Things to Know Before Hiring a House Painting Company

To run a successful house painting company, you need to know some key things. These include costs, qualifications, insurance, and contracts. Also, you need to understand what the customer expects from you.

Avoid paying a contractor who isn’t insured or licensed. Check their license number and contact information. Also, ask for proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance.

Establishing your company name and logo will help shape customer perception of your business. Be sure to include your value proposition and what makes your business unique in your marketing materials. Garnering positive online reviews is another great way to build trust and attract new customers.

Costs

The cost of starting a house painting company can be expensive. There are a variety of costs to consider, including a business name, insurance, and taxes. It is also important to create a separate bank account for your business to keep track of your business finances. This will help to prevent any confusion between your personal and professional accounts.

Another cost to consider is the cost of paint and supplies. A gallon of interior paint can cost between $25 and $100. This cost can vary depending on the type of paint and the size of the room.

Many painting companies do not employ their painters and hire sub-contractors to perform the labor. This can be a risk for homeowners because they are not aware of the quality or professionalism of the workers. In addition, these companies may not pay their employee’s social security and unemployment benefits or maintain workers’ compensation insurance. It can also be illegal for them to do so.

Qualifications

Painting companies require several qualifications to operate. These include training, business licenses, and insurance. In addition, they must also be able to meet customer demands for fast service and quality work. If a company can’t meet these requirements, they may face financial problems. This can affect their ability to purchase supplies, market their services and pay contractors and employees.

Most house painters have no formal qualifications and learn on the job by assisting an experienced painter or participating in an apprenticeship program. Some states require that painters have several years of experience. Other qualifications include math skills for calculating project expenses and excellent communication skills for interacting with clients.

Many large, national franchise house painting companies use sub-contract crews to perform the labor. In this way, they are no different than any other business. Some even refuse to pay their crews, claiming that they didn’t complete the jobs satisfactorily. This is an alarming practice and should be avoided at all costs.

Insurance

If you want to hire a house painting company, ask to see proof of insurance coverage. This should include general liability, workers’ compensation, and commercial auto. You may also want to consider business interruption insurance. This type of coverage reimburses a painter for lost income during a shutdown caused by an accident or natural disaster.

Almost every painting company in New York needs a general liability policy with at least $1 million worth of protection. This covers damages that are incurred by customers or third parties. For example, if a painter’s employee accidentally breaks a client’s window with a ladder, the policy will pay for replacement costs.

Other types of insurance that painters need include commercial property insurance to protect equipment and inventory from fire or theft. This coverage is often combined with the general liability policy in a business owners’ package (BOP). In addition, many insurance companies offer specialized packages for painters that are less expensive than purchasing these policies individually.

Contracts

Whether it’s a residential or commercial project, your paint contract should be clear and concise. It should contain important details such as the nature of the work, project duration, and payment terms. It should also include legal information that protects both parties, such as an indemnification clause, a W-9 form, and non-compete language.

It should also include a breakdown of how long the project will take to complete and the cost of painting supplies. You should also include a time allowance for accidents and unforeseen incidents.

Another way to attract clients is to join a local trade association or business networking organization. Networking can lead to new leads, and it can help you build relationships with other contractors. You can even offer a discount to new customers as an incentive to book a job with you. Once the project is finished, you can create digital invoices over InvoiceOwl to process payments and record all payments.

Maintenance

In the maintenance phase, painting contractors repair cracks and holes in walls and trim and touch up any spots that need it. They also clean the surface of bare wood or plaster and apply a sealant before repainting. If the existing paint is in good condition, a primer coat can be applied to help ensure the new coating adheres well.

In addition to these core job duties, a full-service painting contractor must carry out other business operations such as invoicing customers and preparing final accounts based on the original estimates plus any additional work that was performed. They must also market their business by printing and distributing business cards, flyers and knocking door to door in the community.

A legitimate painting company will also screen, hire and train high-quality professional painters and maintain workers’ compensation insurance levels to protect both the painters and the homeowner from liability should one of them fall off of a ladder during a job at a customer’s home. This extra expense eats into the profit margin, but it is a necessary cost of doing business in the highly-competitive field of residential house painting.