The Paint Industry

DIFFERENT COMPANIES, DIFFERENT TITLES & DIFFERENT STYLES

The Landscape of painters, contractors & companies: what makes a painter and a paint contractor or company different from each other? Painters are typically solo or operate with a helper or helper(s) - normally Solo Painters are very detail oriented and focus on the quality of their interior/exterior paint project, but turn around/deadline times for larger projects are hard to meet due to people power and time management. When you're working on the tools every single day, its hard to manage all of the other business operations and manage your time. A good painter is normally a busy painter and it can be a challenge for solo painters to communicate, organize and manage clients or projects. This is not to say that solo Painters are a bad thing, many solo painters can offer pricing that is very competitive compared to larger companies who have multiple employees and larger overhead. There is a budget and market for everyone out there and for a lot of clients looking to paint their home on a smaller budget, sometimes a solo painter is the way to go. Paint Contractors or Paint Companies are normally well versed in organizing mid-size to large teams to tackle larger projects with tighter deadlines. Paint Contractors also have the ability to manage clients and projects through CRMs or management apps ie: builder trend, infusionsoft etc - offering clients an open line of communication and transparency during the course of their project. More established Painting Companies may have a larger price tag attached to their projects, but for clients who have very large homes to paint that may require multiple people on site, this is probably the route to consider when obtaining a quote or consultation. Neither one or the other is better than the other, however, as stated above, every project and every client has their own budget and requirements. There is enough work out there for everyone, so as a consumer, do your research as who you will be hiring. Referrals are the best way to go in this industry, and anyone who comes highly recommended whether solo or corporate, is normally a safe decision.

PRICING The paint industry is quite competitive. Unless you are part of the painters union, there are no qualifications, licenses or tickets required to start painting. This can make it difficult for consumers and painters/paint companies. As a painting company, we have been in the situation many times, while making a sales presentation; when you're put on the spot for your pricing while compared to a much lower quote. Interior Painting is not regulated, this means anyone can pick up a paint brush and call themselves a painter. In all of the years I have been doing business, the more experienced and season painters (if operating solo) will come with a higher price tag (per hour). As the saying goes "good work isn't cheap, and cheap work isn't good". If you are a consumer looking to have the interior or exterior of your home painted, its always recommended to obtain 2-3 quotes for comparison. The lowest price in this industry is normally not the best choice. The highest price may not suit your budget either. Its about clarity. Make sure whoever is giving your quote can confidently explain the pricing, its breakdown and what is involved. After all, painting the interior of someones home is a delicate operation and requires a lot of communication and labour. You want to make sure you can trust the painter/paint company you have hired, and also make sure you are getting great value for the price you are paying. Solo painters will more often than not be able to beat the price of a larger paint company, and there are many reasons for this. An experienced solo painter may charge for time and material (a per hour rate plus paint and materials used). A solo painter with the right amount of experience is worth every penny they are charging, so as a client, please do not try and haggle their price down. Paint companies normally carry more overhead, and if owned and operated by the right entrepreneur, can have a better grasp on their numbers and profit margins; making their pricing a little higher than a solo painter. In the end, you get what you pay for, and it costs more money in the long run to fix a poor paint job. So don't cheap out on the labour portion of work.