Recession Or Inflation? Relax Painting Contractors, You’re Lucky
I’ve been an active painting contractor from 1989-2019, and if you are new to being a painting contractor or have not worked through a recession before, relax everything is going to be FINE.
Too Many Homeowners aren’t Do-It-Yourselfers
Whether people are moving, selling, or deciding this is the time to stay put, they are potential customers.
Whether in a recession or a booming economy, most people want top dollar for their homes. They understand that the nicer it looks, the more money they will receive. Painting is one of the best ROI a seller can do.
For those sellers who don’t want to invest in a fresh coat of paint, don’t worry because the buyer probably does. Buyers are very busy people and most likely don’t have the time or energy to paint.
Homeowners with no plans to move may not want to spend money on big-ticket items such as a kitchen remodel, but painting the house falls under their budget.
Landlords Don’t Paint:
Rental properties have a large turn-over in a recession, and landlords need professional painters to get spaces ready for the new tenants.
When One Door Closes Another Opens
Commercial store owners may be holding off on big-ticket upgrades, but getting it painted may still be in their budget. Commercial spaces where customers visit must have a clean, well-maintained look. Flooring, painting, and lighting are at the top of the list of things that need to be changed from time to time.
Yes, schools and other State and Local agencies get budget cuts during a recession, but many painting projects still continue.
The last recession was 2007-2009. It felt it extended well into 2010 for many people and some painting contractors. My painting company and some others, as well, thrived during the Great Recession. Out of the 30 years I owned my business, 2010 was my biggest growth year. In 2010, I grew my business from $550,000 to 1,107,000! I didn’t increase my advertising budget, I just worked hard and found more work.
I have to credit the late Rush Limbaugh, who said something to the effect that if there is a recession, I don’t want to participate in it.
Thankfully, I listened to Rush.
Fortunately for me, some of my competitors threw in the towel. They probably lost a couple of customers and just stopped hustling.
Zig Ziglar called that “stinking thinking.”
I believe that some of the painting contractors didn’t mind that business slowed down. They might have complained on the surface, but they enjoyed the break. It was an excuse why they didn’t have to look for work.
Their decision to not seek out new painting opportunities made it easier for me to grow. I still remember painting contractors in the store telling me how slow they had been, and I just listened. I didn’t want to sound braggadocios or let the little secret out, but there was plenty of work.
Recessions Discriminate
Most people over 65+ and have disposable income are not painting their homes. Independent living communities are certainly affected, but less so than someone who lost their job.
Who are the Do-It-Yourselfers?
According to Forbes, people under 35 years old are more likely to take care of projects themselves. On the other hand, those over 40, with disposable incomes of $75k or more, are more likely to hire out for home services.
There are Just too Many Opportunities to Worry
Unfortunately, inflation hits hardest on the poor and lower middle class. Those are not a painting contractor’s demographics.
The typical painting customers are between the ages of 45-75. That is about 114 million people, or a third of the U.S population. In addition, there are other smaller pockets, including single moms between the ages of 27 and 45, who earn over $100,000. They typically work 40–60 hours per week and do not have the time nor the desire to paint.
In short, with few exceptions, there are plenty of customers. A million-dollar painting company only needs about 300–400 jobs a year.
Are You Hiring? Yes!
Well-run painting companies will find good painters coming to them in droves. Poorly run painting companies slow down or quit, and the best painters find new work.
Inflation Does Not Discriminate
When the cost of paint goes up, all painting contractors pay more. Don’t worry about rising prices because everyone has to raise their prices.
The same is true for wages. If you have to pay more for labor, so will your competitors.
Do Profits Inflate?
If you were doing a $5,000 job and your net margins are 20%, your net profit is $1,000.00
If your labor and marketing costs increase by 10%, you will have to raise your prices by 10%. That means a $5,000 job is now $5,500, and your 20% net profit is $1,100.
The Painting Industry is Only Growing
As more and more kids master video games instead of working with their hands, the pool of customers will continue to grow.
If you are interested in owning a painting company, franchising with Klappenberger & Son has the tools for rapid growth. Tools include, marketing strategies, a website, a call center, social media assistance, and more.
