painting Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Are you an aspiring painter looking to get your own business off the ground? Do you need help developing a comprehensive business plan that will take your painting business from dream to reality? Look no further than the #1 Painting Business Plan Template & Guidebook. This detailed template and guidebook have everything you need to create a simple, step-by-step plan for launching and growing your painting business. With this essential tool, you can create a professional plan that will ensure your success as a successful entrepreneur.

Get worry-free services and support to launch your business starting at $0 plus state fees.

• How to Start a Profitable Painting Business [11+ Steps]
• 10+ Best & Profitable Painting Business Ideas [2023]
• 25 Catchy Painting Business Names Business Names:
• List of the Best Marketing Ideas For Your Painting Service:

How to Write a Painting Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your painting business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your painting business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a painting business:

Our mission at ABC Painting is to provide high-quality painting services to our clients, creating a lasting impression and beautiful aesthetic that adds value to their homes and businesses. We also strive to be a leader in the painting industry by using innovative techniques, providing excellent customer service, and being committed to sustainability.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Painting Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your painting business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your painting business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your painting business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your painting business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a painting business?

• Drop cloths
• Paint trays
• Paint sprayers
• Painting Tape
• Sandpaper, sponges, and/or scrapers
• Work clothes/gloves/face masks/safety glasses
• Business license for the city, county, or state where you plan on operating your business.

5. Management & Organization of Your Painting Business.

The second part of your painting business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your painting business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Painting Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a painting business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a painting business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your painting business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your painting business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your painting business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Painting Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a painting business.

A business plan for a painting business is important in order to make sure that the business is profitable and successful. It helps to determine the goals and objectives of the business, as well as the strategies and tactics necessary to achieve those goals. It can also help the owner assess the financials of the business, such as expenses, revenue, and profitability. Additionally, it provides a roadmap for business growth and development. Finally, it can be used to secure funding from investors or lenders.

Who should you ask for help with your painting business plan?

It is advisable to consult a professional business consultant or accountant to help you create a comprehensive business plan for your painting business. Additionally, you may find help and resources from government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other private entities that specialize in providing assistance to small businesses.

Can you write a painting business plan yourself?

Yes, you can write a painting business plan yourself. You will need to do some research on the painting industry, as well as consider your budget, target market, and goals for the business. You should also make sure to include a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of your business and a financial plan that outlines your projected costs and revenue. Additionally, consider writing out a marketing plan that will help you reach your customers and promote your business.

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I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

Painting Company Business Plan [Sample Template for 2024]

Home » Business ideas » Home Improvement » Painting Business

Are you about starting a painting business? If YES, here is a complete sample painting business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a painting business . We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample painting marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for painting businesses. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

As an aspiring entrepreneur who is looking for a thriving business to start, one the business opportunities that can guarantee you steady income is a painting business.

In the united states of America and in most countries in Europe, you may notice that a good percentage of homes and offices paint their facilities on a regular basis. This goes to show that there is indeed a large market for the painting business.

The Painting business can be learnt within a few months especially if you know how to pay attention to details. If you are actually convinced that starting a painting company is the right business for you, then you need to write your own business plan.

The essence of writing a business plan before starting any business is for you to have a roadmap and a blueprint of how you want to setup, manage and expand your business. Below is a sample painting company business plan template that will help you successfully write yours with little or no stress.

A Sample Painting Company Business Plan Template

Table of Content

1. Industry Overview

3. our products and services, 4. our mission and vision statement, 5. job roles and responsibilities, 6. swot analysis, 8. our target market, 9. sales and marketing strategy, 10. sales forecast, 11. publicity and advertising strategy, 12. our pricing strategy, 14. sustainability and expansion strategy.

The painters industry comprises of various niches such as construction and industrial painters amongst others. What construction cum industrial painters do is to apply paint, special coatings, and wallpaper to various internal as well as external surfaces for protection, cleanliness or beautification.

Industry painters offer services to a wide range of customers that cut across residential, commercial, industrial and municipal building markets as well as for infrastructure projects like roads, bridges and stadiums et al. Painters are sometimes contracted to paint ships but not automobile and aircraft.

On the average, a standard painting business offers services such as bridge painting, painting of buildings or other structures, paper hanging for the purpose of beautification, spray painting buildings or other structures, wallpapering, house/residential painting, rustproofing (excluding automotive), paint and wallpaper removal, and whitewashing. Painting or coating provides two primary functions; decoration and protection.

If you are a close watcher of the Painters industry, you will agree that the industry’s foundation shook as the housing bubble burst, with several factors contributing to discourage consumers from spending on home improvements such as painting.

Experts projected that the Painters industry recovery will be driven by improvements in employment and per capita disposable income.

In the United States and in most countries of the world, home prices are expected to continue to raise, facilitating growth in demand for painters industry services because homeowners often leverage the value of their homes through loans to fund remodeling projects.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (United States of America) projects 11.1 percent job growth for the real estate industry between 2012 and 2022, which is about as fast as average. During that time, an additional 38,000 jobs will open up in the industry.

Hence any painting company that is well equipped and positioned will rake in huge revenues from this industry within this period and of course the future is bright.

Statistics has it that in the United States of America alone, there are about 323,194 registered and licensed painting companies responsible for employing about 503,130 people and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $43 billion annually.

The industry is projected to grow at a 4.2 percent annual growth within 2014 and 2019. It is important to state that there are no establishments in this industry that has a lion market share.

A recent report published shows that the Painters industry is very labor-oriented, as it relies on employees to carry out most industry activities. Therefore, the industry requires a low level of capital investment and instead allocates much of its cost structure to labor payments, which accounts for 23.1 percent of revenue. Purchases account for 56.9 percent of industry revenue.

The report further stated that these costs are largely related to materials, components and supplies used during service requests as well as the costs associated with contracting work out to third-party subcontractors. Depreciation absorbs only 1.0 percent of industry revenue, and capital purchases are largely limited to vehicles and computers used in sales offices.

Lastly, as a professional painter, it is very important to be creative, to be able to use your ideas to meet the rapidly changing needs of the society when it comes to properties; you should be able to convert a shanty town property or facility into a beautiful edifice if indeed you want to become a major player in the industry.

2. Executive Summary

Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC is a construction painting company that is incorporated under the law of the United States of America.

Our head office will be located in a standard and centrally located office facility in the heart of Newark – New Jersey. Although our Head Office will be located in Newark – New Jersey, but we will open our branch offices in major cities in all regions of the United States of America.

Within the first two years of operation, we would have set up our offices in the following locations; New York City, Los Angeles, Florida, North Dakota, Boston, Dallas and Washington.

Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC will engage in industrial and commercial painting services such as bridge painting, painting of buildings or other structures, paper hanging for the purpose of beautification, spray painting buildings or other structures, rustproofing (excluding automotive), paint and wallpaper removal, and whitewashing.

We will work towards becoming one of the largest painting companies in the United States of America with active presence in major cities. As part of our plans to make our customers our number one priority and to become one of the leading painting companies in the United States of America, we have perfected plans to adopt international best practices.

Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC will at all times demonstrate her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a firm, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible.

We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC will be owned by Jim De Rosa and his immediate family members. Jim De Rosa has a Degree in Fine Arts and he has over 13 years’ experience as a professional painter working for one of the leading property development companies in the United States of America.

Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC is going to offer varieties of services within the scope of the Painters industry in the United States of America. Our intention of starting our painting company is to favorably compete with leading players in the industry in the United States of America.

We are prepared to make profits from the industry and we will do all that is permitted by the law in the United States to achieve our business goals. Our business offerings are listed below;

• General residential painting
• General nonresidential painting
• Paper hanging, wall covering and removal
• Non building painting
• Other related services
• Our vision is to become one of the top 10 painting companies in the United States of America within the first 10 years of starting Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC.
• Our mission and values are to help people, businesses and property owners in the United States of America paint their homes to fit into the ideal mental pictures they have of how a world – class home should be and to also paint other public structures to fit into the plan of the government.

Our Business Structure

Our company’s structure is not entirely different from what is obtainable in the industry, as a matter of priority, we have decided to create a structure that will allow for easy growth for all our employees and also, we have created platforms that will enable us attract some of the best hands in the industry.

We are quite aware that the success of any business lies in the foundation on which the business is built on, which is why we have decided to build our painting company on the right business foundation. We will ensure that we only hire people that are qualified, honest, hardworking, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all our stakeholders.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more depending how fast we meet our set target. Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC is fully aware of the modus operandi in the painting industry, hence adequate provision and competitive packages have been prepared for independent sales agents.

Our marketing department will be responsible for managing this aspect of our business. Below is the business structure we will build Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC on;

• Manager (Owner)

Project Manager

Admin and HR Manager

Professional Painters

• Business Developer/Sales and Marketing
• Customer Service Executive / Front Desk Officer

Manager (Owner):

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results
• Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all projects on behalf of the company
• Supervise painting projects
• Ensure compliance during project executions
• Providing advice on the management of projects
• Responsible for carrying out risk assessment
• Responsible for overseeing the accounting, costing and billing of every project
• Ensures that project desired result is achieved, the most efficient resources are utilized and different interests involved are satisfied.
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of HR Policies, Procedures and Processes
• Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Defining job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carrying out induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily office activities.
• Read blueprints/instructions and examine surfaces to determine the kind and amount of work necessary
• Make on-site preparations such as building scaffolding, covering fixtures etc.
• Prepare walls and other surfaces for painting by scraping, using sandpaper, removing old paint etc.
• Fill cracks and holes with appropriate material (e.g. plaster)
• Mix paint and other materials to prepare the right color or texture
• Paint surfaces according to instructions with various tools
• Apply varnish and other finishes
• Take and adhere to all health and safety precautions.

Marketing and Sales Executive/Business Developer

• Identify, prioritize, and reach out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Document all customer contact and information
• Represent the company in strategic meetings
• Help increase sales and growth for the company
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managers with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the company
• Serves as internal auditor for the company

Front Desk/Customer’s Service Officer

• Receives Visitors / clients on behalf of the organization
• Receives parcels / documents for the company
• Handles enquiries via e-mail and phone calls for the organization
• Distribute mails in the organization
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the line manager in an effective and timely manner

The fact that painting business is a very rewarding business does not mean that there are no challenges in the industry. Starting a painting business in the United States of America comes with its own fair share of challenges, you would have to abide by the law and also compete with loads of other entrepreneurs in the real estate business value chain who also are interested in making a living and building a business in the US.

In order to compete favorably in the industry as a painting company we have been able to hire the services of tested and trusted business consultant to help us conduct critical SWOT analysis for us. Here is a summary from the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC;

Some of our strengths that we will be bringing to the table in the Painters industry is our robust relations with works departments, homeowners and property investment moguls in the whole of the United States of America. We have a team of experts who have cut their teeth in the commercial painting line of business.

Our commission structure and relationship with freelance real estate agents in Newark – New Jersey and other states in the US will also count towards our advantage.

As a newbie in the Painters industry, we might have some challenges competing with big time property developers and other painting companies that have been in the industry for many years; that perhaps is part of our weakness.

• Opportunities:

The opportunities in the Painters industry especially as a painting company is massive considering the numbers of home owners who have the financial capacity to renovate their homes as at when due and government painting contracts in the United States. We are well – positioned and ready to take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way.

Some of the threats that we are likely going to face as a painting company are unfavorable government policies , and global economic downturn; global economic downturn usually affects spending power and the real estate industry cum painting business is known to encounter decline in sales and profits during this period.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

As a result of real estate growth and expansion, demand for industry services across several construction markets has significantly expanded over the five years to 2019. The residential market, a key source of industry revenue, has been especially supportive.

Furthermore, activity in nonresidential construction sectors has also grown, further widening demand for industry services. Over the five years to 2019, broad improvements in the US economy facilitated strong growth in the housing market. During the period, housing stats increased at an annualized rate of 6.2 percent.

Another obvious trend that is common with painting companies in the United States of America is that most of them are making use of health friendly paints hence the production and usage or insect repellent paints.

Lastly, one thing is certain for every painting company; if they are hardworking, creative and proactive, they will always generate enough income to meet all their overhead and operational cost , keep their business going without struggle and make reasonable profits from all projects that they are involved in.

As a painting company, our target market cuts across people (home owners) of different classes and from all walks of life, corporate organizations and the government. We are coming into the Painters industry with a business concept that will enable us work with a wide range of clientele.

As a matter of fact, our target market is the whole of the United States of America and we have put plans in place to recruit freelance agents (brokers) nationally to represent our business interest wherever they are located in the United States of America. Below is a list of the people and organizations that we have specifically designed our services for;

• Corporate organizations who are interested in acquiring their own property / properties
• Home Owners who are interested in remodeling, painting and selling off their home
• Properties Owners who are interested in remodeling, painting and selling off their properties
• Foreign investors who are interested in owning properties in the United States of America and remodeling and painting the property
• The government of the United States of America (Government contracts)
• Managers of public facilities who would want to engage painting companies to help them paint properties under their care.

Our competitive advantage

The Painters industry is indeed a very prolific and highly competitive industry. Clients will only hire your services if they know that you can paint their homes to fit into the picture of the ideal home they have in mind. We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the industry means that you should be able to deliver consistent quality painting jobs and you should be able to meet the expectations of your clients at all times.

Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC  might be a new painting company in the Painters industry, but our management team and the owner of the business are professional who have what it takes to grow a business from scratch to become a top brand within the shortest time possible. This is what will count as a competitive advantage for us.

Aside from our robust experience and the expertise of our team of experts, we have a very strong online presence that will enable us attract clients from all across the United States of America. Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry.

It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives. We will also engage freelance marketing agents on a commission level to help us market our services.

We mindful of the fact that there are stiff competitions in the painting market in the United States of America, hence we have been able to hire some of the best business developers to handle our sales and marketing.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall goal of the organization. The training is not restricted to only our full – time employees but also our freelance brokers that are scattered all over the United States of America.

Our goal is to become one of the leading painting companies in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force in the industry. Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies;

• Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to stakeholders in the real estate industry, government public works department, also property owners and potential clients in the United States of America
• Promptness in bidding for painting contracts
• Advertise our business in real estate/property magazines and websites
• List our business on yellow pages (local directories)
• Attend real estate related expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Create different packages for different category of clients in order to successfully paint their homes / properties
• Leverage on the internet (social media platforms) and our official website to promote our business
• Encourage word of mouth marketing.

Sources of Income

Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the Painters industry. We have successfully built a vibrant real estate network that covers the whole of the United States of America so as to help us build a profitable business. Below are the sources we intend exploring to generate income for Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC;

• Nonbuilding painting

It is a known fact that as long as there are facilities and home owners in the United States of America, there will always be need to for them to remodel their homes from time to time to conform with the trends in the neighborhood or city. Hence the demand for the services of painting companies to help them solve these needs.

We are well positioned to take on the challenges that are synonymous to painting businesses in the United States, and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income/profits from our first month of operation and grow the business beyond New Jersey to other states in the United States of America within record time.

We have been able to examine the painting line of business, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions peculiar to similar startups in New Jersey.

Below are the sales projections for Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC it is based on the location of our business and the painting and related services we will be offering;

• First Fiscal Year (FY1):  $200,000
• Second Fiscal Year (FY2):  $500,000
• Third Fiscal Year (FY3):  $1.2 million

N.B : This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and any major competitor offering same services as we do within the locations where we have a strong business presence. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher since some factors are beyond our control.

We have been able to work with our consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to take the Painters industry by storm which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our company. Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise our painting business;

• Place adverts on both print and electronic media platforms
• Place our flexi banners with our company’s logo and contacts in every property we are painting
• Sponsor relevant TV shows so as to be able to communicate our brand and what we do
• Maximize our company’s website to promote our business
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and other platforms (real estate online forums) to promote our business.
• Install our billboards in strategic locations
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in targeted areas from time to time
• Attend landlord and residence association meetings with the aim of networking and introducing our business.
• Ensure that all our workers wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are branded with our company’s logo.

Part of our business strategy is to ensure that we work within the budget of our potential clients to help them paint their homes and facilities to meet their expectations. It is the practice in most parts of the world for properties to be valued by professionals based on the area the facility is located, the type of facility and other factors.

Since we are not directly in control of the pricing system in the real estate industry, we can only abide by what is obtainable when it comes to fixing the price for a painting contract. But one thing is certain, we will ensure that we deliver excellent jobs when have we are contracted to do so.

Lastly, we will ensure that we keep our fees below the average market rate by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to our clients from time to time especially when they recommend clients to us.

• Payment Options

At Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC our payment policy is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will not accept payment by cash because of the volume of cash that will be involved in most of our transactions. Here are the payment options that Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC will make available to her clients;

• Payment by via bank transfer
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our plans without any itches and we will also pay our freelance sales agents with same platforms.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

This is what it would cost us to set up Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC in the United States of America;

• The total fee for incorporating the business in The United States of America – $750.
• The budget for permits and license – $2,000
• The cost for hiring Consultant – $2,500.
• The cost for computer software apps (Accounting Software, Payroll Software, CRM Software, Microsoft Office, QuickBooks Pro) – $7,000
• The budget for insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $5,400.
• Cost for payment of rent for a suitable office facility with enough space in Newark – New Jersey for 12 month at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of – $105,600.
• The cost for office remodeling (construction of racks and shelves) – $20,000.
• The cost for equipping the office (computers, printers, fax machines, furniture, telephones, filing cabins, safety gadgets and electronics et al) – $15,000
• The cost for the purchase of painting equipment and accessories – $30,000
• Other start-up expenses including stationery ($500) and phone and utility deposits ($2,500).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $100,000
• The cost of launching our official website – $600
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $5,000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need over two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) U.S. dollars to successfully set up a small scale but standard painting company in the United States of America.

  Generating Startup Capital for Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC

Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC will be owned and managed by Jim De Rosa, his immediate family members and other business partners. They decided to restrict the sourcing of the start up capital for the business to just three major sources.

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sale of stocks
• Generate part of the startup capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 ( Personal savings $80,000 and soft loan from family members $20,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $150,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business, then it won’t be too long before the business closes shop.

One of our major goals of starting Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running. We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our painting services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Jim De Rosa® Painting Company, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry and they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check : Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Renting of Office Facility and remodeling the facility in Newark – New Jersey: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from the CEO / President and Business Partners: Completed
• Applications for Loan from our Bankers: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Printing of Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed painting equipment and accessories, furniture, office equipment and electronic appliances: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business (Business PR): In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with key players in the industry (networking and membership of government contractor’s association): In Progress

How to Sell Art Online | Online Marketing for Artists

Helping artists sell their art online since 2009. Blog, guides, courses, and coaching for artists.

Business Plans for Artists: Here, I Did It for You!

Also, check out Jennifer’s book!

You’ll want to see her Right Brain Business Plan home study course .*

Not Ready for A Full Right Brain Business Plan?

Here’s a simple 4 page example plan that will help you get started.

Example Business Plan for Artists (pdf)

Example Business Plan for Artists (Word doc)

The first thing I ask every artist when we start working together is if they have a business plan. Most of the time the answer is no. Why do you need a business plan, you ask? Great question.

You will become focused. As you start planning, that shotgun approach to marketing that most artists take will start to thin itself out and you will learn how to put a system in place. Also, establishing your unique selling proposition is really important. Sure, you’re a painter, but what makes you stand out from all of those other painters out there? There’s a lot more to being an independent artist than just creating your art.

You’ll know where you stand. Your strengths and weaknesses will become apparent to you as you start to create a business plan. What aspects of your art do you excel at? What do you tend to put off because you don’t know how to finish ? Once you know where you stand, you’ll know what your weaknesses are, and this is really important. Most artists have no idea that they’re not good at accounting, or they don’t want to admit it so they run around in circles. A business plan will help you eliminate this.

You’ll know how to get where you want to be. Once you write down a business plan, it’s easy to refer back to it often to get re-focused on your goals. Carefully analyzing what you really want out of your art business is a good way to stop doing what is getting in your way.

You’ll know what other artists are doing. Do you want a competitive advantage? Are you afraid of really pushing your business because you don’t know what will make you different and make people want to purchase your art?

Does 4 pages feel like too much?

Get started with our beginner’s one-page business plan and work your way up.

This post has been updated since its 2009 original publish date.

*affiliate link

November 20, 2009 at 11:46 AM

This is fantastic! Many thanks!

November 21, 2009 at 9:45 AM

You’re welcome!

November 22, 2009 at 5:32 AM

This is a really great resource that I’ll have to share with my readers. It’s always wonderful to find other people putting in the hard work and dedication that goes into doing what you do. .-= Damien Franco´s last blog ..Photographer’s Intro to Twitter =-.

May 19, 2010 at 3:26 PM

This is great. Thank you for doing this. It’s really something I’ve always known I needed to do. I will definitely do it now.

April 27, 2011 at 8:21 AM

Do you have a business plan for dummies and beginners? This is kind of advanced. I have nothing but 5 good paintings right now.

This is my first time coming to this website. I was very confused by the business plan. Who is “I”? As in, “I help artists dispel the starving artist myth”? It took me 15 mins to finally understand who “I” is, and who Cory and John Smith is.

January 7, 2016 at 12:24 PM

I agree, this business plan is completely confusing and way too advanced and overwhelming. I really want to like it, but after reading it a few times, I’m still lost.

October 27, 2011 at 11:10 PM

Creating a business plan was one of the smartest things I ever did. I wrote down all the ideas that had been spinning around in my head but had never been inserted into my business as a whole. Just the process of writing everything down becomes a way to clear your head and see the way forward. It’s great to see an honest, physical example of a business plan – thanks Cory!

March 11, 2012 at 4:25 PM

Wow!  I’m so glad I stumbled onto this!  Just what I needed!

June 4, 2012 at 6:16 AM

Thanks for posting the examples.  I didn’t realize that I already had lists covering most of the sections.  This really helped me put everything together in one place.  Now as I get new ideas, I have one document that I can go to.  I can quickly jot it down and properly categorize the idea right away knowing that I will have it on hand for when I have time to review the bigger picture over time.  Thanks again!

June 4, 2012 at 8:01 AM

 @figmentations Glad it helped!

January 13, 2013 at 2:57 PM

Thanks Cory. A Breath of Fresh Air!!! For the first time at last…with drudgery behind me, I can now pursue my business plan in JOY!!! In full celebration of all right brainers…here’s to your unlimited success:-)

February 23, 2013 at 11:43 AM

Hi Cory & Jennifer, I totally agree with having a business plan, writing down all the ideas & growth you have in mind for your business.

July 1, 2013 at 5:20 AM

thanks for everything. i like this site so much…

August 19, 2013 at 7:55 AM

Thank you this was very helpful 🙂

December 17, 2013 at 8:32 PM

Thank you for sharing this information, it can be difficult finding business resources for the artist/entrepreneur.

December 20, 2013 at 12:43 PM

Just need help starting a creative business. CB

September 25, 2015 at 3:07 PM

hello jennifar, i a cross this because am a starting artist. gama arts in Rwanda but i realy want a bussiness plan because i know success business needs a plan. thank you.

February 26, 2016 at 4:12 PM

I’m looking forward to doing the seminar on how to sell your artwork online. I am not computer literate, so this is going to require some intensive learning on my part. I am retired and can finally dedicate my time to doing the thing that I love the most, painting watercolor illustrations. I know nothing about blogging, or setting up my own web site. I hope this is the kind of information I can access from your seminar.

Thank you for showing me my first step toward creating a business out of my artwork…

May 16, 2016 at 4:35 PM

Thanks Cory and Jennifer, for sharing this information, it’s always good to know more about how I can do more on my art business.

November 25, 2017 at 3:06 PM

It helps me a lot to have specific, measurable goals. I’m just starting to turn art into a business for myself, so I’m trying out a few different things to see what works for me, but concrete numbers and plans and dates really help.

I’ve put together a list of business books for artists: http://jacquelineboss.com/2017/11/25/10-art-business-books-learn-how-to-sell-your-art/

January 22, 2018 at 12:01 PM

I had no idea how to get this started. This is super super helpful! Thank you!

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Painting Contractors Business Plan Sample

MAR.19, 2019

Do you want to start Painting Contractors business?

Painting is a great business for anyone who is creative, can find worthy partners and can fill happiness and peace in other’s life by selecting suitable paint combinations.

Starting a painting business doesn’t only mean that you have to pick up a brush or a bottle of paint to start your work, surprisingly it can be as wide as you may like. You can hire employees if you have a big budget and extend your business to the commercial level, or even you can manufacture your own paint for if you want to have perfection and sole independence.

In each case, you can take help from the painting business plans  available on the web, like the one we are providing here for paint manufacturing and painting company ‘Giana Paints’.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Giana Paints will be a licensed and registered painting company based on providing top-quality exterior and interior painting services in Seattle. The business will be owned by Giana Pratt. Giana is a graduate in Chemical & Manufacturing Engineering from the University of California.

Considering the time and money she can invest in her business, she has decided to open a company that can manufacture paint as well as provides its customers the facility of painting by highly efficient and professional painters.

2.2 Management

Before taking the initiative, you might be thinking that how to run a successful painting company , but if you are following a stepwise approach you don’t need to bother about it. Firstly, make a thorough painting business plan   envisaging all the important details of your business.

In case of Giana, as she was a graduate in pure engineering subject so she had decided to seek the services of professional house painting business plan writers to write a paint business plan for her.

Owing to the large number of equipment and manpower required in this business, she has decided to hire a General Manager even before the actual launch of the business to help her in managing several tasks.

2.3 Customers

Painting business has its customers in residential communities, commercial areas as well as in industries. Usually, the residents having a small apartment find it easy and enjoyable to paint by their own hands, so we will mainly focus on commercial level projects.

Moreover, we expect that most of the residents in such a big city would like this work to be done by someone expert and skilled. So, they are still in the category of our customers.

2.4 Target of the Company

The company aims at providing the highest quality services to its customers, taking care of the employees at the same time. We believe in making and maintaining long term relationships with our clients. Our target is to extend our business and include a broad range of related services so that our clients don’t need to contact several companies for the maintenance of their property.

The financial targets of the company are given here:

• To balance the startup cost by earned profits by the end of the first year
• To achieve a net profit margin of $100k per month by the end of the first year and to achieve the profit margin of $150k by the end of the second year.

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Giana Paints will be owned by Giana Pratt, a graduate in Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering from the University of California. Giana has a seven-year experience of working in Nippon Painters Company. She is a really ambitious and hardworking woman.

3.2 Why the Business is being started

After serving as a chemical engineer in Nippon Paints company, Giana has gained a valuable experience which she wants to flourish by opening her own business. After getting her shares she had everything required to open up a new business.

3.3 How the Business will be started

The first step will be to make a business plan for painting company , after which Giana will hire a manager to help her through the process of registration and insurance, buying equipment and employing people. A building will be taken on rent and modified to satisfy the requirements of the reception area, storage area for inventory and sitting lounge for employees.

The company has forecasted the following costs for the start-up:

The detailed information about the start-up is given below:

Services for customers

To fulfill the demands of the public, Giana had included the following services she wants to provide her customers in her painting business description .

Giana Paints aims at providing painting services to its customers by their own manufactured paint. The company, however, will extend itself and provide all the given services within just the two years of the launch.

• Residential Painting
• Commercial Painting
• Exterior Painting
• Flooring Services including safety and aisle striping
• Wall Cleaning
• Logo Paintings
• Pipe Coating
• Rust Encapsulation
• Bridge Painting

The price of services will vary depending on the project and deadline.

Marketing Analysis of Painting Contractors business

Great service.

Great service. Good turnaround time and quality work. Thanks!

If you are looking for how to build a successful painting business , you must focus on analyzing your target market and latest trends before finalizing your painting business plan .

Your paint manufacturing business plan must contain accurate market analysis and the trends that how other people are doing it. Marketing analysis for the Giana Paints according to its location and target market is provided here for your help if you want to study market trends for this business to know how to run a successful painting business .

5.1 Market Trends

Due to expansion in real estate, the business of painting mainly for commercial purposes is increasing with a surprising rate. According to IBISWorld, the business has seen an annual growth rate of 4.9 percent over the past five years and has generated total revenue of $40 billion in the year 2018. Despite the fact that more than 306,500 painter’s businesses are running in the United States, there is still place for many.

Marketing trends of this business are highly satisfactory and depict that you can never be at loss starting this business, provided that you plan it properly.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

Giana Paints has identified the following groups which can serve as its potential customers.

5.2.1 Industrial Sector : The major group of target customers will come from the industrial sector. We expect to get orders of flooring services, wall cleanings, rust encapsulation, pipe coatings etc. from this target group.

5.2.2 Commercial Estate Owners: This group includes the owners of the big building and offices who require services of highly professional, fast servicing and insured crew to help them in maintaining their estate. We expect to get long term projects and various orders from this group of our customers.

5.2.3 Home Owners: This group will comprise of the residents and homeowners who require professional and skilled painters to help them in renovating their houses and to paint inaccessible places. They are expected to use our painting, wall cleaning, and exterior painting services.

The detailed market analysis of our potential customers is given in the following table:

5.3 Business Target

Our main business targets are as follows:

• To achieve the net profit margin of $10k per month by the end of the first year, $15k per month by the end of the second year, and $25k per month by the end of the third year
• To balance the initial cost of the startup with earned profits by the end of the first year

5.4 Product Pricing

To get ourselves introduced to a wide audience we have priced our services and items a little lower than our competitors.

UK Start-Up Visa Business Plan

After composing your painting contractor marketing plan the next step is to define the plan by which you will be getting introduced to your target customers. A clear and effective advertising strategy for the painting business plan  will help you in gaining the customers, at the very instant you are starting a painting company .

6.1 Competitive Analysis

Knowing about the competition, it has to face, Giana Paints have come up with several competitive aspects that most of other in the same business lack. Our staff is highly customer care oriented and they will treat your property like a piece of art. We have skilled workers to paint your facility efficiently, followed by recurrent refinishing.

Moreover, our experts will be there as soon as possible after your contract and will finish all the work before the deadline. Lastly, we will be applying paint that is highly durable, stain resistant and can resist chemical effects too.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We will advertise ourselves in magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and social media
• We will make an online website for people to know about us and our services
• We will offer a 15% discount on our services for the first three months

6.3 Sales Monthly

  6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Our forecasted sales are summarized in the following column charts:

The detailed information about the sales forecast is given in the following table:

Personnel plan

Personnel plan gives you an estimation of the required staff and their salaries over the next few years. It is important to hire your required staff before at least one week of the actual launch of the business so that you will be able to define your painting contractor company profile , alongside training and testing their skills.

7.1 Company Staff

Giana will hire a general manager one month before the launch to help her in employing other staff and to manage the process of registrations. The company will initially hire the following people:

• 2 Administrators/Accountants for maintaining financial records
• 4 Sales Executives for discovering new ventures
• 4 Assistants for undertaking various day to day tasks
• 6 House Painters
• 1 IT Expert for managing the company’s website
• 1 Driver for transportation

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial plan.

The financial plan is a very essential part of your paint shop business plan . It includes the details about from where you will be collecting the capital to spend on your startup, and how long can you run your business with the present finances if you are failed to gain your target customers.

It is advisable to get your financial plan written by an expert, especially if you are starting on a big scale or also if it is Greek to you. As Giana hadn’t much experience in writing a financial plan so she had hired a financial expert to do this task for her. Giana Paints’ financial plan is as follows:

  8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 brake-even analysis.

  8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 profit monthly.

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

 8.6 business ratios.

Download Painting Contractors Business Plan Sample in pdf

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Artist Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Artist Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their artist businesses and art galleries . We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write an artist business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your artist business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.  

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start an artist business or grow your existing artist company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your artist business to improve your chances of success. Your artist business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.  

Sources of Funding for Artist Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for an artist business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for artist companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for an artist business.

If you want to start an artist business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your artist business plan.  

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of artist business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have an artist business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of artist businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the artist industry.
• Discuss the type of artist business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of artist business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of artist businesses:

• Antiques: This type of artist business may include the restoration, curation, and auction of antique furniture and other items.
• Art Consultant: This type of artist business involves helping clients find and select art pieces for their own collections.
• Tattoo Artist: Tattoos are a popular way for artists to earn money by tattooing permanent ink art onto their customers.
• Photography: Photographers may specialize in certain categories like wedding photography or nature photography.
• Graphic design: This type of business encompasses all kinds of design from creating logos and marketing materials for businesses to creating websites and designing products.
• Art teacher: This type of artist business involves art instruction and can include anything from teaching an elementary school art class to a recreational painting class, or an online art course.

In addition to explaining the type of artist business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, the number of art pieces sold, reaching $X amount in revenue, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the artist industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes. First, researching the artist industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating. Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends. The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your artist business plan:

• How big is the artist industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your artist business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your artist business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, families, and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of artist business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other art businesses. Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This may include other sources of art pieces, auctions, or resellers. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of artist business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you make it easier for your customers to engage with your product or service?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a artist business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of artist company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you sell paintings or sculptures, consult on various art pieces, instruct a painting class, etc?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your artist company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your artist business located in a busy retail district, a business district, a standalone office, or purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your artist marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your artist business, including answering calls, meeting with clients, billing and collecting payments, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth client, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your artist business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your artist business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing artist businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing an artist business or successfully running a small curation business.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you meet with 5 clients per day, and will you charge by the hour for art consultation services? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your artist business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a artist business:

• Cost of equipment and office supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your office location lease or a sample of your artist portfolio.  

Writing a business plan for your artist business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the sample template above, by the time you are done, you will have an expert artist business plan; download it to PDF to show banks and investors. You will understand the artist industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful artist business.  

Artist Business Plan Template FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my artist business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your artist business plan.

How Do You Start an Artist Business?

Starting an artist business is easy with these 14 steps:

• Choose the Name for Your Artist Business
• Create Your Artist Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Artist Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Artist Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Artist Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Artist Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Artist Business Equipment
• Develop Your Artist Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Artist Business
• Open for Business

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With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how Growthink’s business planning advisors can create your business plan for you.  

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Painting Contractors Business Plan

Start your own painting contractors business plan

Barnum Painters

Strategy and implementation summary.

As stated before, the company will focus on greater service through better scheduling, project management, and greater alignment of personnel by providing profit sharing. The company is seeking to use the most up-to-date communications and scheduling technology between the project manager, foreman, suppliers, and operations personnel to insure that deadlines are met. Furthermore, the company will seek to create a reliable pool of individual painters to draw upon and eventually hire all the painters full time with salary and other compensation.

The company also plans to carry out an agressive marketing plan starting in year three. This includes literature, TV, radio, billboards and strategic alliances with other large contractors that do not have their own painting services. These companies include Marble Construction, Talbot Construction and Burns & Associates.

Marketing Strategy

The following sections detail the marketing strategy for Barnum Painters.

Promotion Strategy

The company will be engaging in an agressive marketing program that will include mailers, phone solicitation, TV, radio, billboards and other platforms to generate service awareness, and value proposition. However, as stated elsewhere, the company’s immediate goal will be to generate enough profit to pay for such expenses. The marketing plan will go into effect starting in year three. Prior to this the company will use more modest marketing tools such as mailer, promotion of word-of-mouth marketing, and ads such as in the Yellow Pages.

Pricing Strategy

The company will price each project based on time, material, and a flat 5-10% profit margin, depending on the segment. In the first year or two, depending on sales, the company will focus more on getting the contracts than on maintaining its pricing structure. Therefore, profit margin may be a little low for the first year or two.

Sales Strategy

Sales forecast is based on the existing client base of the three principal officers of the company and their ability to generate new sales based on their contacts. By bringing together Mr. Kruger’s commercial painting experience and Mr. Barnum’s residential experience, the company will be able to generate sales in both areas. Furthermore, the company’s growing marketing program will generate the growth the company needs to survive.

Sales Forecast

See Sales Strategy.

Strategic Alliances

The company is currently in negotiations to form a strategic alliance with an undisclosed large contractor company. The agreement will be that Barnum Painters will provide all the painting needs that the contractor’s clients require and vice versa. The company will seek further alliances as situations develop. The company will seek only those contractors that have high standards of customer service and retention.

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