[infoseeker]

Hi all,
Ian here, this is a first post for me so please be pateint. I am researching a painting business start up in Ontario Canada. I have what you would consider limited hands on painting experience, however the prep and paint work i have done i have enjoyed. My intention would be to handle the business end of things and do the painting myself.
I have been following this site and contractortalk.com for some time and find all the info to be a huge help.
It seems to me that there are 3 main areas to learn in the painting business. Painting itself, marketing, and estimating.
My question is this : has anyone purchased Andy Thompson's Painting for profits course? He is on the web at startapaintingbusiness.com
He seems to address most aspects of the painting industry and i'm wondering if his "course" is worth buying before taking the plunge?
Has anyone purchased his "kit" (or something similar) with good or bad results?
Thanks in advance for any help !
cheers.
Ian.

 

[Thepaintman]

Welcome Ian!!!

I haven't seen "Andy Thompson's Painting" so I can't help you there. I'm sure with the vast knowledge here someone will come up to bat.

Jerry

 

[timhag]

Welcome from Pittsburgh

It seems to me that there are 3 main areas to learn in the painting business. Painting itself, marketing, and estimating.

My question is this : has anyone purchased Andy Thompson's Painting for profits course? He is on the web at startapaintingbusiness.com
He seems to address most aspects of the painting industry and i'm wondering if his "course" is worth buying before taking the plunge?
Has anyone purchased his "kit" (or something similar) with good or bad results?
Thanks in advance for any help !
cheers.
Ian.

Never heard of Andy Thompson:no:

 

[vermontpainter]

Never heard of Andy Thompson:no:

Ok so out of curiosity I went to his website and he says I can turn my existing business into a cash cow...sign me up!

Seriously, I use a great set of resources that is available through a highly respected advertising partner right here on Painttalk. Look to the far right of your screen.

 

[Rich]

Welcome to painttalk Ian!

I personally don't believe you can learn anything about painting from a book, cd, or video alone. I am a firm believer that real experience working for someone is key. Not dabbling in it, not doing some work for a friend or family member, but working for someone else making a paycheck.

I feel like anyone who has any less than 5 years full time, day in day out experience shouldn't even consider a business.

These are just my opinions since meeting a whole bunch of painters in forums and hearing the issues they have.

 

[HomeGuardPaints]

its not the popular opinion on this board, but you can run a painting company without having painted professionally. I have never painted for a paycheck and will exceed $600,000 in sales this year, so it can be done.

If you want to own a painting company, either learn how to paint damn well or hire someone who can paint damn well. If you choose the 2nd option you better learn how to prospect, sell, estimate and manage. It can be done, and it won't be easy. If you desire to stay small and not worry with the management headaches then I suggest work for someone else and learn how to paint before jumping in on your own. Unfortunately the only way to learn how to professionally paint is practice.

 

[slickshift]

Hi Ian
I'm sure you'll find good info here
Just post up your Qs in the appropriate sections
I'm sure you'll get some responses


....and welcome!

 

[infoseeker]

Thanks guys !

Thanks for some excellent advice guys.
Vermontpainter, i assume your resource reference was for out of the bucket? Brian i believe? If so i have read some of his posts and man he is one sharp cookie. He seems to set a high standard for a painting business. Its the type of business i would like to develop.

Rich, i tend to agree with you, i prefer to "learn to do by doing". However, any info i can soak up before starting seems like time well spent. I am considering working for a minimum of 6 months painting for someone else, however i wonder if given my lack of experience, the work i would get might be low quality for a company that is just hiring 10 dollar an hour painters to slap on a coat of apartment paint. I have seen ads for reputable companies, but most seek exp. painters with owned tools. Other than a positive attitude and great work ethic, how would i convince a reputable business to hire a guy with little hands on experience ?

HomeGuardPaints, my intention is to go it solo with mainly residential repaints. I owned and operated a successful automotive business for 12 years with several employees and i dont really wish to go that route again. I am not looking to make a killing, but i would obviously like to make a living doing quality work, while still having time to help out my son in high school and perhaps even bring him into the biz eventually. I'm wondering, would i learn estimating by working for someone else ? Would the owner not want to keep that info to himself in order to discourage workers from going out on their own ? I know from past experience it sucks to fully train an employee only to have them leave and become my competition.

Again, thanks to everyone who replied. Sorry to drone on so long.
cheers.
Ian.

 

[rhobkickrhun]

andy thompson?

hi ian-

found your post by googling andy thompson. i too am considering making this investment. did you ever end up taking the plunge? if so, was it valuable? thank you.

-rhob

 

[paint_booger]

cheers

 

[C. VASUDEVAN]

Dear Ian,

What you said is 100% correct. No body would teach you and make you a competitor for him. To succeed you need to do on a trial and error method.

All the best:yes:

Vasu

 

[RE-Paint]

Andy Thompson

Hello Ian,
I did purchase Andy Thonpson's materials and it is worth every penny. I too have started from scratch and don't agree with those who only say learn from experience. Andy has vast experience and enjoys sharing it. Nuff said.
Rob

 

[lakesidepainting]

I purchased andy thompsons painting for profits. and it was a waist of money unless you want to paint apartments for the rest of your life save your money

 

[Painter-Aaron]

If a company won't hire you for more then just a prep guy why would a homeowner hire you with no experience. You need to make your mistakes while there is somebody to teach you how to fix them. Properly.