The Online Resource for the Painting Industry
Yelp. Angie’s List. Google. Review sites are a reality of doing business. They’re a vital portion of the local SEO process and they’re an important source of sales. Yet, at times, they can be very destructive to a business. Some sites, Yelp in particular, seem to aggressively filter out any positive review while placing malicious, […]
We all take our cars in to the mechanic for periodic checks, and as painting contractors you often offer home maintenance or warranty inspections to check that your customer’s home exterior is in good shape and that the coatings are wearing well. As a business owner, how often do you check up on how your […]
Is it really possible to create systems for a Painting Company? This is a common topic in Painter’s Discussion Boards. Could you run it along the lines of a “franchise prototype” as described by Michael E. Berger in the The E-Myth Revisited? Most of us are proud trades people that produce amazing paint jobs. How […]
I’m booked solid for summer, I need to hire! It’s a typical cycle for most paint companies, the calls come in the spring, we get booked and the calls continue. What are the options? Turn down the work? Ask clients to schedule in the winter? Hire more painters? Where do I find painters? All three […]
What are your business plans for 2013? The last few weeks have been tough; you have had to lay guys off because of the winter, you are struggling to fill up your board, you wonder if you will make it through the months ahead. Of course you will! This is because you are in the […]
Planning for next year… Now that your marketing plans for winter well under way and are better able to understand the size of the workforce that you can use in the next few months, it is time to start considering who should be on the team and who should be out the door. You have […]
If you want to grow your business, you can’t do it by yourself. You must have a team. When it comes to building a High Performance team, one that is coordinated and effective, performance management and reviews are paramount. Now is the time! Be open with your team about your goals. Tell your people, “with our […]
“Begin with the End in Mind” I think most business owners are familiar with this line, “Begin with the End in Mind” from Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. When we are just starting out in business, many of us only have a vague idea about where the “end” point will […]
I know, I know — you’re PAINTERS. Why should you waste your time doing your workers’ comp audit? Well, for starters, as business owners, I’m sure you all know not to blindly trust what anyone tells you. If you did, you wouldn’t have gotten where you are. So why should you trust an auditor? Don’t […]
Do I have to have Workers Compensation Insurance? If you have employees, yes. Some states require it as part of your license, so even if you are a sole proprietor, you may be required to have a policy and exempt yourself, sometimes for as little as $50 a year. Check here to see what is required […]
Selling is tough! Prospects are constantly beating us up. There’s always someone giving a cheaper estimate; often cheaper in every sense. But, our employees need to feed their families. The schedule needs to be filled. The economy is slow. We feel like our backs are between a rock and a hard place! Often, we take […]
The 2012 U.S. Interior Paint Satisfaction study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates came out in April. Benjamin Moore ranked highest in customer satisfaction, Sherwin Williams was second and Behr third. While we salute the manufacturers who scored well, we also have to peel back the layers of this onion and see if it brings any […]
Below are six practical steps we have found to be highly successful. Use the items below to create a plan for your team.Then stick to it for at least six months. If you like, Summit can help. After six months, our experience tells us you will have come a long way and you will want to keep going.
Every morning, you get up, go to work and lead your painting company through another day. You‘re satisfied if you get through the day without too many problems from your customers and employees. You’re even happier if there’s money left over for you. Then, you get up and do it again. So, where’s it all […]
Are you spinning your wheels? Many of us are so busy working “in our business” that we put working “on our business” low on the priority list. Add to the list Social Media, Training Employees, Hiring , Paperwork and keeping up on the endless changes in RRP Rules, and it is a wonder how we […]
