I’ll get you more work!
I don’t often focus on the residential sector, but I’m no stranger to it. As a 4th-generation painter, my family started out in residential work before transitioning to the commercial…
Author: Harry Carter
Sundries
In the painting business, sundries refer to consumable items that are used up during a job and need to be replenished regularly. These are not reusable tools like ladders or…
What did he say?
Improving communication between builders and subcontractors can make a significant difference in efficiency and project outcomes. Here are a few strategies that tend to work well: Over the years, some…
Claims of 50% Gross Profit.
Boasting about a 50% gross profit in the house painting business might raise eyebrows because it’s unusually high for that industry. While not inherently ridiculous, it could be seen as…
Snake Oil and Estimating – Beware!
For nearly half a century, The Carter School of Estimating has been a trusted name in teaching the art and science of construction estimating, specializing in the drywall and painting…
Pricing by the square foot floor area?
I wish I had a buck for every time that I was asked what the going rate was when pricing paint projects but the question that takes the cake is…”What…
Expecting too much from your workers?
I ask this question because I’m always curious as to what your answer will be. I can almost guarantee what you’ll say because though I’m not a gambler, I’ve got…
Is it hard to time our workers?
Let’s face it, none of us would want our boss breathing down our neck, watching our every move would we? Then how in the world you ask, are we supposed…
I have no overhead, so I can bid low
This statement—often repeated and written—is fundamentally flawed and deeply misguided. Over the past four decades in this field, I’ve come across countless misconceptions about business practices, and one of the…
Are bid packages the way to go?
A “bid package” typically combines the work of one or more related trades into a single proposal. For example, as a drywall contractor, you might submit a bid for framing…