[Paintguy]

Hello to everyone on this board!

I've been lurking a few times reading the posts and it seems there is a really interesting and diverse crowd here. I look forward to getting to know you.

So here goes for an introduction/biography:

My name is Ethan and I live in VA. I graduated 2005 from college with a degree in Economics, although I learned much more by contracting over 400 houses to be painted over the summers as an employee for a large paint contracting firm. (and by being active in a fraternity and partying alot of course)

When I graduated I did what all ambitious college kids should do to get on the fast track: I bought 2 motorcycles and drove straight to myrtle beach with my brother. We spent a few great summer months in beach towns from Rhode Island to South Carolina and everywhere in between.

We had incorporated in May of 2005 but were waiting for paperwork and the like and were in no rush to get started.

Realizing that, although awesome, riding motorcycles to jimmy buffett concerts didn't pay the bills, my brother and I set out to land our first painting job.

We actually did the estimate on our bikes and would check on the jobsite that way too. It was pretty fun till the weather got cold!

Fast forward a year later we had contracted over $350,000 worth of work and profitably(barely and mostly luck) flipped a house.

Unfortunately though as family, and with different visions for the business we decided we loved each other too much to stay in business together.

So he took that business, we came to an agreement as how to split some assets, and i founded my current painting company in July of 2006.

Since then we have painted hundreds of projects and are hovering very close to breaking the $1M mark since we started.

It has been a very exciting ride, although at times frustrating and stressful! One that i'm sure many of you can relate to!

It appears that many here are more technologically savvy then I and do most of their business on the internet. Other than Adwords, none of my business is!

But that is something I would like to change! so hopefully we can share ideas and resources and a few laughs together.

If you made it this far thanks for reading the longest post ever...

Glad to be here,

Ethan

[akula]

welcome ethan!

[Paintguy]

thanks akula!

Originally Posted by akula

welcome ethan!

[rogercbryan]

Welcome Ethan.. I'm from the DC area... it sounds like your company is on a roll..

[iDuke]

Great work there, Ethan, and welcome to the forum. Someone I met had also seen significant success in the painting market, growing from nothing to profiting over $10,000 in a mere 4 months. Not bad for 19 years old!

[Paintguy]

Originally Posted by rogercbryan

Welcome Ethan.. I'm from the DC area... it sounds like your company is on a roll..

Thanks Roger. Is your business strictly online or are you brick and mortar too? I looked around your website for ACS, looks like a very, very niche business, and interesting.

[Paintguy]

Originally Posted by iDuke

Great work there, Ethan, and welcome to the forum. Someone I met had also seen significant success in the painting market, growing from nothing to profiting over $10,000 in a mere 4 months. Not bad for 19 years old!

Thanks iDuke. Your signature says aerial photography but I didn't see a link - is that your business?

And yeah - I think that paint contracting is a very profitable, good business.

I don't know much about making money online, which it appears most of the entrepreneurs on this forum do for their living.

Apparently I have no web presence, perhaps I can learn what that means!

[iDuke]

I don't think you're doing too badly in the web department. At least you've recognized the importance of a web identity, which I can imagine may not be the case for other smaller painters or renovators out there. Combined with a distinctive branding, the product you offer will appear much more professional than from someone performing work solely in their name.

It does sound crazy, but I still meet people operating small businesses or providing a service without a website! Hard to believe in this day in age, but then again, I am easily considered a youngin'

[Denis3721]

Hello Ethan! I just started painting houses too last summer. I think its called college pro painters we worked for ( my team and I). Although I didn't have great success like you. I'm hoping to make some big bucks in summer 2008.

I would love to hear some of your strategies of running a painting business. PM if you are willing to share. Don't worry, I live in Iowa....I wont be your competition.

[zoobie]

Welcome Ethan!

See you around!