Established Paint Contractors vs. Start-Ups

As an established Paint Contractor, McCauley Painting often receives requests for quotes, or estimates over the phone from inexperienced startup painters. How do we know that they are not actual home or business owners? Well, they always insist on getting a "ball-park" figure over the phone without allowing us to view the project in question, on-site and in person. Additionally, they usually have right-ready answers to questions that a legitimate customer has not previously considered. And finally, the said job is typically located just outside of our normal working radius.

Detecting that a potential client is actually a rookie needing assistance bidding a paint project (that is probably too big for them to handle) is a skill in itself. However, knowing who you are dealing with does not necessarily mean you should not help them. McCauley Painting chooses to hear them out and give them a reasonable verbal quick quote — over the phone, rather than deliberately sabotage any up and coming competition. Why? Because many, many years ago, the painting experts we turned to with real world expertise took the time to answer our questions. Freely we give, because freely we have received. It is just that simple.

That is not to suggest that the new guy can not paint, or cut-in a razor sharp edge line. In fact, McCauley Painting has hired several good painters through these encounters. Nevertheless, there is a significant difference between twenty year's experience, and one year's experience repeated twenty times. The ability to paint decently is but a small percentage of the necessary business acumen required in performing at a professional contractor's level and guaranteeing customer satisfaction.

We have made an ongoing commitment to never shut-out the entrepreneurial spirit of those who desire to be self-employed painters. The commercial and residential painting industry is over-flowing with opportunities available to all painters with the determination and fortitude to get the job done right. Some suggest that U.S. Paint Contractors combined annual revenue is in excess of 20 billion — that is more than enough for all newcomers. While McCauley Painting does not recommend hiring amateur painters for demanding projects, we do recognize that we have all started in the beginning at some point in time in the business of painting.

Note to Startups:
Keep your focus on customer service and with a lot of hard work, some common sense and a little help along the way, anything is possible.