Profitable Painter Podcast

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 Welcome to the Profitable Painter Podcast! In this episode, host Daniel Honan, CPA and former painting business owner, sits down with Brad Ellison, founder of Ellison Painting, to uncover how he scaled his residential painting business from $0 to $5.1 million in under 3 years. 

Brad shares: How he stumbled into the painting industry The exact marketing and hiring strategies he used to grow fast Why work-life balance was a non-negotiable from day one The importance of paid ads, project managers, and setting clear revenue targets His journey partnering with a longtime friend and structuring a smart, scalable business Key metrics like set rates, close rates, and marketing ROI benchmarks Whether you're just starting out or trying to break past the $1M ceiling, Brad’s transparent insights and numbers-driven approach are packed with takeaways you can apply today. 

📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode that could take your painting business to the next level! #ProfitablePainter #PaintingBusiness #MarketingTips #ContractorSuccess #EllisonPainting #SmallBusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #TradesBusiness 

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 In this episode of The Profitable Painter, host Daniel Honan sits down with Zach Guthrie, a painting business owner from Buffalo, New York, who has grown his company from a solo venture into a thriving operation with two full-time crews and seasonal expansion. 

Zach shares the real-world challenges he faced in the early days, juggling roles, setting up his LLC, handling taxes, and managing manpower, and how he overcame them by investing in team culture and leadership. Learn how creating camaraderie among workers, recognizing achievements, and structuring roles like project managers and foremen have transformed his company’s efficiency and profitability. 

Zach also dives into hiring strategies, compensation plans for sales and production staff, and the importance of aligning incentives across the business. Whether you’re just starting your painting business or looking to scale efficiently, this episode is packed with practical advice on how to grow a committed team, retain top talent, and ultimately boost your bottom line. 

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In this episode, Molly Zabielski and her business partner Jacob share their inspiring journey from working with Student Painters to launching Clean and Coat Painting in August 2023. Discover how they leveraged social media to serve 200+ residential customers in just eight months, achieving a remarkable 39% closing rate on Facebook leads, far above the industry average.

They reveal their winning strategies, from creating engaging team-focused content to mastering Facebook ads and optimizing their Google Business profile. Plus, learn how they keep customer acquisition costs low while scaling their team to meet soaring demand.

Whether you're a small business owner or a marketing enthusiast, this episode is packed with actionable insights on digital growth and entrepreneurship!

#SmallBusinessSuccess #SocialMediaMarketing #Entrepreneurship #PaintingBusiness

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In this insightful episode of the Profitable Painter Podcast, host Daniel Honan sits down with Chad Huber, owner of Casa Keepers and founder of the groundbreaking Painting Angels, for a deep dive into building a business rooted in culture, communication, and social impact.

Chad shares his unconventional journey into the contracting world, sparked by frustration with poor contractor experiences. His mission? To redefine professionalism in the trades by prioritizing low-stress, high-communication service, values now embedded in his $3M+ Texas-based renovation business. But his vision doesn’t stop there. With Painting Angels, Chad is tackling two crises head-on: the skilled labor shortage and economic barriers for single mothers. This all-female painting company isn’t just about flawless finishes, it’s about creating career pathways and transforming lives.

Key Takeaways from Chad Huber:

🔹 Culture Over Skill: Why hiring for values (like communication and cleanliness) beats technical expertise, and how to spot the right fit.
🔹 The Working Genius Model: How Chad uses this framework to align team strengths with roles, and why a "wonder" thinker shouldn’t be a carpenter.
🔹 Solving Pain Points: From no-shows to radio silence, how Chad’s own contractor horror stories shaped his company’s core promises.
🔹 Painting with Purpose: The inspiring story behind Painting Angels, a venture designed to empower women and elevate the trade’s reputation.
🔹 Scaling with Heart: Why deep systems (not shiny objects) fuel growth, and how to stay focused on what truly matters.

Whether you’re a trades professional tired of the "chaos norm" or an entrepreneur looking to build a business with legacy, this episode is packed with actionable lessons on leadership, hiring, and the power of solving real-world problems.

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In this powerful episode of the Profitable Painter Podcast, host Daniel Honan sits down with Gene Harris, owner of multiple Painter 1 locations and founder of Hoosier Admin, for an inspiring conversation about building a business with intention and impact.

Jean shares how his background in the Navy and property management helped shape his mindset as a business owner. But what truly sparked his entrepreneurial drive was planning for his family’s future, including long-term care for his special needs son. That mission led him to launch and scale not just one, but multiple businesses, all while stepping out of daily operations and focusing on building wealth through smart systems, strong teams, and a service-first culture.

Takeaways from this episode with Gene Harris:

• Purpose-Driven Wealth: How long-term family goals fueled Jean’s business journey, and why asset ownership beats a 401(k).
• Delegation Done Right: Why most painting contractors wait too long to give up the phones, and how Hoosier Admin fills the gap.
• Systemized Success: The importance of documenting roles, building reliable teams, and getting out of the "you = the business" trap.
• Culture of Hospitality: From project managers to painters, why customer happiness is the North Star (and how to hire for it).
• First Impressions Matter: Why offshoring your phones can backfire, and how a professional, U.S.-based admin team changes the game.

Whether you're just starting your painting business or aiming to scale out of day-to-day chaos, this episode offers a blueprint to grow with clarity, purpose, and peace of mind.

🎧 Listen now, then start building a business that supports your life, not consumes it.

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Paint, Profits & People: The Leadership Edge

In this episode of the Profitable Painter Podcast, host Daniel Honan sits down with Andrew Dwyer, publisher of American Painting Contractor (APC) and a trusted voice in the industry for over 30 years. Together, they dive deep into what really sets successful painting contractors apart from the rest, and it's not just talent or tools.

With his decades of experience and bird’s-eye view of the industry, Andrew shares powerful insights on how curiosity, coachability, and mindset play a bigger role in business success than most people realize. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of what to focus on next, this episode is for you.

Takeaways from this conversation with Andrew Dwyer:

• The Growth Divide: Why the painters who constantly seek to improve are the ones who last, and grow.
• Coachability Wins: How being open to feedback (and willing to admit what you don’t know) leads to better results, stronger teams, and smarter decisions.
• Change Without Chaos: Practical tips for implementing improvements in your business without overwhelming your crew, or yourself.
• Mindset Shifts: Discover the power of mindfulness, daily awareness, and simple networking to build confidence and stay grounded as a leader.
• Accountability Matters: Why having someone to keep you on track—whether it’s a coach or a fellow contractor, can be the difference between talking about change and actually making it happen.

Packed with real-world examples, humor, and actionable advice, this episode is a must-listen for painting business owners ready to lead with clarity and purpose.

🎧 Tune in now, and start building a business that works for you, not the other way around.

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Mike Beaulieu shares his journey from starting a painting business during the 2008 recession to selling his $2 million company, crediting his success to email marketing strategies that maintained 40-50% open rates and consistently reactivated past customers.

• Started painting business in 2008 during recession, sold it after growing to over $2 million in annual revenue
• Realized clients forget painting contractors among numerous service providers they hire
• Shifted from discount-oriented emails to valuable content about design trends and color forecasts
• Achieved consistent 40-50% email open rates with click rates between 1-5%
• Spent only 1-1.5% of revenue on marketing through effective customer reactivation
• Clean email lists and compelling subject lines essential for ensuring deliverability
• Business sold successfully because of solid systems and recurring revenue from past clients
• Comprehensive customer experience important from first contact through post-project engagement
• Used combination of employees and subcontractors with clear roles and management structure

Special offer for listeners: Mike is offering a discount on his email newsletter service plus his free guide "8 Things You Must Know Before Hiring a Painting Contractor" for anyone who mentions this podcast when contacting him at PaintersMarketingPro.com.

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Daniel, a CPA who works exclusively with painting businesses, and Richard Dunton, an enrolled agent, discuss the financial considerations for commercial painting as a way to smooth out seasonal dips in business. They explore the differences between direct B2B commercial relationships versus working under a general contractor, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of each approach.

• Two types of commercial painting: direct B2B relationships and working under general contractors
• Cash flow challenges in commercial painting compared to residential work
• The importance of managing accounts receivable and following up on payments
• Understanding AIA invoicing formats and progress payment schedules
• Special payroll requirements for government projects including prevailing wage certified payroll
• Using accrual basis accounting to properly match revenue with expenses
• The importance of reviewing both profit/loss statements and statements of cash flows
• Setting up financing and lines of credit before you actually need them
• Building relationships with banks when your financials look strongest

If you have any questions about this episode or ideas for future episodes, join the Facebook group "Grow Your Painting Business" - request access and we'll get you in to join the conversation.

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Proper separation between business and personal finances is critical for protecting your painting business, minimizing tax liabilities, and ensuring legal protection through your LLC or corporation.

• Five key reasons to avoid co-mingling finances: legal protection, reduced audit risk, maximizing deductions, maintaining loan eligibility, and proper owner compensation
• Mixing personal and business finances breaks down your "corporate veil," potentially exposing personal assets to business lawsuits
• The IRS views co-mingled finances as red flags that increase audit probability and scrutiny of all deductions
• Paying for business expenses with personal funds can result in missed tax deductions unless properly documented
• Banks and lenders are more likely to approve business loans when they see clean, separated financial records
• Owner's compensation should be formalized - either as owner's draws for LLCs or as reasonable salary plus distributions for S-Corps
• S-Corporation owners must pay themselves a defensible "reasonable salary" that balances tax efficiency with IRS requirements
• Establishing good financial habits from the start is much easier than fixing problems after an audit begins

Join our Facebook group "Grow your Painting Business" with your questions about financial separation or accountable plans, and either Daniel or Richard would be happy to help you further.

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 In this episode, we speak about the challenges and opportunities in the industry. We explore strategies for scaling a painting business, improving profitability, and avoiding common pitfalls that many entrepreneurs face. 

This conversation covers essential topics such as pricing services effectively, streamlining operations, and leveraging marketing to attract high-value clients. Richard Dunton shares insights on how to manage cash flow, build a strong team, and create a business model that sustains long-term success. 

This episode is ideal for painting business owners, contractors, and entrepreneurs looking for practical advice on growing their business efficiently. 

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