A painting business is one of the cheapest trades to start. You can begin with a van, a few ladders, good brushes and a sprayer you buy later. What separates the painters who last from the ones who go back to working for someone else is not the brush work. It is pricing, paperwork and a steady flow of jobs. Here is how to start in order.
1. Pick what you will paint first
Start with residential repaints. Interior rooms, whole house interiors and exteriors are most of the work in any market, and homeowners hire small companies for them. Add kitchen cabinets once you have a clean spray setup and a place to do doors, because cabinets pay well but punish mistakes. Leave new construction and commercial bids for later: they pay slower and want bonding, crews and paperwork you do not have yet.
2. Handle the paperwork
- Register the business with your state. An LLC costs $50 to $300 to file in most states
- Get an EIN from the IRS, free, online, in about ten minutes
- Check contractor licensing. Some states license painters (California and several others require a contractor license above a small job size), and many cities want a local business tax receipt
- Get EPA lead-safe certified if you will touch homes built before 1978. The RRP course is one day and runs about $250 to $400, and the firm needs its own certification too
- Buy general liability insurance. Expect $600 to $2,000 a year for a small painting company. Homeowners, property managers and every HOA will ask for the certificate
- Open a business bank account and run every dollar through it from day one
3. Equipment: what you actually need to start
You do not need an airless sprayer on day one. A working starter kit:
- A 6 foot step ladder, a 24 foot extension ladder and a ladder leveler
- Good angled brushes (2 and 2.5 inch), 9 inch and 18 inch roller frames, extension poles
- Drop cloths, plastic, tape, a hand masker and a shop vac
- Caulk guns, putty knives, sanding sponges and a pole sander
- A van or truck with racks
Most owners start for $2,000 to $5,000 and add a sprayer ($600 to $1,500 for a good one) once exteriors and cabinets come in.
4. Figure out your prices before the first call
Know your cost per hour, including insurance, gas and your own pay, and price jobs so each one pays you back plus profit. Paint is usually only 15 to 20 percent of a residential job; labor is the rest, so most new painters lose money by guessing on time, not on paint. Read how much to charge for interior painting and exterior painting cost per square foot before you quote.
5. Get your first customers
- Start with people you know and paint one room well enough that they post the photos
- Take a before and after of every job, from the same spot, from the very first room
- Set up a Google Business Profile with your service area and those photos
- Put up a simple website with prices, so people who find you at night can see a range and book you
- Answer every call. A painter who calls back the next day is usually second or third in line
Our guide on how to get painting customers goes deeper.
6. Take deposits and write everything down
Get a written estimate signed for every job, with the rooms, the colors, the number of coats and what is not included. Take a deposit to cover materials and hold the date. See painting deposits and getting paid for how much to ask and when.
7. Mistakes that sink new painting companies
- Underpricing to win the first jobs. It is hard to raise prices on the people who hired you for cheap, and you train referrals to expect it
- No written estimate. "Paint the living room" means walls to you and walls, ceiling, trim and the closet to them
- Skipping prep to save a day. Peeling paint comes back with your name on it
- Mixing business and personal money. Tax time becomes a guess
- Waiting for referrals alone. They are great, but they come in waves
How long until it pays
An owner operator who paints four to five days a week can bill $8,000 to $15,000 a month in a good season once the calendar is full. The ones who fill it fastest look professional from the first week: a real website, a quick answer on the phone, clear prices and photos of finished work.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a painting business?
Most owners start with $2,000 to $5,000 for tools, ladders, insurance and registration, plus a vehicle they already own. A sprayer and a second ladder set come later.
Do I need a license to start a painting business?
It depends on your state and city. Some states require a contractor license above a job size, most cities want a business tax receipt, and any work on homes built before 1978 needs EPA lead-safe certification.
Is a painting business profitable?
Yes, when you price by real production rates. Residential repaints commonly run 35 to 50 percent gross margin because materials are a small share of the price.