How to Start a Small House Painting Business

Do you enjoy painting? Have you always dreamed of owning your own business? Do you think you have the motivation and determination to run your own small house painting business? Do you wonder how you should begin? What steps are essential?Here are some tips to help you get your small house painting business up and running.

Things You'll Need

• Tools
• Line of credit to purchase your tools
• Truck or van
• Employees
• City licenses
• Workers compensation on your employees
• Liability Insurance
• References
• A simple name for your business
• A basic office setup

Instructions

Buy the Tools You Need

1. Acquire the tools you will need. These will include: brushes and rollers of all sizes, painter's tape, extension poles, ladders, plastic or fabric drop cloths, buckets and possibly even coveralls. When you begin to purchase these tools, you may want to consider taking out a credit line at the local hardware or paint store which you think you will be shopping at the most. A credit line will make purchasing products easier (especially when you are short on cash) and it can help you to keep track of your expenses easier. Some stores will even give contractors a small percentage off of purchases when they use a credit line.

2. Buy a truck or a van to store and haul your tools around from one job site to the next.This truck or van doesn't have to be the latest model and year. But it does have to be a dependable one.If you have to take out a loan, to purchase this, be sure to keep all receipts for tax purchases. You may be able to use the purchase as a partial tax deduction.If you decide to place a decal advertising your new small house painting business on your truck or van, check with your local license bureau to see if you will have to purchase a special commercial tag (or otherwise you may receive a ticket).

3. Secure references from past employers and definitely from people who you have painted houses for in the past.Many potential customers may ask for references. Keep this list of references handy.

4. Decide on a name for your small house painting business (if you hadn't all ready done so). Keep the name short and simple.

5. Apply for any licenses that the city in which you plan on working requires. Do this before you begin any jobs.

6. Apply for state workers compensation. This is the law. To make this process easier you may wish to do this online at: http://www.workerscompensation.com/. How much you will pay will depend on the state you live and how many workers you plan on hiring (remember to count any clerical workers, too).

7. Purchase liability insurance for your company and all workers you hire. This will protect you in has an accident occurs on a job site and damages (to people or property) occurs. Having liability insurance may help you to acquire jobs, too. Keep all receipts. You can use this as a business write off when tax season comes.

8. Hire as many workers as you think you will need. To help you pick out the best employees, actually conduct interviews, asking the questions you believe are important. If you wish to run a background check on any or all of them, be sure to have them sign a release. Then take the release to your local police station, where you will have to pay a small processing fee.

9. Set up a space for your office needs. This could be a small area of your home or you may actually rent a building for this purpose. Your office space is needed for you to have a place to do your billing, to keep track of all your filing and to even schedule upcoming jobs. Be sure to have at least the basic office set up needs such as: a desk, a filing cabinet, a calculator and a calendar. You may even wish to have a computer, a fax machine, a copier, a printer (or an all in one machine) and a telephone.

10. Begin advertising to gain business exposure. Put ads out in your local newspaper. Place ads on your local radio stations. Have fliers added to your local papers or even mailed to potential customers. Buy business cards to hand out to potential customers and to friends and family. Be sure to state plainly about the types of painting you specialize and do not forget to mention that you have references and liability insurance.

11. Keep a calendar handy to schedule all your upcoming jobs

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to check with your license bureau to see if you need to purchase commercial tags before placing any company ads on your truck or van. Check with past employers and customers to see if you can use them as references.