Painter Growth Podcast

ver feel like you know what to do in your painting business, but still don’t do it?

In this solo episode, Jesse shares raw reflections on mindset, personal growth, and what it really takes to go from ideas to results. After a conversation with Jason Paris (who runs a $15M painting company), Jesse unpacks why so many business owners stay stuck, and what to do about it.

You’ll hear:

• How mindset affects execution

• What high-performing painting business owners focus on

• A simple shift that could unlock your next level

• Real strategies to apply right now, even if you're feeling overwhelmed

This one’s honest, practical, and meant to get you moving, not just thinking.

🎧 This episode was sponsored by Hirebus! Want to stop wasting time on bad hires? Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book a free strategy session with one of Hirebus top recruiters!

What does it take to go from working on the tools to running one of the fastest-growing painting franchises in the country?
In this episode, I sit down with Zach Tanner, founder of Painter Bros and FM Flow, to unpack his journey from an 18-year-old with a paintbrush to leading a company with over 140 territories across the U.S.

We talk about:

• How he scaled from one job site to a national franchise

• The mindset shifts that made rapid growth possible

• The systems he uses to keep quality high while expanding fast

• Why FM Flow might be the next big thing in the industry

Whether you’re on the tools now or already running a crew, Zach’s story will inspire you to think bigger and move faster.

Sign up for FMFlor here, just say you came from the podcast to get the discount 😏: https://fmflow.com/referral-source-pro/

This episode is proudly sponsored by⁠⁠ ⁠DripJobs⁠⁠⁠! The CRM built for painting contractors. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use our code GROWTH60 to get a 60 days trial FOR FREE!

When you’re running a painting business and raising a family, something eventually has to give.

In this episode of Brush Busters, Mike and Kit have a real conversation about what happens when fatherhood enters the picture.

Kit shares how becoming a dad forced him to rethink his schedule, his priorities, and the way he ran his business. Together, they break down how to work fewer hours, lead with clarity, and build a business that doesn’t fall apart without you.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between being a present parent and a committed business owner, this one is worth your time.

What would happen if you left your painting business for two full weeks, with no calls, no emails, no check-ins?

In this solo episode, Mike shares a powerful test every contractor should run: The Two-Week Vacation Test. It’s not just about taking time off. It’s about whether your business actually runs on systems, or just on you.

He breaks down:

• Why letting go is so hard (and so necessary)

• What happens when your team learns to operate without you

• The systems and leadership mindset that allow real growth

• Why freedom is the goal, not just profit

Whether you’re in the field every day or starting to build a team, this episode will challenge how you think about control, growth, and success.

Should you fire your best friend? What if your team ignores your systems? And how do you finally get off the tools without your business falling apart?

In this raw and unfiltered Brush Busters episode, Rich and Andy tackle three real letters from painting business owners navigating some of the toughest leadership challenges in the industry:

• Mario’s friend-turned-employee is slacking off—should he rip the bandaid or save the friendship?

• Daryl’s body is breaking down, but every time he steps back from the brush, the business crashes.

• Sean’s crew is talented, but they won’t follow a single system—and it’s costing him jobs.

You’ll learn the exact conversations to have, how to reset expectations without blowing things up, and how to build systems and teams that don’t fall apart without you.

Whether you’re hiring friends, managing burnout, or struggling with rebellious employees—this episode gives you the scripts, mindset, and strategy to lead like a pro.

🎧 This episode was sponsored by Hirebus! Want to stop wasting time on bad hires? Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book a free strategy session with one of Hirebus top recruiters!

In this episode, Chase and Jesse pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to be on the customer side of the painting industry. After painting Chase’s own house, inside and out, they got a front-row seat to the exact experience homeowners go through when trying to find, vet, and hire a painting contractor.

And what they found was shocking.

From struggling to find a cabinet painter to evaluating Facebook ads and navigating sketchy follow-ups, this hands-on experience revealed major gaps in the way most painting businesses market themselves, and how much opportunity there is to stand out.

Whether you're trying to book more jobs, improve your Facebook ads, or finally stop relying on word-of-mouth referrals, this episode breaks it all down from a marketing and operations perspective.

You’ll learn:

• Why being “on the tools” limits your ability to grow, and what to do about it

• How to use Facebook ads and automations to attract better leads (even while you’re on the job)

• What most painters are missing when it comes to building trust with homeowners

• Real-world examples of what works (and what doesn’t) in the eyes of actual customers

• How to shift from being a technician to being a business owner with systems and scale in mind

Whether you're just getting started or looking to hit your next $100K, $500K, or $1M milestone, this honest conversation will help you rethink your sales process, your lead generation strategy, and your entire customer experience.

This is the episode every painter needs to hear, because when you finally see your business the way your customers do, everything changes.

🎧 This episode was sponsored by Hirebus! Want to stop wasting time on bad hires? Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book a free strategy session with one of Hirebus top recruiters!

In this episode I’m joined by Brandon Pierpont of Painter Marketing Pros to reveal the marketing systems that every painting contractor needs to scale fast.

We dig into the real challenges painting business owners face, like:

• How to consistently attract high-end painting clients (without relying on referrals).

• Why most ad strategies fail—and what actually works in premium neighborhoods.

• How to build a steady pipeline of jobs, even when the season slows down.

From creating marketing systems that run on autopilot to positioning your painting company as the go-to choice for luxury homeowners, Brandon breaks down strategies that work right now.

You’ll learn how to:

• Stop guessing when it comes to lead generation.

• Build a brand that stands out in your market.

• Start taking real control over your business growth.

  
  

Whether you’re stuck under $250k or pushing toward $1M+, this episode gives actionable steps to elevate your painting business to the next level.
👉 Schedule A Call With Our Team: go.paintergrowth.com/schedule

In this episode of Brush Busters, Rich and Andy tackle three critical problems painting business owners face every season:

• What to do when your friend-turned-employee starts slacking off

• • How to step off the brush and finally focus on growing your painting company
  • How to deal with employees who ignore your systems, (without losing your mind)
• 
  

From hiring painters and managing crews to leveling up your systems and mindset, Rich and Andy break it all down in plain English.

You’ll learn how to stop being the bottleneck in your business and how to start acting like the CEO your company needs.

Whether you're dealing with burnout or underperforming painters, this episode gives real-world advice and next steps you can use right now.

🔗 This episode is proudly sponsored by⁠⁠ ⁠DripJobs⁠⁠⁠! The CRM built for painting contractors. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use our code GROWTH60 to get a 60 days trial FOR FREE!.

📩 Submit your Brush Busters letter for a solution ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉 Schedule A Call With Our team: ⁠⁠⁠go.paintergrowth.com/schedule⁠ ⁠

When it comes to growing a painting business, one number matters more than most: gross profit.

In this special crossover I sat down with Adam Sylvester, host of Jobber’s Masters of Home Service Podcast and Megan Schumann, owner of Top Tier Plumbing, to break down how service business owners can get serious about profitability.

🧠 Here’s what we cover:
• Why 50% gross profit should be your goal — and how to hit it
• How job costing helps painting contractors fix profit leaks
• Smart pricing strategies that support growth and prevent burnout
• Whether piece rate pay makes sense for your crews
• Why vendor relationships and paint reps matter more than you think
• Bonus systems that drive efficiency (without micromanaging)

Whether you’re just starting to track your numbers or ready to build systems that grow your painting company, this episode will help you stop guessing and start scaling with confidence.

This episode is proudly sponsored by⁠⁠ ⁠DripJobs⁠⁠⁠! The CRM built for painting contractors. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use our code GROWTH60 to get a 60 days trial FOR FREE!

👉 Schedule A Call With Our team: ⁠⁠⁠go.paintergrowth.com/schedule⁠

In this episode I'm joined by coach Lucas Mangotich to tackle the challenges every painting contractor faces when growing their company.

We dig into the real stuff: how to hire your first employee (without going crazy), how to find high-end painting clients without relying on referrals, and how to build a steady stream of jobs, even when it’s slow.

You’ll hear real questions from painting contractors across the U.S. and Canada, including:

• What to do when door-to-door marketing feels like a flop

• How to market in rich neighborhoods and actually get calls

• Ways to boost visibility without spending thousands on ads

• How to create systems that attract better clients and better painters

  
  

Whether you're just getting started or making millions already, this episode breaks down practical steps for generating painting leads, hiring painters, and scaling a painting business the smart way.

📩 Submit your Brush Busters letter for a solution ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉 Schedule A Call With Our team: ⁠⁠⁠go⁠.paintergrowth.com/schedule⁠ ⁠