What do you guy's think about this painters ad? - Paint Talk

johnpaint · 02-08-2010, 02:45 PM

Painting Teams Needed in the Portland area for subcontracting. We are a residential painting company; we do both interiors and exteriors, and we do occasional commercial work.

Requirements:

Team of at least 2-4 workers
At least 5 years of painting experience
Professional demeanor and experience interacting with homeowners and other customers
Experience subcontracting
Own tools and equipment, including ladders and sprayers
Reliable truck or van (no labels)
1 Million General Liability Insurance
Workers' Compensation coverage for your team

We pay 50% of the contract, minus materials (on your end). If you are a consistently A+ team, we can keep you busy all season.
If you are interested please email your qualifications, or call us at 877.665----

* Location: Portland/Beaverton
* Compensation: Contract
* This is a contract job.
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

michfan · 02-08-2010, 02:49 PM

50%????

SIGN ME UP

Rcon · 02-08-2010, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michfan

50%????

SIGN ME UP

50% less materials. Even better

**Workaholic** · 02-08-2010, 03:47 PM

If he is selling jobs at 50% your normal rate then it might be a great fit.

WisePainter · 02-08-2010, 05:30 PM

I lived in Beaverton for awhile, the money is not worth the years of paying for therapy after never seeing blue sky for 10 months straight...otherwise, sounds interesting?

fresh coat · 02-08-2010, 06:15 PM

WB Wise.

The OP sounds identical to a local company here (si). They get a ton of bad press from the subs but I haven't seen anything negative from a customer view point. I haven't really looked though. These guys are huge players. Way out of my league at this stage of my business.

On the surface, it looks like it could work. Labor usually equals 30 - 40%. Materials around 10 - 15%. That's ~50%. I'd think the most important aspect would be hiring a quality sub.

aaron61 · 02-08-2010, 06:19 PM

I would want to look at a project and see what it pays. might be worth it. We sub quite a bit of work of of Serv Pro. They have a set amount they are willing to pay. Some I take,some I don't.

DeanV · 02-08-2010, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fresh coat

WB Wise.

The OP sounds identical to a local company here (si). They get a ton of bad press from the subs but I haven't seen anything negative from a customer view point. I haven't really looked though. These guys are huge players. Way out of my league at this stage of my business.

On the surface, it looks like it could work. Labor usually equals 30 - 40%. Materials around 10 - 15%. That's ~50%. I'd think the most important aspect would be hiring a quality sub.

That is why it would not work most likely. Unless they are selling the job for SUBSTANTIALLY more than you sell your jobs for. You would not be able to recover your overhead in this situation. They would be looking to pay employee wages to someone with company overhead.

fresh coat · 02-08-2010, 06:52 PM

......

caseysbuilding · 02-08-2010, 07:22 PM

Not written very well.

wje · 02-08-2010, 07:44 PM

They expect fly by night prices, with a legit players pre-requisits. Workers Comp, Liability, nice work truck with no name or print on it and they make just as much as you, for letting you do the job. Where do I sign?

In all honesty, I have no problems with my work being marked up.... ONLY if I am still getting my prices, but I honestly can't see anybody paying double what I charge.

michfan · 02-08-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanV

That is why it would not work most likely. Unless they are selling the job for SUBSTANTIALLY more than you sell your jobs for. You would not be able to recover your overhead in this situation. They would be looking to pay employee wages to someone with company overhead.

Exactly. You have to provide insurance, vehicles, gas, equipment, etc. In fact, a person might be better off to work for them by the hour for a decent wage.

fresh coat · 02-08-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wje

They expect fly by night prices, with a legit players pre-requisits. Workers Comp, Liability, nice work truck with no name or print on it and they make just as much as you, for letting you do the job. Where do I sign?

In all honesty, I have no problems with my work being marked up.... ONLY if I am still getting my prices, but I honestly can't see anybody paying double what I charge.

I'm not sure how they make it work but apparently it works for them. They've been around for awhile and are one of the biggest players in the game in my area. Pure speculation on my part, but I think they transfer all of the blame / responsibility onto the sub. Kind of a cya thing. That's probably why they have a nasty rep with the subs?

aaron61 · 02-08-2010, 07:55 PM

How do you know until you look at the project. They are plenty of good business that sub the painting out. I make great money from ServPro!! Brian subs out all of his painting work,are you putting these same slams on him as well??

fresh coat · 02-08-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron61

How do you know until you look at the project. They are plenty of good business that sub the painting out. I make great money from ServPro!! Brian subs out all of his painting work,are you putting these same slams on him as well??

Good point. You've got to look at the work OR have a trusting relationship with the cat that is estimating.

**Workaholic** · 02-08-2010, 08:05 PM

Seriously though if the guy sells high dollar work and can deliver on the flow of jobs then it could be worth it, just depends on the bottom line.

DeanV · 02-08-2010, 08:10 PM

Hence the "Substantially More" cavaet. There are a few companies that for various reasons can sell for more than others. If the company is one of those, it may work.

wje · 02-08-2010, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron61

How do you know until you look at the project. They are plenty of good business that sub the painting out. I make great money from ServPro!! Brian subs out all of his painting work,are you putting these same slams on him as well??

I have sub contracted for many people and companies, I know they make money subbing the work out, but to know going into it you are only getting half of the jobs worth, plus you fork out the materials wouldn't sit well. I wouldn't mind that they are making a 100% markup if they didn't go out of the way to tell you that up front. What if they crap the bed on an estimate and you still only get 50% of their price? Seems kinda weird, but whatever works, I would gladly be the front man, I just wouldn't run to the phone to do the work. Iwould rather compete head to head and win the business myself.

On a side note I have dabbled in other construction areas and made great money by both having employees and just subbing it out. Employees were great, but then I had to deal with all material runs, tools, clean up, set up, and constant communication as apposed to the sub route where I just gave a scope of the job and checked in every night for progress and then got one final bill at the end.

All in all, I made more money off of employees, but the extra money went towards my wage to cover all the extra time i spent on site during other trades work. Sub contracting made me less money, but more profit for way less work and worry.

Like I said, It is great for the Contractor, it is just hard being the sub with little wiggle room for any extras, and every dollar counts.

aaron61 · 02-08-2010, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wje

I have sub contracted for many people and companies, I know they make money subbing the work out, but to know going into it you are only getting half of the jobs worth, plus you fork out the materials wouldn't sit well. I wouldn't mind that they are making a 100% markup if they didn't go out of the way to tell you that up front. What if they crap the bed on an estimate and you still only get 50% of their price? Seems kinda weird, but whatever works, I would gladly be the front man, I just wouldn't run to the phone to do the work. Iwould rather compete head to head and win the business myself.

On a side note I have dabbled in other construction areas and made great money by both having employees and just subbing it out. Employees were great, but then I had to deal with all material runs, tools, clean up, set up, and constant communication as apposed to the sub route where I just gave a scope of the job and checked in every night for progress and then got one final bill at the end.

All in all, I made more money off of employees, but the extra money went towards my wage to cover all the extra time i spent on site during other trades work. Sub contracting made me less money, but more profit for way less work and worry.

Like I said, It is great for the Contractor, it is just hard being the sub with little wiggle room for any extras, and every dollar counts.

So you have a problem with them being honest???
Why do you care what they make??
How can you compete head to head on a job you no nothing about and have not been asked to bid on????
I am SOOOOO confused!!!!!

johnpaint · 02-08-2010, 09:26 PM

The way I see it, they would have to be bidding at maybe 120% more than most contractors. I mean how much can you really get for a 2,000 SF exterior?