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
·1y·84 replies·80 participants
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CanvasCrusader⭐ ExpertOP1y
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⚒️ Journeyman1y
38
Big box stores killing us with their cheap paint lines, can't compete on price anymore.
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RollerRanger3⚒️ Journeyman1y
62
Screw the big boxes, I stick to local referrals and charge premium for quality.
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TileTerror7⚒️ Journeyman1y
56
Yeah, Home Depot specials look like crap after a year.
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RootRipper⚒️ Journeyman1y
40
Lost a bid last week to some hack using Walmart paint.
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ChillMasterHV⭐ Expert1y
65
Congrats man, that's the milestone I been chasing.
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert11mo
127
Same here, been at $120k and plateaued.
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WattTheHeck6⚒️ Journeyman11mo
13
SharkBite for plumbing but for painting? Nah, stick to brushes over rollers for trim.
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DoorOpenerDan2⚒️ Journeyman11mo
61
Disagree, rollers save hours on flat walls.
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WeedWhackerWiz2⚒️ Journeyman11mo
56
Rollers bleed if you don't cut in right.
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PalletPro⚒️ Journeyman11mo
49
Hybrid approach, cut in with brush then roll.
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HeatPumpHero⚒️ Journeyman11mo
47
Use Jobber for scheduling, keeps me booked solid at $80/hr.
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NailGunNinja4⚒️ Journeyman11mo
45
ServiceTitan is overkill for solo painters.
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KeyMasterKev2⚒️ Journeyman11mo
5
Purple paint? Total BS, just a fad.
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FloorFumbler⚒️ Journeyman11mo
54
Nah, clients love the vibe in open spaces.
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RollerRanger9⚒️ Journeyman11mo
53
Overhyped, goes on weird under certain lights.
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PestPatrolPete⚒️ Journeyman11mo
33
Watched Idaho Painter's vid on exterior prep, game changer for longevity.
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RollerRogue⚒️ Journeyman10mo
64
That guy's tips saved my ass on a rainy job.
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SpotlessSteve10⚒️ Journeyman10mo
48
His TikToks are gold for quick fixes.
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VentMaster993⚒️ Journeyman10mo
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$150k? I'm at $90k and burned out from ladders.
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HammerTimePro⭐ Expert10mo
59
Clients nickel and diming over every drop of paint.
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DrainDragon3⚒️ Journeyman10mo
53
Insurance rates through the roof after one slip and fall.
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BreakerBoxBen⚒️ Journeyman10mo
59
PE firms buying up painting crews, squeezing margins.
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VoltageVampire⭐ Expert10mo
69
Yeah, lost two good painters to a roll-up last month.
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FrameItRight⚒️ Journeyman10mo
82
Felt that, my back's killing me from all the overhead.
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DustBunnyBoss⭐ Expert10mo
72
Same, knees shot after 15 years on scaffolds.
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TileTamer⚒️ Journeyman10mo
42
Congrats on the milestone, inspiring.
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RoofRider2🔧 Apprentice10mo
69
Thanks, needed to hear that.
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FloorFanatic2⚒️ Journeyman10mo
5
Graco sprayers? Best investment for big jobs.
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DustBunnyBoss⭐ Expert9mo
53
Sherwin-Williams Duration holds up way better than BM.
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SoilSculptor⭐ Expert9mo
44
Duration for exteriors, no doubt.
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RefrigerantRon🔧 Apprentice9mo
37
Just quoted $5k for a full interior, client ghosted.
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ZapMaster3⚒️ Journeyman9mo
55
Hire a helper at $20/hr, scales you faster.
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SparkPlugSam⚒️ Journeyman9mo
68
Finding reliable ones is the real pain.
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SpotlessSteve3⚒️ Journeyman9mo
151
LOL, client asked if I could paint their doghouse for free.
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OddJobOtto2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
13
How do you handle color matching with Emerald?
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TarheelTiler5⚒️ Journeyman9mo
65
Always test samples, never assume.
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HeatHustler⚒️ Journeyman9mo
71
$150k is solid, but taxes eat half.
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RoofRat⭐ Expert9mo
55
Up in Minnesota and exteriors are seasonal hell.
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SparkPlugSam2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
57
Aim for $200k next, add commercial bids.
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FixItFelix⚒️ Journeyman9mo
38
Commercial pays steady, less drama.
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ColorChanger2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
50
Frustrated with lead gen, Angi leads suck.
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DoorJamDud⚒️ Journeyman8mo
9
What's your markup on materials?
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KeyMaster5⚒️ Journeyman8mo
58
30% on paint, covers waste.
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NailGunnerNed⚒️ Journeyman8mo
35
Client complained about brush marks on trim.
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BoxHaulerBen⚒️ Journeyman8mo
36
Nextdoor groups are gold for local painting jobs.
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VoltageVampire⭐ Expert8mo
30
Man, that $150k grind sounds exhausting but worth it.
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SplashMaster⚒️ Journeyman8mo
37
Don't skimp on primer, saw a job peel after 6 months.
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SprayMaster⚒️ Journeyman8mo
40
Zinsser all the way for tough surfaces.
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ComboKey⚒️ Journeyman8mo
112
We all been there, pushing for that next level.
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FixItFelix3⚒️ Journeyman8mo
63
QuickBooks for tracking paint expenses keeps me sane.
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SweepSquad2⚒️ Journeyman8mo
35
Yeah, integrates with invoicing perfect.
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VoltageVagabond3⚒️ Journeyman8mo
47
Hate when clients change colors mid-job.
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LawnLizardLarry⚒️ Journeyman7mo
45
Congrats, man. $150k is huge.
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BoltBreaker2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
35
S corps for tax savings on painting income.
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ThermostatTamer⚒️ Journeyman7mo
46
Switched last year, saved 10k.
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PalletPro⚒️ Journeyman7mo
37
Roller covers wearing out too fast with Emerald.
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FumeFighter2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
94
Guy in Painting Contractors FB group ranted about the same.
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PestPatrolPete⚒️ Journeyman7mo
57
Felt the burnout after long seasons.
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ChillOutTech⚒️ Journeyman7mo
60
$120/hr for specialty finishes if you niche down.
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LockPickLarry9⚒️ Journeyman7mo
9
How'd you market the exterior push?
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KeyKeeperKate⚒️ Journeyman7mo
29
Yard signs and referrals, cheap and effective.
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RoofRat883⚒️ Journeyman7mo
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Ladders in wind? Nightmare waiting.
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LadderLad5⚒️ Journeyman7mo
58
Hire at $25/hr, train on safety first.
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ChillMaster3⭐ Expert7mo
49
Safety gear costs add up quick.
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NailGunNinja11⚒️ Journeyman6mo
134
LOL, painted a ceiling and got drop cloth revenge.
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CoilCleaner2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
70
Exteriors in humidity? Use Duration Exterior.
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EaveExpert3⚒️ Journeyman6mo
46
Mold resistant, worth the extra.
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CircuitSavage⭐ Expert6mo
54
Big corps undercutting with illegal labor.
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LatexLegend⭐ Expert6mo
36
Sherwin-Williams rep hooked me up with bulk deals.
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SparkPlugSue6⚒️ Journeyman6mo
95
Same, 15% off for volume.
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DirtBagDan2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
56
Knees trashed from all the kneeling on floors.
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FramingFool4⚒️ Journeyman6mo
55
Clients think painting is easy, until the mess.
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CircuitBreakerBob⚒️ Journeyman6mo
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$150k? Dream for most of us.
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TarheelTiler6⚒️ Journeyman6mo
42
Keep grinding, you'll get there.
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert6mo
71
Watched a Tommy Mello vid on scaling service biz.
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SolderSavant2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
121
Felt that milestone high, cherish it.
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WireWizard2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
68
Union painters getting fat contracts while we hustle.
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FlushForce⚒️ Journeyman5mo
138
Haha, yeah but freedom's worth it.
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FramingFool4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
0
chasing that freedom burned me out in year eight, dont let it turn your dream gig into a 60-hour grind.
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CircuitClown2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
0
how'd you avoid the burnout creepin' back in when you hit that 150k mark?
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ToiletTamer42🌱 Newcomer5mo
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those damn angi leads and cheapskate homeowners keep suckin the life outta you no matter how much you make, its all a scam to bury us in bullshit jobs.
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V3925🔧 Apprentice5mo
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angi leads? more like angi bleeds your wallet dry with those 'cheapskate' gigs that pay in compliments. hit $150k? congrats man, but im still chasin my first $150 paint job without the homeowner skimping on the benjamin moore advance.
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WattTheHeck2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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angi leads are straight up a scam, man, they got me chasin my tail for weeks on lowball jobs that dont even cover gas. i hit 120k last year paintin but half my time was wasted on those cheapskates haggleing over every brush stroke. feels like youre just feedin the machine sometimes, buryin yourself in crap work just to stay afloat. been there too many times, swear it sucks the soul right outta ya. the homeowners aint much better, always wantin the world for peanuts. shoulda ditched em sooner but bills dont wait. hang in there, at least hittin that 150k means youre winnin the war even if the battles suck.
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PickLockPete⚒️ Journeyman5mo
0
man, i hit that wall at year five with my locksmith runs, 60 hours aint freedom its a damn cage that locks you in tighter than any deadbolt.
