Home/Rants/🎨 Painting/Finally hit $150k in painting gigs this year, here's what worked
Finally hit $150k in painting gigs this year, here's what worked
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CanvasCrusader
·6mo·78 replies·75 participants
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CanvasCrusader👑 LegendOP6mo
285
After scraping by on small interior jobs, I pushed hard on exterior house painting with Sherwin-Williams Emerald and crossed $150k in revenue. Switched to Graco airless sprayers and that cut my time in half on big walls. Feels damn good after 10 years grinding.
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DrainDiver⭐ Expert6mo
38
Big box stores killing us with their cheap paint lines, can't compete on price anymore.
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RollerRanger3⭐ Expert6mo
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Screw the big boxes, I stick to local referrals and charge premium for quality.
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TileTerror7⭐ Expert6mo
56
Yeah, Home Depot specials look like crap after a year.
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RootRipper⭐ Expert6mo
40
Lost a bid last week to some hack using Walmart paint.
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ChillMasterHV👑 Legend6mo
65
Congrats man, that's the milestone I been chasing.
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CircuitSnake👑 Legend6mo
127
Same here, been at $120k and plateaued.
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WattTheHeck6⭐ Expert6mo
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SharkBite for plumbing but for painting? Nah, stick to brushes over rollers for trim.
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DoorOpenerDan2⭐ Expert5mo
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Disagree, rollers save hours on flat walls.
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WeedWhackerWiz2🏆 Master5mo
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Rollers bleed if you don't cut in right.
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PalletPro🏆 Master5mo
49
Hybrid approach, cut in with brush then roll.
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HeatPumpHero🏆 Master5mo
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Use Jobber for scheduling, keeps me booked solid at $80/hr.
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NailGunNinja4🏆 Master5mo
45
ServiceTitan is overkill for solo painters.
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KeyMasterKev2⭐ Expert5mo
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Purple paint? Total BS, just a fad.
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FloorFumbler🏆 Master5mo
54
Nah, clients love the vibe in open spaces.
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RollerRanger9🏆 Master5mo
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Overhyped, goes on weird under certain lights.
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PestPatrolPete🏆 Master5mo
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Watched Idaho Painter's vid on exterior prep, game changer for longevity.
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RollerRogue⭐ Expert5mo
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That guy's tips saved my ass on a rainy job.
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SpotlessSteve10⭐ Expert5mo
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His TikToks are gold for quick fixes.
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VentMaster993⭐ Expert4mo
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$150k? I'm at $90k and burned out from ladders.
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HammerTimePro🏆 Master4mo
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Clients nickel and diming over every drop of paint.
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DrainDragon3⭐ Expert4mo
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Insurance rates through the roof after one slip and fall.
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BreakerBoxBen⭐ Expert4mo
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PE firms buying up painting crews, squeezing margins.
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VoltageVampire🏆 Master4mo
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Yeah, lost two good painters to a roll-up last month.
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FrameItRight⭐ Expert4mo
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Felt that, my back's killing me from all the overhead.
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DustBunnyBoss👑 Legend4mo
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Same, knees shot after 15 years on scaffolds.
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TileTamer⭐ Expert4mo
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Congrats on the milestone, inspiring.
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RoofRider2⭐ Expert4mo
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Thanks, needed to hear that.
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FloorFanatic2⭐ Expert4mo
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Graco sprayers? Best investment for big jobs.
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DustBunnyBoss👑 Legend4mo
53
Sherwin-Williams Duration holds up way better than BM.
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SoilSculptor🏆 Master4mo
44
Duration for exteriors, no doubt.
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RefrigerantRon⭐ Expert3mo
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Just quoted $5k for a full interior, client ghosted.
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ZapMaster3🏆 Master3mo
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Hire a helper at $20/hr, scales you faster.
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SparkPlugSam🏆 Master3mo
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Finding reliable ones is the real pain.
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SpotlessSteve3⭐ Expert3mo
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LOL, client asked if I could paint their doghouse for free.
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OddJobOtto2⭐ Expert3mo
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How do you handle color matching with Emerald?
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TarheelTiler5⭐ Expert3mo
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Always test samples, never assume.
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HeatHustler⭐ Expert3mo
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$150k is solid, but taxes eat half.
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RoofRat🏆 Master3mo
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Up in Minnesota and exteriors are seasonal hell.
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SparkPlugSam2🏆 Master3mo
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Aim for $200k next, add commercial bids.
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FixItFelix⭐ Expert3mo
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Commercial pays steady, less drama.
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ColorChanger2🏆 Master3mo
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Frustrated with lead gen, Angi leads suck.
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DoorJamDud⭐ Expert3mo
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What's your markup on materials?
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KeyMaster5⭐ Expert2mo
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30% on paint, covers waste.
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NailGunnerNed⭐ Expert2mo
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Client complained about brush marks on trim.
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BoxHaulerBen🏆 Master2mo
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Nextdoor groups are gold for local painting jobs.
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VoltageVampire🏆 Master2mo
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Man, that $150k grind sounds exhausting but worth it.
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SplashMaster⭐ Expert2mo
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Don't skimp on primer, saw a job peel after 6 months.
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SprayMaster⭐ Expert2mo
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Zinsser all the way for tough surfaces.
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ComboKey⭐ Expert2mo
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We all been there, pushing for that next level.
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FixItFelix3🏆 Master2mo
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QuickBooks for tracking paint expenses keeps me sane.
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SweepSquad2⭐ Expert2mo
35
Yeah, integrates with invoicing perfect.
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VoltageVagabond3⭐ Expert2mo
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Hate when clients change colors mid-job.
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LawnLizardLarry⭐ Expert2mo
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Congrats, man. $150k is huge.
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BoltBreaker2⭐ Expert2mo
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S corps for tax savings on painting income.
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ThermostatTamer🏆 Master1mo
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Switched last year, saved 10k.
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PalletPro🏆 Master1mo
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Roller covers wearing out too fast with Emerald.
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FumeFighter2🏆 Master1mo
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Guy in Painting Contractors FB group ranted about the same.
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PestPatrolPete🏆 Master1mo
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Felt the burnout after long seasons.
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ChillOutTech🏆 Master1mo
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$120/hr for specialty finishes if you niche down.
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LockPickLarry9🏆 Master1mo
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How'd you market the exterior push?
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KeyKeeperKate🏆 Master1mo
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Yard signs and referrals, cheap and effective.
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RoofRat883⭐ Expert1mo
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Ladders in wind? Nightmare waiting.
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LadderLad5⭐ Expert1mo
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Hire at $25/hr, train on safety first.
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ChillMaster3👑 Legend1mo
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Safety gear costs add up quick.
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NailGunNinja11⭐ Expert1mo
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LOL, painted a ceiling and got drop cloth revenge.
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CoilCleaner2🏆 Master29d
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Exteriors in humidity? Use Duration Exterior.
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EaveExpert3⭐ Expert26d
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Mold resistant, worth the extra.
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CircuitSavage👑 Legend24d
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Big corps undercutting with illegal labor.
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LatexLegend👑 Legend21d
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Sherwin-Williams rep hooked me up with bulk deals.
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SparkPlugSue6🏆 Master18d
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Same, 15% off for volume.
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DirtBagDan2🏆 Master15d
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Knees trashed from all the kneeling on floors.
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FramingFool4🏆 Master13d
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Clients think painting is easy, until the mess.
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CircuitBreakerBob🏆 Master10d
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$150k? Dream for most of us.
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TarheelTiler6🏆 Master8d
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Keep grinding, you'll get there.
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FixItFelix10👑 Legend6d
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Watched a Tommy Mello vid on scaling service biz.
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SolderSavant2⭐ Expert4d
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Felt that milestone high, cherish it.
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WireWizard2⭐ Expert2d
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Union painters getting fat contracts while we hustle.
