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In this episode, host Daniel Honan, CPA and former painting business owner, sits down with Ryan Ezzell, the founder of a rapidly growing painting business in Tennessee. Ryan shares his incredible journey from starting with door-to-door sales to scaling his company to over $1.5M in revenue in the first year and on track for $4M+ in year two.

🔹 Key Takeaways:

• How Ryan built a hybrid team of subcontractors and in-house painters.
• The power of door-to-door marketing and how it fueled his early growth.
• Why hiring salespeople first was a game-changer for his business.
• The importance of aligning incentives with subcontractors and employees.
• Ryan’s mindset shifts and lessons learned from scaling so quickly.

Whether you’re just starting your painting business or looking to take it to the next level, Ryan’s story is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

#PaintingBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #DoorToDoorMarketing #PaintingContractor #SmallBusinessSuccess #TheProfitablePainterPodcast

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In this episode, host Daniel Honan, CPA and former painting business owner, sits down with Knut Olsen, the owner of Cascade Ridge Painting in Washington. Knut shares his incredible journey from working a "boring desk job" to building a thriving painting business that’s on track to hit $600,000 in revenue this year, all in just four years!

🔹 Key Takeaways:
-How Knut transitioned from a 9-to-5 job to entrepreneurship with zero painting experience.
-The lead generation strategies that work best for his business (hint: Google LSA is a game-changer!).
-Why subcontractors have been crucial to his success, and how he manages them effectively.
-The importance of seasonal planning and budgeting for painting businesses.
-Tips for scaling your business without burning out.

Whether you're just starting your painting business or looking to take it to the next level, Knut’s story is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

#PaintingBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessGrowth #ContractorLife #BusinessTips #TheProfitablePainterPodcast

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In this episode, host Daniel Honan (CPA and former painting business owner) sits down with Patrick from Patrick’s Painting in Northern Virginia. Patrick shares his incredible journey from starting with just a paintbrush and a contractor’s license to building a multi-million-dollar painting business.

Key Takeaways:

• How quitting drinking and focusing on productivity helped Patrick grow from $600K to $2.6M in revenue.
• The importance of hiring coaches (business, financial, and fitness) to accelerate growth and avoid costly mistakes.
• Why project management was his biggest bottleneck and how he solved it by delegating and systematizing processes.
• The role of continuous learning, mastermind groups (like PCA and BK Live), and implementing knowledge to drive success.
• Patrick’s advice on building a business that doesn’t rely solely on you, scaling through leadership and team development.

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Welcome to the Profitable Painter Podcast! In this episode, host Daniel Honan, CPA and former painting business owner, sits down with Brad Ellison, founder of Ellison Painting, to uncover how he scaled his residential painting business from $0 to $5.1 million in under 3 years.

Brad shares: How he stumbled into the painting industry The exact marketing and hiring strategies he used to grow fast Why work-life balance was a non-negotiable from day one The importance of paid ads, project managers, and setting clear revenue targets His journey partnering with a longtime friend and structuring a smart, scalable business Key metrics like set rates, close rates, and marketing ROI benchmarks Whether you're just starting out or trying to break past the $1M ceiling, Brad’s transparent insights and numbers-driven approach are packed with takeaways you can apply today.

📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode that could take your painting business to the next level! #ProfitablePainter #PaintingBusiness #MarketingTips #ContractorSuccess #EllisonPainting #SmallBusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #TradesBusiness

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In this episode of The Profitable Painter, host Daniel Honan sits down with Zach Guthrie, a painting business owner from Buffalo, New York, who has grown his company from a solo venture into a thriving operation with two full-time crews and seasonal expansion. Zach shares the real-world challenges he faced in the early days, juggling roles, setting up his LLC, handling taxes, and managing manpower, and how he overcame them by investing in team culture and leadership. Learn how creating camaraderie among workers, recognizing achievements, and structuring roles like project managers and foremen have transformed his company’s efficiency and profitability. Zach also dives into hiring strategies, compensation plans for sales and production staff, and the importance of aligning incentives across the business. Whether you’re just starting your painting business or looking to scale efficiently, this episode is packed with practical advice on how to grow a committed team, retain top talent, and ultimately boost your bottom line.

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In this episode, Molly Zabielski and her business partner Jacob share their inspiring journey from working with Student Painters to launching Clean and Coat Painting in August 2023. Discover how they leveraged social media to serve 200+ residential customers in just eight months, achieving a remarkable 39% closing rate on Facebook leads, far above the industry average.

They reveal their winning strategies, from creating engaging team-focused content to mastering Facebook ads and optimizing their Google Business profile. Plus, learn how they keep customer acquisition costs low while scaling their team to meet soaring demand.

Whether you're a small business owner or a marketing enthusiast, this episode is packed with actionable insights on digital growth and entrepreneurship!

#SmallBusinessSuccess #SocialMediaMarketing #Entrepreneurship #PaintingBusiness

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In this insightful episode of the Profitable Painter Podcast, host Daniel Honan sits down with Chad Huber, owner of Casa Keepers and founder of the groundbreaking Painting Angels, for a deep dive into building a business rooted in culture, communication, and social impact.

Chad shares his unconventional journey into the contracting world, sparked by frustration with poor contractor experiences. His mission? To redefine professionalism in the trades by prioritizing low-stress, high-communication service, values now embedded in his $3M+ Texas-based renovation business. But his vision doesn’t stop there. With Painting Angels, Chad is tackling two crises head-on: the skilled labor shortage and economic barriers for single mothers. This all-female painting company isn’t just about flawless finishes, it’s about creating career pathways and transforming lives.

Key Takeaways from Chad Huber:

🔹 Culture Over Skill: Why hiring for values (like communication and cleanliness) beats technical expertise, and how to spot the right fit.
🔹 The Working Genius Model: How Chad uses this framework to align team strengths with roles, and why a "wonder" thinker shouldn’t be a carpenter.
🔹 Solving Pain Points: From no-shows to radio silence, how Chad’s own contractor horror stories shaped his company’s core promises.
🔹 Painting with Purpose: The inspiring story behind Painting Angels, a venture designed to empower women and elevate the trade’s reputation.
🔹 Scaling with Heart: Why deep systems (not shiny objects) fuel growth, and how to stay focused on what truly matters.

Whether you’re a trades professional tired of the "chaos norm" or an entrepreneur looking to build a business with legacy, this episode is packed with actionable lessons on leadership, hiring, and the power of solving real-world problems.

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In this powerful episode of the Profitable Painter Podcast, host Daniel Honan sits down with Gene Harris, owner of multiple Painter 1 locations and founder of Hoosier Admin, for an inspiring conversation about building a business with intention and impact.

Jean shares how his background in the Navy and property management helped shape his mindset as a business owner. But what truly sparked his entrepreneurial drive was planning for his family’s future, including long-term care for his special needs son. That mission led him to launch and scale not just one, but multiple businesses, all while stepping out of daily operations and focusing on building wealth through smart systems, strong teams, and a service-first culture.

Takeaways from this episode with Gene Harris:

• Purpose-Driven Wealth: How long-term family goals fueled Jean’s business journey, and why asset ownership beats a 401(k).
• Delegation Done Right: Why most painting contractors wait too long to give up the phones, and how Hoosier Admin fills the gap.
• Systemized Success: The importance of documenting roles, building reliable teams, and getting out of the "you = the business" trap.
• Culture of Hospitality: From project managers to painters, why customer happiness is the North Star (and how to hire for it).
• First Impressions Matter: Why offshoring your phones can backfire, and how a professional, U.S.-based admin team changes the game.

Whether you're just starting your painting business or aiming to scale out of day-to-day chaos, this episode offers a blueprint to grow with clarity, purpose, and peace of mind.

🎧 Listen now, then start building a business that supports your life, not consumes it.