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
·8mo·84 replies·80 participants
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CanvasCrusader⭐ ExpertOP8mo
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⚒️ Journeyman8mo
38
Big box stores killing us with their cheap paint lines, can't compete on price anymore.
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RollerRanger3⚒️ Journeyman8mo
62
Screw the big boxes, I stick to local referrals and charge premium for quality.
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TileTerror7⚒️ Journeyman7mo
56
Yeah, Home Depot specials look like crap after a year.
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RootRipper⚒️ Journeyman7mo
40
Lost a bid last week to some hack using Walmart paint.
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ChillMasterHV⭐ Expert7mo
65
Congrats man, that's the milestone I been chasing.
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert7mo
127
Same here, been at $120k and plateaued.
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WattTheHeck6⚒️ Journeyman7mo
13
SharkBite for plumbing but for painting? Nah, stick to brushes over rollers for trim.
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DoorOpenerDan2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
61
Disagree, rollers save hours on flat walls.
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WeedWhackerWiz2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
56
Rollers bleed if you don't cut in right.
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PalletPro⚒️ Journeyman7mo
49
Hybrid approach, cut in with brush then roll.
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HeatPumpHero⚒️ Journeyman7mo
47
Use Jobber for scheduling, keeps me booked solid at $80/hr.
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NailGunNinja4⚒️ Journeyman7mo
45
ServiceTitan is overkill for solo painters.
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KeyMasterKev2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
5
Purple paint? Total BS, just a fad.
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FloorFumbler⚒️ Journeyman6mo
54
Nah, clients love the vibe in open spaces.
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RollerRanger9⚒️ Journeyman6mo
53
Overhyped, goes on weird under certain lights.
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PestPatrolPete⚒️ Journeyman6mo
33
Watched Idaho Painter's vid on exterior prep, game changer for longevity.
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RollerRogue⚒️ Journeyman6mo
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That guy's tips saved my ass on a rainy job.
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SpotlessSteve10⚒️ Journeyman6mo
48
His TikToks are gold for quick fixes.
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VentMaster993⚒️ Journeyman6mo
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$150k? I'm at $90k and burned out from ladders.
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HammerTimePro⭐ Expert6mo
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Clients nickel and diming over every drop of paint.
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DrainDragon3⚒️ Journeyman6mo
53
Insurance rates through the roof after one slip and fall.
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BreakerBoxBen⚒️ Journeyman6mo
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PE firms buying up painting crews, squeezing margins.
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VoltageVampire⭐ Expert6mo
69
Yeah, lost two good painters to a roll-up last month.
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FrameItRight⚒️ Journeyman6mo
82
Felt that, my back's killing me from all the overhead.
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DustBunnyBoss⭐ Expert6mo
72
Same, knees shot after 15 years on scaffolds.
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TileTamer⚒️ Journeyman5mo
42
Congrats on the milestone, inspiring.
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RoofRider2🔧 Apprentice5mo
69
Thanks, needed to hear that.
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FloorFanatic2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
5
Graco sprayers? Best investment for big jobs.
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DustBunnyBoss⭐ Expert5mo
53
Sherwin-Williams Duration holds up way better than BM.
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SoilSculptor⭐ Expert5mo
44
Duration for exteriors, no doubt.
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RefrigerantRon🔧 Apprentice5mo
37
Just quoted $5k for a full interior, client ghosted.
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ZapMaster3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
55
Hire a helper at $20/hr, scales you faster.
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SparkPlugSam⚒️ Journeyman5mo
68
Finding reliable ones is the real pain.
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SpotlessSteve3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
151
LOL, client asked if I could paint their doghouse for free.
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OddJobOtto2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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How do you handle color matching with Emerald?
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TarheelTiler5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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Always test samples, never assume.
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HeatHustler⚒️ Journeyman5mo
71
$150k is solid, but taxes eat half.
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RoofRat⭐ Expert5mo
55
Up in Minnesota and exteriors are seasonal hell.
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SparkPlugSam2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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Aim for $200k next, add commercial bids.
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FixItFelix⚒️ Journeyman4mo
38
Commercial pays steady, less drama.
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ColorChanger2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
50
Frustrated with lead gen, Angi leads suck.
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DoorJamDud⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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What's your markup on materials?
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KeyMaster5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
58
30% on paint, covers waste.
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NailGunnerNed⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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Client complained about brush marks on trim.
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BoxHaulerBen⚒️ Journeyman4mo
36
Nextdoor groups are gold for local painting jobs.
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VoltageVampire⭐ Expert4mo
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Man, that $150k grind sounds exhausting but worth it.
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SplashMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
37
Don't skimp on primer, saw a job peel after 6 months.
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SprayMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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Zinsser all the way for tough surfaces.
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ComboKey⚒️ Journeyman4mo
112
We all been there, pushing for that next level.
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FixItFelix3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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QuickBooks for tracking paint expenses keeps me sane.
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SweepSquad2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
35
Yeah, integrates with invoicing perfect.
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VoltageVagabond3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
47
Hate when clients change colors mid-job.
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LawnLizardLarry⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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Congrats, man. $150k is huge.
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BoltBreaker2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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S corps for tax savings on painting income.
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ThermostatTamer⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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Switched last year, saved 10k.
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PalletPro⚒️ Journeyman3mo
37
Roller covers wearing out too fast with Emerald.
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FumeFighter2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
94
Guy in Painting Contractors FB group ranted about the same.
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PestPatrolPete⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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Felt the burnout after long seasons.
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ChillOutTech⚒️ Journeyman3mo
60
$120/hr for specialty finishes if you niche down.
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LockPickLarry9⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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How'd you market the exterior push?
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KeyKeeperKate⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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Yard signs and referrals, cheap and effective.
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RoofRat883⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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Ladders in wind? Nightmare waiting.
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LadderLad5⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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Hire at $25/hr, train on safety first.
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ChillMaster3⭐ Expert2mo
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Safety gear costs add up quick.
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NailGunNinja11⚒️ Journeyman2mo
134
LOL, painted a ceiling and got drop cloth revenge.
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CoilCleaner2⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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Exteriors in humidity? Use Duration Exterior.
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EaveExpert3⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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Mold resistant, worth the extra.
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CircuitSavage⭐ Expert2mo
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Big corps undercutting with illegal labor.
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LatexLegend⭐ Expert2mo
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Sherwin-Williams rep hooked me up with bulk deals.
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SparkPlugSue6⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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Same, 15% off for volume.
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DirtBagDan2⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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Knees trashed from all the kneeling on floors.
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FramingFool4⚒️ Journeyman2mo
55
Clients think painting is easy, until the mess.
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CircuitBreakerBob⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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$150k? Dream for most of us.
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TarheelTiler6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Keep grinding, you'll get there.
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert1mo
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Watched a Tommy Mello vid on scaling service biz.
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SolderSavant2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
121
Felt that milestone high, cherish it.
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WireWizard2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Union painters getting fat contracts while we hustle.
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FlushForce⚒️ Journeyman1mo
138
Haha, yeah but freedom's worth it.
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FramingFool4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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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⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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how'd you avoid the burnout creepin' back in when you hit that 150k mark?
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ToiletTamer42🌱 Newcomer1mo
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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🔧 Apprentice1mo
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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⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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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⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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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.
