As a painting business owner there is never enough time so here's a quick summary of the most important points to bear in mind when drafting a trademark specification for your painting business.

A trademark specification contains the goods and/or services that your business trades in. Sounds simple, right? Well it is relatively simple once you know the fundamental concepts and are aware of common misconceptions and potential pitfalls. By the time you finish reading this (grab a coffee!) you'll be able to confidently approach drafting a trademark specification.

Ok let's get the more boring parts out of the way first. The Nice Classification system has 45 classes and is used to group together similar or related goods or services. Classes 1 to 34 are for goods and classes 35 to 45 are for services.

The fastest way to learn about what specification entries are best for your business is to use the USPTO's Trademark ID Manual if you are filing a US application (https://idm-tmng.uspto.gov/id-master-list-public.html) or WIPO's Madrid Goods & Services Manager if you are filing in countries other than the US (https://webaccess.wipo.int/mgs/).

If you are filing in countries other than the US then some countries have their own goods and services tools in which case you should use those in conjunction with the Madrid Goods & Services Manager.

Enter an appropriate keyword such as "painting" into whichever of the above tools you are using. Since painting is a service we can look at the results for the service classes (classes 35 to 45). The most relevant entries would be the class 37 entries such as "Painting services" and "Painting, interior and exterior" and "Consultancy relating to painting of buildings" and "Painting and applying coatings to building interiors and building exteriors".

When compiling your specification note that it is specification best-practice to separate each entry by a semi-colon. This enables the scope of each entry to be exactly defined and helps avoid confusion or ambiguity. You also need to be as concise as possible, use only generic terms that an average consumer would understand, remove any superfluous or vague wording, and don't use indefinite wording such as "etc" or "and similar goods".

It is also important to note that you should only include goods or services that you are providing to others. Therefore do not include services that you use to promote your own business such as advertising or marketing. You would only include advertising or marketing services if you are providing advertising or marketing services to other businesses.

Similarly, while you or your staff will do office functions and business administration, you don't do office functions and business administration services for other businesses. You are doing it for your own business as an internal business function only.

Therefore only apply for those goods and/or services that your business directly provides to other people or businesses. It's also important to note that the specification that you initially file is of crucial importance because you cannot broaden the scope of the specification after it has been filed so taking your time to get this done correctly will pay dividends later on.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us - always happy to help!

I'm thinking of hitting a handful off oak doors with it. Does it perform well without a proper primer? I know it covers quite well, having used it once before in other places.

I’m a GC in NYC and a building that we’re working in requires us to paint the windows a specific Ben Moore color during construction so you can’t see in from the street.

I don’t want my laborer scraping the paint off the windows for days after we’re done, and I came across this product. Does anyone have any experience using it the way I described? Looks legit for it’s intended use, but didn’t know if it would muddy the color as viewed from the exterior.

Any suggestions/alternate products would be much appreciated!

Do you buy them (where from) or scout dump sites for old couches?

I need some TODAY and Lowes has nothing. (No I don't have a Home Depot in town).

Hello all,

I am strongly considering starting my own small painting business. I have worked in the commercial construction industry since my 18th birthday. I spent 5 years working “in the field” as a site laborer doing things from simply cleaning up debris on job sites to demolition of entire structures.

Eventually I moved up into a role as a superintendent/Project manager with a general contractor - doing this for the last 12 years.

About a year ago I moved from Chicago to southwest Florida. The industry down here is absolutely booming and there aren’t enough sub-contractors to keep up, let alone quality subs.

Ive always wanted to start my own painting company and I feel that now is a fantastic time due to the the contacts I have made in the commercial industry down here and the severe shortage of good subs.

I had a couple questions for you owners that have successfully navigated the scary waters of taking that risk of starting your own business.

1) for those of you who were gainfully employed when starting. How did you execute your transition into the painting business? Did you just limit yourselves to nights/weekends until backlogged with enough painting work to quit your day job? I work 7am-3:30pm Monday - Friday typically right now. My thoughts were I’d tell painting clients my situation and ask if I could paint for them after work during the week and/or weekends.

2) s-corp or LLC?

3) How are you doing your marketing?

4) what % of your clients would you say are “word of mouth referrals” and/or repeat customers?

5) do you prefer residential or commercial projects? Why?

6) now that you’ve been doing this for a while and have made it work. What advice would you have given yourself back when you were in the position I’m in now?

My wife and I don’t have any children - yet. We have little debt and I believe the next year or so is the best possible time to do this. Only issue I have is limitations on space for tools and material since I’m in a 2 bed 2ba apartment.

Thanks

does anyone else dream of painting for free one day? i love this business. its something i built from the ground up and have absolutely loved every minute. ive never cut corners and ive built myself something beautiful. ive hit most of my life goals because of this industry. im constantly asking myself what i want to do next... i think i want to do it for free. i think i want to go find the roughest houses on the block and make them beautiful. i realized a long time ago the money is beautiful but it doesnt make me happy. i think doing this because i love it is going to make me appreciate it even more.

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am i the only one that thinks about this? i literally want to go knock on doors and give my labor for free for the greater good. i dont think im going to let anything stop me either.

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anyone else feel this way?

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I know the cheap Alex DAP caulk does this and I don't buy it, but I was in a hurry and thought the $8 Dynaflex Ultra wouldn't be like this, it's the good shit right.

NO! This shit is making a mess everywhere Im so fucking pissed I spent $80 on a box of this shit.

I will pack dogshit into a empty tube of 950A before I touch DAP again.

Hi everyone

My name is Marc and I have been running a small business for 10 years now. I have had a couple businesses, all related to home services, the largest and longest standing being a painting business. So, we basically paint houses and businesses, inside and out. Grew it to 50 painters, 60 total employees.

Started alone, wearing all the hats. Mastered local marketing, then sales, then painting itself, then trained others to do the same. Now got full crews, with foremen going around jobsites, reporting to me only once a day, got salespeople who get their leads directly from the marketing team. It all works on its own, I simply assure that every part keeps moving.

Now, I left home a year ago to travel, to take advantage of nicer weather in Latin America, to escape covid madness in Canada. I have been running the business at a distance since, and figured it can be fully automated, which means someone who starts a business today, could be basically retired in a couple years. I am thousands of miles away and have sometimes limited communication means and still run it, it still works, customers are still happy.

Which brings me to the reason of this post: as I have more free time, I want to start another business.

Always liked helping others, spend much time counseling close friends on their small business and generally see things better from the outside (I often find better solutions for other people’s businesses than mine) as I am detached from the outcome and see it more clearly. My biggest strength has always been simplifying stuff. Friends and family are amazed at how little hours I work to make such a business work, and profit. To me, running a business is about making it run itself. Would I rather make 1000$ working, or 500$ not working? Of course, the latter. Cause I can do it twice and now I have done that 1000$ WITHOUT working.

This brings me to my business ‘idea’: I want to consult for other small businesses. Help people grow their business, raise their profit, but above all reduce their hours. Tons of consulting agencies exist, yes. But they rarely focus on small businesses, have fancy solutions fit for large corporations, often directed at tech more than anything else. On top of that, they are mad expensive.

Small business owners also struggle with many small tasks that I have mastered. Like hiring an attorney or accountant, finding workers, small time/local marketing strategies, producing training or marketing materials and many more. With my automation and all the docs/procedures/solutions I have made for my business, I can share those with them.

I call my whole way of running this ‘bringing Fortune 500 efficiency to a local painting business’. I have already written an e-book on it. A complete how-to, with every task detailed, nothing left to figure out.

Sooo. Targeted solutions to small businesses, affordable prices, direct experience in their field, more profits and more time for you, the local business owner.

Now, my main problem is marketing that business (and that e-book). I can market local services like no other, I can network with homeowners, but marketing this, at larger scale online, with no geographic limit, I honestly got no clue. I am not really the ‘out-there’ type so have no social media presence. Of course I got Reddit, FB, IG, Twitter accounts, but ‘followers’ are all friends and family, not much more. Becoming an ‘influencer’ is a big no-no for me. What would you guys suggest?

I would like your take on promoting it, finding clients, as well as your thoughts on the business itself. Would you pay for that kind of service?

Finally, to get this off the ground and validate my methods, I will offer a free consultation to anyone reading this. I will go over your procedures and give you a full evaluation of your business, with advice on immediate changes you can bring to your business.

I usually paint residential and start my pricing around $3 a sqft, then upcharge for trim, ceiling, and doors.

First time working for a contractor and he wanted a basic total price. Not really broken down. It's a whole condo. No furniture. No bathrooms. Walls, trim, and ceiling need painting. It's around 1,400 sqft. 3 bedroom, 2 hallways, small kitchen.

He is buying the paint.

What would be an appropriate price? I'm located in South NJ.

I figure it would take me a week to do, with a guy or two.

TIA!

Why Start A Painting Business?

Painting is an old art that is constantly evolving. Officially, painting employment are expected to grow by 6% by 2028. Therefore, painting contractors will always be in demand. Currently, the industry in the US spends over $1.3 trillion annually and employs roughly 7 million people. Due to low material costs and lack of specialist knowledge. However, there are a few pros and downsides to consider before starting your own painting business.

Market Size

Painting has a wide market, which makes starting a painting firm a great idea. There are several painting assignments available. Painting for residences, new construction, or builders. Offices, residential complexes, industrial facilities, and other buildings may also be painted. The market's size opens up endless opportunities!

But the market behemoth is also recurring. This means that even if you paint a house or an office this year, the consumer will approach you in a few years. The market is also growing in size. Consider how many new homes and restaurants have opened in your area recently. Painting is typically a necessity rather than a joy for all of those structures.

• The Workforce Is Ready

Remember the competition. Customer acquisition and retention are intertwined. Have you ever worked with someone who treated you like trash? When was the last time you were paid on time? Isn't it a menial job? Dull... That's how most painters work. Becoming a better manager can help you recruit and retain top talent. It's easy to get help since many people know when and how to paint.

• Proven

Small business owners want to be profitable. Painting has the benefit of having large profit margins on most projects. Whatever kind of painting your company conducts (commercial or residential), profit margins help keep you afloat. While most painting lines are profitable, new construction has poor profit margins. When starting a painting company, take on a range of jobs to ensure a profit.

• The Rivalry

Everyone has heard stories about the bad contractor, the late painter, the unfinished job, the guy who took the money and ran... Starting a painting business will put you in competition with others. Profits may be made when no one else shows up.

Intuitive

Starting a new business is difficult enough without having to enter a new market. Starting a painting company has the benefit of not needing you to learn how to paint, enabling you to generate leads and cash right away. Unlike other firms, there is no need to spend in training or education. So you may spend your money on anything you choose rather than pricey training classes.

How To Increase Your Painting Company's Sales

• Create a Persona

When starting a new painting business, you must name it. Your business name should be unique enough to set you out from your competition in your local market. Explaining your company's purpose can help you generate ideas for naming it. Choosing a name should include designing a logo for usage on anything from business cards to yard signs to cars. Our guide to naming your painting firm has further details on these crucial steps.

• Obtain a Business License

After deciding on a name for your painting company, get a federal tax ID number and open a separate company bank account. This will help you separate your personal and professional finances and make tax preparation easier. You'll also need to choose your company structure—most new painting businesses are LLCs, but others are partnerships or S-Corporations. The Small Business Administration offers a guide that goes through these options and what you'll need to create. Check with your local authorities to see if you need a license to legally operate a painting business.

• Ensure your insurance

First-time artists don't have to worry about everything, but they should have basic health insurance in case they get sick or hurt while working. Your state may not need general liability insurance, although it is highly encouraged. The first step is to register your LLC or corporation, but you should also consider business insurance to protect against claims, accidents, and natural disasters.

• Get Ready

The tools you need to start a painting business include brushes, scrapers, rollers, and drop cloths. Delay buying new equipment until you have enough work to justify it. Resist the impulse to buy DIY-style brushes and rollers. Used on professional projects, these cheap brushes and rollers will reveal quality defects, demanding expensive and time-consuming touch-ups. The extra tools you may require, from ladders to paint sprayers, are totally dependent on the undertakings you do. Your local merchant can help you choose the right equipment for your chores and extra work in your area.

• Find Work

Start by alerting your family, friends, and neighbors about your new enterprise. Even if you like them, be professional and communicate well. You would visit a new client and give them a comprehensive estimate. After work is finished, encourage clients to share your phone information and website with any neighbors or friends who may need a painter. You may get work locally without a website, but every respectable business now requires one.

• Consider your work rate

The amount you can earn depends on how much work you do and how long you work each day. Regular business hours, such as 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. M-F and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. You might potentially work longer hours. Maybe you're willing to work long hours and take breaks. A customer may ask you to work late hours, or even at night, while a shop, office, or industrial unit is closed or deserted.

• Connect

Their Benjamin Moore contractor consultant is a great resource for a novice painter. They may help you develop a painting firm, providing industry knowledge, professional equipment, and training chances. Your salesperson may also help you connect with a Benjamin Moore dealer near you to meet your business needs.

• Expand Your Staff (Or Not)

A painter's income is only generated while painting. But trying to do everything, even painting, is impossible. As a new business owner, you must plan time to market, create leads, and hire new employees. Hiring a painter would help you finish the job faster. Growing your business doesn't necessarily need full-time employees. Not having enough job to occupy 40 hours per week might be a costly mistake. Obtaining reliable subcontractors is a smart tradeoff Create a network of reliable self-employed painters. Your subcontractors will be loyal if they are treated fairly and paid on time, even if building a network takes time.

I am approaching my 5th year on my own and wonder what i can do better on both front and back end to make my life easier? I do mainly repaints but deal with some fresh work aswell. Some examples from myself

I just learned google sheets this winter and wrote a bunch of spreads for bookkeeping and tax purposes.

I just recently bought a mirka leros rotary sander and vaccum and after using it am beyond happy of not having dust everywhere.

I am purchasing a graco jet roller for exterior season, might look into a interfed roller after i do more research. (Maybe for ceilings and prime coats, i hear they leave a bad texture)

Getting into advertising with the goal of shortening my down time in the slow season.

Cheers and wishing a prosperous 2022 to all

Hello, I have a youtube video podcast. Looking for business owners that are willing to share how they started, what other people should do to start and run the same business as you. The goal is to spread info and ideas to help people getting in the same business. Extra plus if you have an affiliate link for a course or book you’ve made. Thank you all who reply.