Trade
Painting
Articles for painting shops running 1-10 people. Pricing, hiring, customer disputes, and the parts of the business they never teach you.
Keeping Your Crew Through the Slow Season Is Costing You
Carrying slow-season employees feels loyal. But if you've never run the actual numbers, you're making a gut decision with your cash reserve.
Your Follow-Up Automation Isn't Converting — The Copy Is
Your CRM is sending follow-ups but estimates still go cold. The problem isn't your software — it's the generic message inside it.
Being Booked Out 4 Weeks Isn't Success — It's a Warning
Full schedule, empty bank account? Being booked solid might mean your prices are wrong, not that your business is working.
Your Family Employee Is Your Biggest Management Problem
Family working in your shop isn't a shortcut — it's a liability if you can't manage them like anyone else. Here's what it really costs you.
Your Price Increases Should Be Scheduled — Not Panic Moves
Reactive pricing is a sign your business runs on fear. Here's how to build annual price increases into your operation before the pain forces your hand.
Your Unsold Estimates Aren't Dead — You Just Stopped Asking
Most contractors send an estimate and wait. Sam Reeves explains why one follow-up sequence recovers 30-40% of jobs you thought were gone.
Your Deposit Policy Is a Cash Flow Decision — Not a Trust Issue
Skipping the upfront deposit isn't customer-friendly — it's a slow cash bleed. Here's why every small shop needs a deposit policy and how to enforce it.
Your First Hire Shouldn't Be Your Best Tech
Promoting your best tech first feels safe — it's actually the mistake that kills small shop growth. Here's who to hire first and why.
Your Subcontractors Are Costing You More Than Employees
Think subs save you money? Run the real numbers — callbacks, markup loss, and schedule chaos make employees cheaper than most shop owners realize.
Your Labor Burden Rate Is Wrong — and Every Job Pays for It
Most trade shops undercount labor burden by 15+ points. Here's what's actually in the number and how to fix it before your next estimate.
Your Slow Season Isn't Bad Luck — You Built It
Slow seasons don't sneak up on good shops. If you're scrambling in February, the problem started in July. Here's what to fix before it's too late.
Your Supply House Terms Are Negotiable — Are You Asking?
Most small shops accept default net-30 terms and never ask for better. That's a cash flow mistake you can fix with one conversation.
Builder Accounts Aren't Steady Work — They're a Slow Trap
Builder accounts look like stable volume. They're actually thin-margin, slow-pay dependency. One builder stalls and your whole shop feels it.
That Big Commercial Account Will Break Your Small Shop
Big contracts look like a lifeline. But payment terms, retainage, and cash flow lag can sink a small residential shop fast. Here's why to say no.
Stop Trying to Hire Experienced Techs — Train Your Own
Experienced hires bring bad habits, wrong expectations, and someone else's way of doing things. Here's why small shops win by training from scratch.
Your Break-Even Number Is Wrong (And It's Killing Your Prices)
If you're pricing jobs off last year's overhead, your break-even is already wrong. Here's how to calculate the real number before you quote another job.
Stop Using Multiple Phone Numbers to Track Your Marketing
Call tracking numbers hurt your Google rankings and confuse customers. Here's how to track lead sources without fracturing your phone presence.
Word of Mouth Isn't a Marketing Strategy. It's a Risk.
Relying on referrals feels safe until the phone goes quiet. Here's why word of mouth is a liability — and how to build a system that doesn't depend on you.
Your Labor Burden Rate Is Wrong — Reprice Before You Hire
Hiring your next tech will break your pricing unless you recalculate labor burden first. Here's the math most trade owners skip.
Markup vs. Margin: Why Your Pricing Math Is Wrong
You priced at '40% margin' but you're broke. The markup vs. margin confusion is costing small shops thousands. Here's the one formula that fixes it.
1099 vs W-2 for Trade Workers: What It Really Costs You
Most small shops default to 1099 subs to save money. A former plumbing contractor explains why that math is usually wrong — and risky.