[DinaNpaint]

Hi. Brand new to the forum. Hope someone can help me. I can't seem to find the information I am looking for online. Just moved to Florida from Illinois where I had my own little painting business. There were no special licenses needed in Illinois to paint. I am currently in Ft Myers area and find it impossible to open my own business here because I would need to obtain a GC license basically to operate legally. Just to start of, I would have to work for $15 an hour for 4 years just so that I can prove that I worked under a licensed painter for 4 years. Who is going to feed and cloth my kids at this time? The licensing board? Sorry, I am venting. My question is, it seems that not all counties in Florida require a license, but I can't seem to find a list of counties that don't. I am particularly interested in Orlando area, like Seminole and surrounding counties. Any help is MUCH appreciated. Thanks. Deeana.

 

[Repaint Florida]

Hi. Brand new to the forum. Hope someone can help me. I can't seem to find the information I am looking for online. Just moved to Florida from Illinois where I had my own little painting business. There were no special licenses needed in Illinois to paint. I am currently in Ft Myers area and find it impossible to open my own business here because I would need to obtain a GC license basically to operate legally. Just to start of, I would have to work for $15 an hour for 4 years just so that I can prove that I worked under a licensed painter for 4 years. Who is going to feed and cloth my kids at this time? The licensing board? Sorry, I am venting. My question is, it seems that not all counties in Florida require a license, but I can't seem to find a list of counties that don't. I am particularly interested in Orlando area, like Seminole and surrounding counties. Any help is MUCH appreciated. Thanks. Deeana.

DinaNpaint,
Welcome to Florida & painttalk, please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your painting adventures

But as far a a licensee in Orange county ( Orlando ) or Seminole county all you need as far as a license goes is a County Business Tax Receipt

around $30 + depends on # of workers. You can also get 1 working out of your home, no commercial address needed

Basically in Florida if your inland that the licenses needed, if your along the coast then it's totally different your need to take test & more

That the reason pay is so low in Fl, $30 license, $700 GL insurance, W/C exemption, a home depot sprayer, pair of blue jeans and your a "professional painter" in Fl

That's what you'll be dealing with in this area, "pros" painting a exterior for $999 including paint

But don't give up there is good money here too
Rent a shop, nice truck / van, build a good crew, pay them good & do top quality work & CHARGE them for it

could talk hours on Central Florida's painting trade i've been painting here 38+ years

if you have any questions about area to live, good paint reps, good work areas let me know i'll be glad to help what i can

 

[DinaNpaint]

Thank you for the information. I will definitely put an intro together. That was in my plans. To comment on your responce about cheap labor in Orlando, I might be naïve I don't know, but somehow I am not particulary worried about it. I think the trick is not working more, but working smart, diligent and don't make promises you won't be able to keep. I would rather do 2 $3000 jobs a month masterfully than 10 $1000 jobs with so-so results. My work and reliability becomes my best marketing tool. Thank you again. You are so generous.

 

[DinaNpaint]

Also to add , according to a contractor I work with, in Collier and Lee counties and in most other counties if you have a college degree then the 48 months industry experience requirement is waved. Good news for those who have a degree. I am going down to the office next week to find out for sure.

 

[yokosuka]

I'm glad there is no massive license requirement since it does not make any sense to require it. I see illegals painting homes in my area for years. The Contractor has the business license and hires illegals by the van load. To make a legal citizen jump through hoops for what?

My best friend got canned at Disney by a H1B Visa clown. He has been out of work for 9 months and I'm helping him start a handy man business. He already has 6 painting job requests. We painted homes years ago working our way through college and it's a great way for him to get back on his feet. We just found a good used van, insurance, business license, ladders etc...(got to love Craigslist). Once we got started on this it was the first time he smiled in months. A great turn around in his life.

I long for the time a long ago in this country where a guy could start a business like this with little if any paperwork. Thank God it's this easy in Orange County.