Both new and seasoned painting contractors need high quality painting supplies for a successful business. Building a good working relationship with paint suppliers is an important aspect of running a smooth house painting business or any other paint business. Supplies for painting contractors include paint, brushes, rollers, sanding supplies, paint guns and more.

When shopping for painting supplies there are well-known painting companies and then there are wholesale companies. The differences between these two types of suppliers is usually quality and price. A well-known paint service usually offers name brand paint products, while a wholesaler may offer cheaper pricing of generic brands. When beginning a relationship with a paint supplier, ask the following questions:

1. Are the products top quality or are they close-out or damaged items?

2. Does a painting contractor need a store account or can he use any form of payment?

3. Does the supplier offer contractor financing that summarizes monthly charges and provides an itemized bill?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find out the needed supplies for a painting service

Whether you're just starting out as a painting contractor or have years of experience, keeping up with the supplies and equipment is an important part of the job. Exterior painters need different supplies from interior painters, so finding a supplier that understands the needs of both types of painters is essential.

I recommend: The See-Bee Distributing Company offers an online catalogue of painting supplies, but you can also contact them for personal service. Painter Contracting Supply offers a huge selection of painting contractor supplies and boasts discount pricing on high-quality products.

Sign up with a web-based company that advertises painting contractor information

For a successful business, you need a supply of clients. You can buy all the supplies for painting contractors and end up waiting for work if you don't advertise well. Take advantage of web listings for commercial painting contractors and industrial painting contractors and broaden your advertising base.

I recommend: RingSurf has a special section on their website for painting contractors to list their business. Painting Contractors offer listings for exterior and interior painters organized by state.

Offer clients high quality paint products when selling your painting services

Ordering generic brand paint and painting supplies is fine if you need to save money. However, clients do look at the brand of painting supplies used on their home or business. Offering a high-quality paint may gain you more clients than using mediocre quality to save money on supplies.

I recommend: Castle Wholesalers offer different brand name products at wholesale prices. The Sherwin-Williams Company offers products, services and repair from a trusted painting source.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember to buy pre-printed estimate sheets from an office supply store. Clients will want house painting estimates and business painting estimates before deciding which contractor to use. A printed estimate sheet looks more professional than just telling the customer an estimated cost.

House painting and business painting are jobs better left to the professional. While painting a room, home or business yourself may cost less, painting contractors provide quick, quality and hassle-free services to get your painting job done right.

Selecting a painting contractor is not necessarily about finding the cheapest price. Clearly communicate your expectations, including the paint quality and colors desired, the preparation required and the scope of the painting project. Ask painting contractors to include worker’s compensation policies and proof of insurance with their bids. Choose painting contractors who offer excellent customer service, are punctual with appointments and express a genuine interest in your painting project.

To find painting contractors for your home or business, evaluate the following:

1. Does the painting contractor provide quality painting services, backed by references?

2. What kind of services does the painting contractor provide? Are the services clearly outlined in the job quote?

3. What price will the painting contractor charge you? Is the bid all-inclusive, or do additional services require extra charges?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire painting contractors who provide top-quality painting services and references

Qualified painting contractors will be more than happy to supply a list of satisfied customers as references. If you are still unsure about the painter's job quality after speaking to references, ask to examine the painting contractor's work completed at another home or business. Look for quality surface preparation, even paint coverage, excellent paint quality and attention to detail.

I recommend: ServiceMagic and Renovation Experts are good places to begin your painting contractor search by getting pre-screened painting contractor information online. InduSpray offers an online photo gallery highlighting a few of their industrial and commercial painting projects. Raider Painting features a client list on its website.

Choose painting contractors who clearly communicate their services

Select a commercial painting contractor who clearly outlines his services, like painting the ceiling, sanding the woodwork, filling imperfections, taping the windows and priming the walls. Conscientious painters will cover or remove furniture, clean up after the job is complete and return furniture to its original position. Find out if the painting contractor will be doing the job alone or with a crew, and request the same crew from the beginning of the job through completion to ensure consistency in quality.

I recommend: HomeBlue provides referrals to pre-screened painting contractors based on your specific type of painting project. Wilson & Hampton is a painting business that specializes in commercial, industrial or hospitality projects. Raider Painting offers a comprehensive services list created especially for business-related paint jobs.

Select painting contractors who offer competitive prices for the services rendered

A less expensive painting service quote does not always mean a better value. Ask exactly what services are included in each bid, if the painting business will be paid by the job or by the hour, and how long the paint job will take to complete. Get it in writing. If you are not purchasing the paint yourself, request a high-quality paint most appropriate for your project and expect to pay a mark up.

I recommend: Paint Platoon USA Coating Solutions are industrial painting contractors that offer free online price estimates. CertaPro Painters offers a limited 2-year warranty on interior and exterior paint jobs. Get free quotes from up to 4 commercial painting contractors in your state at Renovation Experts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some painting businesses work strictly on a referral basis without the need for advertising. A sure fire way to find a reputable paint contractor is to ask for references from friends, neighbors, relatives and co-workers.
• •  The best painting contractors communicate with you throughout your paint job and incorporate your options. If you are disappointed with a color selection, share your opinions openly. It is better to pay a little more for a new paint color than to live with a color you dislike.

Whether you’re hoping to start a painting business or want to update your house painting techniques and business skills, training geared toward painting contractors is a wise investment.

Educational opportunities are available to hone your skills on everything from painting techniques to training for commercial painting contractors to business strategies for house painting estimates. Become a more reputable contractor and boost your painting business by endeavoring to:

1. Sign up for seminars and workshops for painting contractors to gain experience in new techniques and discover new business tips for your painting service.
2. Enroll in online courses for house painting or industrial painting contractors to learn more about the industry and hone your skills at your own pace.
3. Order training videos to save money on education, but still uncover valuable training and information for your commercial or house painting business.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find painting contractors workshops and training to discover new techniques and business skills

Whether you're a house or commercial painting contractor, training seminars are vital to getting hands-on experience and seeing new techniques and business tools in action.

I recommend: Coatings Consultants offers seminars to help with your painting contractors business. Sign up for the Blueprint Reading, Painting Estimating and Business Management Skills seminar, for example, to learn house paint estimate skills, time-saving techniques and more efficient business practices. If you’re just starting out as a painting contractor, consider the apprenticeship and training offered by the Signatory Painting Contractors Organization. The program combines in-class learning with on-the-job instruction.

Take online education courses to become a more efficient and skilled painting contractor

Improve your skills without taking time off from your painting business by signing up for online training courses that let you learn at your own pace. You'll find everything from business courses to certification programs online.

I recommend: Sign up for online training and certification programs for painting contractors through the Society for Protective Coatings. Courses include such topics as the Fundamentals of Protective Coatings and Planning and Specifying Industrial Coatings Projects. Take online courses through the Contractor College of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America. Painting business-related courses cover topics like OSHA regulations, safety and sales skills.

Study training videos with helpful painting contractor information and business tips

Instructional DVDs and compact discs are a convenient way to learn new techniques. By mastering new skills, you'll be able to boost your business by offering clients a variety of painting services.

I recommend: Get the Contractor Training Package or the Paint Training CD series from the Paint Quality Institute aimed at helping painting contractors learn more about paint and painting practices. Douglas Publications, publisher of American Painting Contractor, offers continuing education for painting contractors. AudioConference compact discs cover topics like marketing strategies and liability.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider joining an association for painting contractors or sign up with an online community for the painting contractors to network with other professionals. They may tell you about additional educational literature, workshops or classes that you can use to enhance your skills.