As the age-old question goes: To join a Franchise, or start your own Painting Business?
Fun Fact: Here at Base Coat Marketing we got our start working with Painting Franchises, so we know a thing or two about this.
But let’s start with a simple question…
Are painting franchises worth the investment?
Painting Franchises provide a stable platform to focus 100% of your energy on operations and sales, leaving most other aspects of your painting business such as branding, marketing, and painting lead generation to the franchise.
With that said, franchises are not for everyone. Franchise fees, long-term contracts, service limitations, and required vacation time all contribute to the hesitations most painting business owners face when considering a franchise commitment.
Here, we’ll review the Big-3 Painting Franchises along with the pros and cons of each. We’ll discuss the real cost of owning a painting franchise and determine if your business objectives align with this type of business model.
Let’s jump in!
CertaPro Painters: Franchise Review
With over 375 locations CertaPro Painters is the largest painting franchise in North America. CertaPro Painters serves both the USA and Canada and is widely rated as one of the best painting franchises on the market.
How much does a CertaPro Painters franchise cost?
While CertaPro Painters does provide several packages to get started, the initial franchise investment typically ranges between $147,750 and $175,500. In addition to the initial investment, there are several other financial requirements such as having liquid capital (cash-on-hand) of at least $75,000. This paired with a 5% royalty fee and a 3% marketing fee can really cut into your bottom line.
(Source: Franchise Direct)
| Investment | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $57,500 | $57,500 |
| Advertising & Marketing | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Equipment | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Office Equipment | $500 | $4,000 |
| Vehicle | $2,500 | $4,000 |
| Contractor License | $250 | $2,500 |
| Computer System and Proprietary Software | $9,000 | $11,500 |
| Travel & Living Expenses While Training | $500 | $3,000 |
| Insurance | $5,000 | $7,500 |
| Additional Funds | $19,500 | $29,500 |
| Total Investment | $147,750 | $175,500 |
CertaPro Painters: Pros
CertaPro Painters: Cons
Five Star Painting: Franchise Review
Founded in 2002, Five Star Painting is self reportedly the second-largest painting company in North America with over 220 locations in the USA and Canada. While Five Star Painting franchise fees are lower than CertaPro Painters, there is still a high bar to qualify.
How much does a Five Star Painting franchise cost?
A Five Star Painting franchise requires liquid capital (cash-on-hand) of $50,000, an initial franchise fee of $45,000, with an overall total investment of $74,730 to $184,280.
(Source: Franchise Direct)
| Investment | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $45,000 | $45,000 + $200 per 1,000 additional population over minimum |
| Software and Other Fees | $1,250 | $1,250 |
| Call Center Fee | $600 | $600 |
| Vehicle | $2,000 | $39,500 |
| Equipment, Supplies and Inventory | $2,400 | $11,550 |
| Insurance | $1,000 | $9,000 |
| Advertising & Promotional and Local Marketing Spending for Marketing Startup Phase | $15,000 | $50,000 |
| Training, Travel, Lodging and Food | $1,000 | $4,000 |
| Deposits, Permits and Licenses | $0 | $1,750 |
| Professional Fees | $250 | $5,000 |
| Additional Funds – 6 months | $6,200 | $10,600 |
| Real Estate | $0 | $6,000 |
| Total Investment | $74,700 (does not include real estate costs) | $184,250 + any additional franchise fee + any real estate costs |
Five Star Painting: Pros
Five Star Painting: Cons
Fresh Coat Painters: Franchise Review
Founded in 2005, Fresh Coat Painters claims to be the “most affordable painting franchise”. With over 130 locations nationwide, Fresh Coat Painters is the smallest franchise we’re reviewing.
How much does a Fresh Coat Painters franchise cost?
To invest in a franchise, Fresh Coat Painters requires an initial investment of $44,900 with a total investment of around $53,945 to $76,845.
(Source: Franchise Direct)
| Name of Fee | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $44,900 | $44,900 |
| Furniture and Equipment | $0 | $1,000 |
| Website Fee | $135 | $135 |
| Computer System | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Travel & Living Expenses While Training | $500 | $1,500 |
| Initial Rent, Telephone, Bank, Licensing Fees, and Other Deposits | $0 | $2,000 |
| Insurance | $2,000 | $6,000 |
| Pre-Opening Promotion | $3,000 | $4,000 |
| Compliance with Regulations | $450 | $1,350 |
| Additional Funds – 3 months |
$2,000 |
$10,000 |
| Monthly Office Rental Payment | $0 | $1,000 |
| Vehicle | $0 | $2,000 |
| Investment Total | $53,985 | $76,885 |
Fresh Coat Painters: Pros
Fresh Coat Painters: Cons
Painting Business Franchise Alternative
If you’re in the market to invest in a painting franchise you may want to take a step back and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses as a business owner. If you simply want to focus on the trade and delegate the day-to-day operations of owning a business, then a franchise might be your best bet.
The case against franchises: Own your business, not a job
As your business grows you’ll probably want the ability to step back and focus on your home life, leaving someone else to run day-to-day operations. If you want to scale your painting business while maintaining control, then a franchise commitment is not for you.
Find a marketing partner instead
For the most part, any franchise is primarily focused on growing your business so they can increase your annual royalty fees. They own your branding, your money, and your time. If you are looking to maintain control of your painting company while still offloading the marketing operations, we can help.
Base Coat Marketing is a leader in painter marketing services. With our fixed pricing structure, you can scale your business without having to worry about marketing costs impacting your bottom line.
We help painting businesses across North America optimize their PPC campaigns, drive leads via SEO, enhance social media posts and advertising efforts, and we even help facilitate hiring and estimate scheduling. Interested in learning more about our bespoke marketing services for your painting business? We’d love to chat.
