{"id":7118,"date":"2026-06-20T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/?p=7118"},"modified":"2026-08-13T22:12:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T22:12:55","slug":"how-to-start-a-painting-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/how-to-start-a-painting-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start a Painting Business: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\ndocument.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {\n  var sels = ['.entry-header','.page-header','article > h1:first-child','.entry-footer'];\n  sels.forEach(function(s){document.querySelectorAll(s).forEach(function(el){el.style.display='none';});});\n  var el = document.querySelector('.sw-a');\n  while (el && el !== document.body) {\n    el.style.maxWidth='100%'; el.style.width='100%'; el.style.padding='0'; el.style.margin='0';\n    el.style.float='none'; el.style.flex='0 0 100%';\n    el = el.parentElement;\n  }\n  document.body.style.marginTop='0'; document.body.style.paddingTop='0';\n});\n<\/script>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Inter:wght@400;500;600;700;800&#038;display=swap\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\n<!-- 02 Article Template, crash-course format. 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28px;border-radius:10px;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;background:var(--blue);color:#fff;text-decoration:none;border:none;}.sw-a__hero-cta a:hover{color:#fff;background:var(--blue-dark);}.sw-a__hero-cta-note{font-size:13px;color:var(--muted);}.sw-a__hero-cta-note b{color:var(--ink);font-weight:700;}.sw-a__inline-cta{margin:4px 0 2px;font-size:14.5px;}.sw-a__inline-cta a{color:var(--blue);font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1.5px solid rgba(37,99,235,.3);padding-bottom:1px;}.sw-a__inline-cta a:hover{border-bottom-color:var(--blue);}<\/style>\n<p><script>\n(function(){\n  try{\n    var b=document.body;\n    if(b && b.classList){b.classList.add('single-post');}\n  }catch(e){}\n})();\n<\/script><\/p>\n<article class=\"sw-a\">\n<section class=\"sw-a__hero\">\n<div class=\"sw-a__inner\">\n<div class=\"sw-a__breadcrumb\">Blog &nbsp;&rsaquo;&nbsp; Business &amp; Growth<\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"sw-a__eyebrow\">Painting &middot; Start a Business<\/span><\/p>\n<h1>How to Start a Painting Business<\/h1>\n<p class=\"sw-a__subtitle\">From brush hand to open shop: how to start a painting business in eight steps, from the EPA lead paint rule to first paying customers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-a__hero-cta\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Start Estimating Free &rarr;<\/a><span class=\"sw-a__hero-cta-note\">Free to try &middot; <b>4.8<\/b> on the App Store<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"sw-a__meta\">\n      <span>SimplyWise<\/span><br \/>\n      <span class=\"sw-a__dot\"><\/span><br \/>\n      <span>Updated July 10, 2026<\/span><br \/>\n      <span class=\"sw-a__dot\"><\/span><br \/>\n      <span>6 min read<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<figure class=\"sw-a__hero-figure\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1562259949-e8e7689d7828?w=1400&#038;h=700&#038;fit=crop&#038;q=80&#038;auto=format\" alt=\"A roller laying fresh blue paint over a white wall, the everyday work behind how to start a painting business\" loading=\"eager\"><br \/>\n    <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"sw-a__tldr\">\n<div class=\"sw-a__tldr-box\">\n<div class=\"sw-a__tldr-label\">How to start a painting business at a glance<\/div>\n<div class=\"sw-a__tldr-body\">\n<ol>\n<li>Pick a lane, register the entity, and get a free EIN from the IRS.<\/li>\n<li>Clear state and local licensing and get EPA RRP certified for pre-1978 homes.<\/li>\n<li>Insure the company and build the kit, sprayer to van.<\/li>\n<li>Price every job off labor, materials, overhead, and margin, then quote faster than the competition.<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<div class=\"sw-a__tldr-cta\"><span>SimplyWise is the fastest way to price a job.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\">Price From a Photo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"sw-a__body\">\n<div class=\"sw-a__inner\">\n<h2>The short answer<\/h2>\n<p>Here is how to start a painting business in one paragraph: pick a lane, register and get a free EIN, clear licensing plus the federal lead paint rule, get insured, build the kit, price for margin, and quote fast enough to win the work. Per the BLS, no formal educational credential is required to become a painter: the barrier is compliance and pricing, not a diploma. Every number here was checked live against the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the EPA, the SBA, and the IRS on July 10, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The backdrop is steady and owner friendly: the BLS counts 342,200 painter jobs in 2024, projects 4 percent growth from 2024 to 2034 with about 28,100 openings a year, and reports 34 percent of painters are self-employed. The May 2025 BLS wage survey puts the median painter at $49,400 a year, about $23.75 an hour.<\/p>\n<h2>How to start a painting business in 8 steps<\/h2>\n<p>Work them in order: compliance gates the first bid.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"sw-a__steps\">\n<li>\n<h3>Pick your lane and validate demand<\/h3>\n<p>Residential repaints are the most common entry point: small jobs, short sales cycles, referrals that compound. Count aging housing stock, property managers, and builders who sub out paint before you commit.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Write a one-page plan and startup budget<\/h3>\n<p>Answer four questions: what you paint, who buys it, what it costs to open, and the revenue that makes year one worth it. List startup costs honestly, sprayer to van to insurance, then reverse-engineer the revenue target into jobs a month.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Register the entity and get a free EIN<\/h3>\n<p>Per the SBA, a sole proprietorship is easiest but leaves you personally liable for business debts, while an LLC protects personal assets like your van, house, and savings in most cases. Ladders, sprayers, and other people&#8217;s homes are why many painters pick the LLC. Then get an EIN directly from the IRS: it is free, issued online in minutes, and required once you hire.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Confirm state and local licensing<\/h3>\n<p>Licensing is set state by state: some states require a contractor license or registration above a dollar threshold, others regulate only specialty trades, and many cities add a local license. Check your state contractor board and your city or county license office before you bid.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Get EPA RRP certified for pre-1978 homes<\/h3>\n<p>Per the EPA, anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in homes built before 1978 must hold RRP firm certification, and that includes sole proprietorships. The EPA reports about three-quarters of US homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint, so if you repaint older homes, certification is not optional.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Buy the right insurance<\/h3>\n<p>General liability comes first: it covers the overspray on a neighbor&#8217;s car, the ladder through a window, and the property manager who will not let an uninsured painter on site. Most states require workers&#8217; compensation the day you hire; add commercial auto for the van.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Build your kit and open a supplier account<\/h3>\n<p>The starter kit: an airless sprayer, ladders, brushes and rollers, drop cloths, masking film, a respirator, and a van or trailer. Buy quality on daily-use tools and rent the rest. Open a supplier account for contractor pricing and same-day product.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Price for margin and quote fast<\/h3>\n<p>Price every job off burdened labor (the BLS May 2025 median of $23.75 an hour is what a painter earns, not what an hour costs you), materials at supplier prices, and overhead, then add margin. Homeowners hire the first clear, itemized estimate that lands, so send yours the same day. Our roundup of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/best-estimating-app-painters\/\">best estimating apps for painters<\/a> compares the tools built for that speed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"sw-a__inline-cta\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Price your first paint job from a photo, free &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>First customers and a full calendar<\/h2>\n<p>Claim a free Google Business Profile, ask past employers and general contractors for overflow work, and put a yard sign on every finished job. The free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/painting-estimate-template\/\">painting estimate template<\/a> gives quotes an itemized, professional layout, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/how-to-set-markup-price-jobs-for-profit\/\">setting markup to price jobs for profit<\/a> keeps them from leaking margin. Half of learning how to start a painting business is keeping the calendar full without giving away the spread.<\/p>\n<h2>Quote your first jobs with SimplyWise<\/h2>\n<p>Most of learning how to start a painting business is compliance. Winning work is speed. The SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a photo of the job into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds, so you price the repaint on the walkthrough and send the quote from the driveway. It is free to try.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;margin-top:28px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;padding:14px 24px;border-radius:8px;font-size:15px;font-weight:600;background:#2563eb;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;border:none\">Try the Cost Estimator Free<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-a__sources\">\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/construction-and-extraction\/painters-construction-and-maintenance.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Painters, Construction and Maintenance<\/a>. 342,200 jobs in 2024; 4 percent growth 2024 to 2034; 28,100 openings a year; 34 percent self-employed; no formal educational credential.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/data.bls.gov\/oesprofile\/?major_group=470000&amp;occupation=472141&amp;measure=01&amp;areas=INDUSTRY,STATE,MSA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Painters, Construction and Maintenance (47-2141), May 2025<\/a>. Median wage $49,400 a year ($23.75 an hour).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/lead\/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program<\/a>. Certification required for paid work disturbing paint in pre-1978 homes, including sole proprietorships; about three-quarters still contain some lead-based paint.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sba.gov\/business-guide\/launch-your-business\/choose-business-structure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Small Business Administration, Choose a business structure<\/a>. Liability differences between sole proprietorships and LLCs.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/businesses\/small-businesses-self-employed\/get-an-employer-identification-number\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS, Get an employer identification number<\/a>. EIN is free from the IRS and issued online in minutes. All five sources accessed live July 10, 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"sw-a__pull\">\n<blockquote><p>\n    The roller makes you a painter. RRP certification, insurance, and prices built on burdened labor make you a business.\n  <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>  <cite>SimplyWise Editorial<\/cite><br \/>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"sw-a__faq\">\n<h2>Starting a painting business: common questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-list\">\n<details>\n<summary>Do you need a license to start a painting business?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>It depends on your state and the job. Some states require a contractor license or registration above a dollar threshold, others regulate only specialty trades, and many cities add a local license. Per the EPA, anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 homes needs RRP firm certification, including sole proprietorships. Check your state contractor board before you bid.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How much does it cost to start a painting business?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>It varies too much by region and lane for one honest number. Budget for registration, license and RRP certification fees, general liability insurance, equipment, a work vehicle, initial materials, and marketing. Starting solo with a used van keeps the outlay lowest, and the EIN is free from the IRS.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Is a painting business profitable?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>It can be: 34 percent of painters are self-employed, and the BLS projects 4 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034. But the $49,400 median wage from the May 2025 BLS survey is a paycheck, not a profit. Owners make money by pricing jobs over burdened labor, materials, and overhead, then adding margin.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Do you need experience to start a painting business?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>Per the BLS, no formal educational credential is required and most painters learn on the job. What you need is clean prep, honest pricing, and the licensing and RRP certification your state and the EPA require.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"sw-a__finalcta\">\n  <span class=\"sw-a__eyebrow\">Quote faster<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Send your first painting quote before you leave the driveway.<\/h2>\n<p>Snap a photo of the job and get an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Send the quote while the homeowner is still deciding. Free to try.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-a__cta-buttons\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;padding:14px 24px;border-radius:8px;font-size:15px;font-weight:600;background:#2563eb;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;border:none\">Try SimplyWise Free<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"Article\",\n  \"headline\": \"How to Start a Painting Business\",\n  \"description\": \"How to start a painting business in 8 steps: register the company, clear licensing and EPA RRP certification, get insured, price for margin, and quote fast.\",\n  \"author\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"SimplyWise\"\n  },\n  \"publisher\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"SimplyWise\",\n    \"logo\": {\n      \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/icon-512x512.png\"\n    }\n  },\n  \"datePublished\": \"2026-06-08\",\n  \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-10\",\n  \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n    \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/how-to-start-a-painting-business\/\"\n  },\n  \"image\": \"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1562259949-e8e7689d7828?w=1400&h=700&fit=crop&q=80&auto=format\"\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"HowTo\",\n  \"name\": \"How to start a painting business in 8 steps\",\n  \"description\": \"The eight steps that take a working painter to an open shop: lane, plan, entity and EIN, licensing, EPA RRP certification, insurance, equipment, and pricing.\",\n  \"step\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 1,\n      \"name\": \"Pick your lane and validate demand\",\n      \"text\": \"Residential repaints are the most common entry point: small jobs, short sales cycles, referrals that compound. Count aging housing stock, property managers, and builders who sub out paint before you commit.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 2,\n      \"name\": \"Write a one-page plan and startup budget\",\n      \"text\": \"Answer four questions: what you paint, who buys it, what it costs to open, and the revenue that makes year one worth it. List startup costs honestly, sprayer to van to insurance, then reverse-engineer the revenue target into jobs a month.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 3,\n      \"name\": \"Register the entity and get a free EIN\",\n      \"text\": \"Per the SBA, a sole proprietorship is easiest but leaves you personally liable for business debts, while an LLC protects personal assets like your van, house, and savings in most cases. Ladders, sprayers, and other people's homes are why many painters pick the LLC. Then get an EIN directly from the IRS: it is free, issued online in minutes, and required once you hire.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 4,\n      \"name\": \"Confirm state and local licensing\",\n      \"text\": \"Licensing is set state by state: some states require a contractor license or registration above a dollar threshold, others regulate only specialty trades, and many cities add a local license. Check your state contractor board and your city or county license office before you bid.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 5,\n      \"name\": \"Get EPA RRP certified for pre-1978 homes\",\n      \"text\": \"Per the EPA, anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in homes built before 1978 must hold RRP firm certification, and that includes sole proprietorships. The EPA reports about three-quarters of US homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint, so if you repaint older homes, certification is not optional.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 6,\n      \"name\": \"Buy the right insurance\",\n      \"text\": \"General liability comes first: it covers the overspray on a neighbor's car, the ladder through a window, and the property manager who will not let an uninsured painter on site. Most states require workers' compensation the day you hire; add commercial auto for the van.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 7,\n      \"name\": \"Build your kit and open a supplier account\",\n      \"text\": \"The starter kit: an airless sprayer, ladders, brushes and rollers, drop cloths, masking film, a respirator, and a van or trailer. Buy quality on daily-use tools and rent the rest. Open a supplier account for contractor pricing and same-day product.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 8,\n      \"name\": \"Price for margin and quote fast\",\n      \"text\": \"Price every job off burdened labor (the BLS May 2025 median of $23.75 an hour is what a painter earns, not what an hour costs you), materials at supplier prices, and overhead, then add margin. Homeowners hire the first clear, itemized estimate that lands, so send yours the same day. Our roundup of the best estimating apps for painters compares the tools built for that speed.\"\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Do you need a license to start a painting business?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"It depends on your state and the job. 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What you need is clean prep, honest pricing, and the licensing and RRP certification your state and the EPA require.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n  \"itemListElement\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n      \"position\": 1,\n      \"name\": \"Home\",\n      \"item\": \"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n      \"position\": 2,\n      \"name\": \"Blog\",\n      \"item\": \"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n      \"position\": 3,\n      \"name\": \"Business & Growth\",\n      \"item\": \"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/category\/business-growth\/\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n      \"position\": 4,\n      \"name\": \"How to Start a Painting Business\",\n      \"item\": \"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/how-to-start-a-painting-business\/\"\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blog &nbsp;&rsaquo;&nbsp; Business &amp; Growth Painting &middot; Start a Business How to Start a Painting Business From brush hand to open shop: how to start a painting business in eight steps, from the EPA lead paint rule to first paying customers. Start Estimating Free &rarr;Free to try &middot; 4.8 on the App Store SimplyWise Updated [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"how to start a painting business","_yoast_wpseo_title":"How to Start a Painting Business in 8 Steps (2026)","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"How to start a painting business in 8 steps: register, clear licensing and EPA RRP certification, insure the crew, price for margin, and quote fast.","_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"75","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[182],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-growth"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - 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