Tips for Completing Your Painting Jobs on Time and Budget

While having skill and talent are necessary to a successful painting business, they aren’t the only abilities you need to have a strong profit margin and stay afloat. Without proper budgeting and time estimates, you’ll find it hard to retain customers and gain new ones. Plus, you’ll be in the red. If you’re constantly under-budgeting for projects, it will be hard to maintain a positive profit margin. Additionally, if it consistently takes you longer to complete a project than what you detailed in your estimate, it will be hard to keep customers coming back.

If you are a painting contractor who is plagued by low profit margins, the business coaches at Painter’s Academy can help you implement successful sales and marketing techniques to grow your revenue. Here are some tips for staying on time and within budget for your painting projects.

Bring Essential Team Members on the Site Visit

Going to an initial site visit by yourself and bidding on a project may be a mistake. Taking your lead painter, field manager, and any other essential employees can help ensure you get a well-rounded picture of the scope of the project. Involving the right employees in the bidding process is the best way to incorporate the perspectives you need to create accurate estimates and expectations.

Thoroughly Plan for Your Painting Project

In every painting project, it’s imperative to ensure that everyone involved—including your client and your employees—are on the same page. The best way to plan for a painting project is to involve all essential personnel in the process. When all the key players for a project have access to the big picture along with the small details, you can avoid scheduling problems and ensure cross-functional communication. Try to anticipate any potential interruptions—such as holidays—and plan accordingly.

Divide Your Painting Project into Tasks

It’s unlikely your team will get into a good groove the first week on the job. However, you can ensure tasks are done efficiently by managing the project well. Dividing tasks in a way that is organized and makes sense is the best way to stay on top of the project as a whole. Depending on the scale of the project, you may consider dividing teams by building, floor, or room. This will allow you to stay on top of each stage of the project and save time and money.

Estimate the Cost of Painting Materials and Keep Receipts

Paint and other materials will usually cost 15–20 percent of the total price of the job. It’s important to include this price upfront in your estimate. While it may be tempting to choose cheaper materials, it almost always creates a headache later on. Choosing high-quality materials will not only leave your customers happier but will also work better during the painting process, ultimately helping the project run more smoothly. Additionally, it’s important to keep track of any materials that are ordered throughout the scope of a project. This way you will know how much is being spent and your costs won’t get out of control.

Contact the Business Coaches at Painter’s Academy to Implement Effective Project Management Strategies

If you are struggling to manage your painting projects, the marketing professionals at Painter’s Academy are here to help. With over 13 years of experience helping painting businesses grow, we have the know-how to take your business to the next level. We have a proven track record of helping painters develop the revenue streams and gain the contracts that provide profitable returns.

If you want to grow your painting business, call (423) 800-0520 or fill out our online contact form today.