You have years of managing different types of indoor and outdoor painting projects. That experience has you poised to open your own operation. But do you know how to start a painting contractor business of your own? Here are four key areas that must be addressed before you begin looking for customers.
Create a Legal and Properly Registered Operation
It’s important to take care of all the legalities related to establishing a new company before you do anything else. That means incorporating in whatever model that will work for you. The good news is that incorporating the business is simple. You can do it online and set in a matter of minutes.
You also want to register with the local municipality and ensure that the new entity is recognized. Both elements will help in terms of paving the way for setting up your accounting records and being able to remit tax payments in a timely manner.
Another bonus of being a legally recognized entity is that potential customers will be able to confirm that you’re the real deal and not some fly-by-night operation. That will help build confidence in your brand.
Design and Launch the Company Website
An online presence is essential, even for a local business. Start by designing and launching a company website. That site will provide the foundation for everything that you do to market the business. Make sure the pages load quickly, the information is easy to read, and that you include ways for interested parties to submit questions or schedule an appointment.
Once the site is up and running, augment it with business pages on the more popular social media sites. A blog would be good too. These other elements can be used to inform, entertain, and ultimately redirect potential customers to your website.
Secure Business Insurance
When people ask about how to start a painting contractor business, insurance is not the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, you want to have business coverage in place before you take on that first job. From insurance on your equipment and supplies to liability coverage that protects you and your clients, you want everything in place and kept up to date. An insurance professional can help you determine the types of business coverage that you need and the absolute minimum that will work for your company during the start-up phase.
Purchase All the Painting Equipment Needed to Manage Projects
What type of paint projects will you take on? Do you want to focus on residential painting or include commercial work in the mix? Will you concentrate on outside jobs or also handle inside work? Determine the type of projects you will accept and purchase basic equipment and supplies accordingly. You can add more specialized equipment as the business begins to take off.
While there’s more to launching and managing a new painting contractor business, these essentials will ensure you’re ready for that first client. Remember that it’s a good idea to secure legal counsel and ensure that every move you make is in compliance with local laws and regulations. In the long run, you’ll create a solid basis that increases the odds of success.