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Gridlock · 12-06-2011, 10:24 AM

Ha...yeah.

Where to begin. Can you make money? Yes. It's not really a multi-level marketing scheme like you are thinking. I worked for a StudentWorks painting franchise. YMMV

From what i learned from the owner, the franchise fees were front loaded for him, so the more money you make, the more you get to keep. I assume a lot of people got baked from doing it and flaked out in July.

He made a good amount of money. I, in turn, made shit. But ain't that the way.

You need to operate it like a full-fledged business...and you need to do that with your own money. You need to form a marketing team, that goes and knocks on a bunch of doors and basically beg people that don't give a fuck what their house is going to look like to sign you, instead of people that know what they are doing.

You need a vehicle, and you need tools. That vehicle is a write off btw, so don't think Momma's volvo is gonna cut it. It will never look the same after you are done. I used my car when I first got started, and had to replace the entire trunk interior, and there is still a huge gob of red in the carpet. Shit just happens with paint. That bucket you have sitting next to it filled with tools? Will never fall over like its fucking cemented upright.

PS...started my biz out of the back of an RX7, and could carry a folding 20' ladder, case of tools and supplies and a paint sprayer. And that's how it all started. As a fucking joke. When I say now that I deserve any amount of respect I've earned, I mean it.

Anyway.

So then you hire a bunch of a)dumbfucks and b) the occasional guy like me that got canned from his other joke fucking employment and actually enjoys this shit.

You'll have better luck now as a lot more guys are looking for employment now then 2003 when I worked for SW. Although I can tell you, you get a lot of whack people looking for work. For awhile recently, I had this guy that called himself "Lean Gene, the Painting Machine" calling, begging for work. He must of either got a job, or the hint because he took me off his calling list.

Another side story...we had this douche working for us, and he was working for hours, and I went to check on him...coated from head to toe in white paint. Couldn't paint a line to save his fucking soul. I can't remember how it came to be, but my method of describing his painting abilities to the owner was, "he couldn't paint his ass with shit if he had diarrhea"

He was classed as a "dumbfuck"

So, you are constantly pimping yourself to potential clients, delivering shit work, constantly doing touch-ups to make "shit" look like "less shit" and moving on to the next project. Your people don't have a fucking clue what they are doing, and the paint job won't last.

Want me to tell you about the house on 4th that had half the front painted in nothing but primer? How about the house on 12th that has a big white paint spot on the roof painted black to disguise it? Oh, my favorite...the guy that had people on ladders painting his house, while he was in the attic whacking off.

As an owner, you have no interest in worker safety so how more of these guys aren't falling off roofs, I have no idea. I got in a fight one day because I refused to do something. He made a threat about WCB mandating me to do it if it was deemed safe. I said go ahead...I'll quit and you can put the douche covered in white in charge. HOw many times did I see someone testing for lead paint? Zero. Mention lead paint? Zero. Take precautions regarding lead paint? Zero.

On the other hand...its not all that bad. You have built in back office support,, so you can actually concentrate on your business. No payroll, no tax remission, no WCB. Makes life a lot easier.

And painting houses is good money. Uni Painters did our old building. Did a horrible job, took forever-actually had a guy standing on someone's car in the parking lot to paint the ceiling..with no protection. And they billed like 14k, probably made 10-11k less expenses. The manager told me they were the cheapest option available.

Most of the student paint companies rip their employees off with "piece work"...you get quoted a wall, and if it takes you more time, or less you make no different. What they do though, is quote the customer on 15 hours, and quote you for 10, and bank the difference.

Honestly, its good for university students...you need a good area and some significant money to start with. You really can't make more money during the summer unless you have hook-ups.

12-06-2011, 10:24 AM	#4
Gridlock Banned By Establishment Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New West Posts: 3,997 Thanked 2,982 Times in 1,135 Posts Failed 284 Times in 109 Posts	Ha...yeah. Where to begin. Can you make money? Yes. It's not really a multi-level marketing scheme like you are thinking. I worked for a StudentWorks painting franchise. YMMV From what i learned from the owner, the franchise fees were front loaded for him, so the more money you make, the more you get to keep. I assume a lot of people got baked from doing it and flaked out in July. He made a good amount of money. I, in turn, made shit. But ain't that the way. You need to operate it like a full-fledged business...and you need to do that with your own money. You need to form a marketing team, that goes and knocks on a bunch of doors and basically beg people that don't give a fuck what their house is going to look like to sign you, instead of people that know what they are doing. You need a vehicle, and you need tools. That vehicle is a write off btw, so don't think Momma's volvo is gonna cut it. It will never look the same after you are done. I used my car when I first got started, and had to replace the entire trunk interior, and there is still a huge gob of red in the carpet. Shit just happens with paint. That bucket you have sitting next to it filled with tools? Will never fall over like its fucking cemented upright. PS...started my biz out of the back of an RX7, and could carry a folding 20' ladder, case of tools and supplies and a paint sprayer. And that's how it all started. As a fucking joke. When I say now that I deserve any amount of respect I've earned, I mean it. Anyway. So then you hire a bunch of a)dumbfucks and b) the occasional guy like me that got canned from his other joke fucking employment and actually enjoys this shit. You'll have better luck now as a lot more guys are looking for employment now then 2003 when I worked for SW. Although I can tell you, you get a lot of whack people looking for work. For awhile recently, I had this guy that called himself "Lean Gene, the Painting Machine" calling, begging for work. He must of either got a job, or the hint because he took me off his calling list. Another side story...we had this douche working for us, and he was working for hours, and I went to check on him...coated from head to toe in white paint. Couldn't paint a line to save his fucking soul. I can't remember how it came to be, but my method of describing his painting abilities to the owner was, "he couldn't paint his ass with shit if he had diarrhea" He was classed as a "dumbfuck" So, you are constantly pimping yourself to potential clients, delivering shit work, constantly doing touch-ups to make "shit" look like "less shit" and moving on to the next project. Your people don't have a fucking clue what they are doing, and the paint job won't last. Want me to tell you about the house on 4th that had half the front painted in nothing but primer? How about the house on 12th that has a big white paint spot on the roof painted black to disguise it? Oh, my favorite...the guy that had people on ladders painting his house, while he was in the attic whacking off. As an owner, you have no interest in worker safety so how more of these guys aren't falling off roofs, I have no idea. I got in a fight one day because I refused to do something. He made a threat about WCB mandating me to do it if it was deemed safe. I said go ahead...I'll quit and you can put the douche covered in white in charge. HOw many times did I see someone testing for lead paint? Zero. Mention lead paint? Zero. Take precautions regarding lead paint? Zero. On the other hand...its not all that bad. You have built in back office support,, so you can actually concentrate on your business. No payroll, no tax remission, no WCB. Makes life a lot easier. And painting houses is good money. Uni Painters did our old building. Did a horrible job, took forever-actually had a guy standing on someone's car in the parking lot to paint the ceiling..with no protection. And they billed like 14k, probably made 10-11k less expenses. The manager told me they were the cheapest option available. Most of the student paint companies rip their employees off with "piece work"...you get quoted a wall, and if it takes you more time, or less you make no different. What they do though, is quote the customer on 15 hours, and quote you for 10, and bank the difference. Honestly, its good for university students...you need a good area and some significant money to start with. You really can't make more money during the summer unless you have hook-ups.