2. Entrepreneur’s Company
• My Dad is a painting contractor. He paints
houses inside and out. He runs the entire
business by himself, therefore his business is a
sole proprietorship.
• He chose this structure because he wouldn’t
have to worry about other employees that
might cause conflict and or disagreement
• He has been in business for over 25 years.
3. Background of Business
• My Dad has always loved painting. Growing up, he helped
his Dad paint their house, and from there, he knew this was
something he wanted to do. He practiced and practiced at
being the best that he could at painting. Naming his
business Precision Painting is an accurate name because he
almost always does a perfect job.
• Taking out a loan from the bank, he was able to spark his
newly formed business by buying necessary tools
(paintbrushes, drop clothes, ladders, etc.)
• The company today has grown significantly. Starting off
painting smaller houses, my Dad has worked his way up to
painting Jim Calhoun’s beach house in Madison,
Connecticut.
4. Successes
• My Dad stated that his successes were, “Consistently
progressing his skills and obtaining more jobs.” He has
done that. At a given time, he can have several ongoing
jobs. “There is always something to do”, he said.
• The most rewarding part about running the business was to
know that he did it all by himself. My Dad is a true solo
entrepreneur, taking a complete risk with his vision for a
good painting company.
• Success factors include weather. Weather is a big factor
because if it is raining, outside jobs have to hold off.
However, he does just as much painting inside as he does
outside. Another factor is paint store hours. He has to plan
the paint pickups accordingly, so that he is able to get the
paint on time for certain jobs.
5. Challenges
• A challenge my Dad said he faced was self-doubt in the beginning.
Not being fully sure of the business and the fact that he was taking
a big risk, meant that he could have lost a lot.
• Another huge challenge was connections. At the beginning he
needed to advertise in the newspapers to obtain jobs. Also, he had
to develop good relationships with his customers so that they
would call him back if they needed another paint job.
• Furthermore, a fatal flaw is figuring out a way to keep a ladder
steady when painting a high peak for example. The peak might be
60 feet in the air, and my Dad started calling his fellow painting
friend to help him when he needed to paint risky spots. I myself
have observed and helped me Dad paint risky spots, and I know
firsthand that it is not an easy task. I respect him so much for that.
6. Competition
• Two of his closest competitors would be two
other local painting businesses in Madison, CT.
These two other businesses have multiple
workers, so they can offer greater speed than my
Dad. However, Precision Painting keeps
competitive advantage through lower prices,
doing a better job, and friendlier interactions
between the customers. This is how he is able to
build customer loyalty because they know he
does a great job, and at the same time, he does it
in a great manner.
7. Marketing
• At the beginning, my Dad advertised his
business in the local newspaper. After doing
so many jobs and interacting with other
people (electricians, plumbers, etc.), he is very
well known. He still markets in the paper
every now and then, and he has a business
card that he gives out if somebody is talking
about a painting job that needs to get done.
8. The Future
• My Dad says Precision Painting will be in
business till he retires at a late age. He was
hoping to pass it on to one of my siblings,
however, none of us have shown to be as
talented in that area. My brothers and I have
all helped him paint every now and then, and
my oldest brother is the best painter out of all
the boys in the family. However, I do not think
the business will continue in the far future.
9. Unique Questions
• What were some things that you had to learn
that didn’t come along with painting?
Answer – When painting the outsides of houses, I
consistently had to clean the outside panels with
certain chemicals if they showed signs of mold, dirt,
or debris. I had to learn how to use chemical spray
bottles and also learn the necessary precautions so
I wouldn’t hurt myself, any of the customers, or
damage their property.
10. Unique Questions Cont.
• Do you consider yourself a successful entrepreneur?
Answer: I absolutely do consider myself a successful
entrepreneur because I have been able to support an entire
family. With three kids at college, I can manage all of the bills,
and still have leftover money to have fun with my wife.
What was the hardest job that you ever completed and
how were you able to do it?
Answer: I did a job with a hundred foot building peak. That
was extremely hard, nerve racking, and took a lot faith to get
through it. I had a bunch of buddies help me out for that with
the ladder holding part and spiritually get me through it. We
all celebrated by going out to the bar after, and it was such a
great feeling getting it done.
11. Summary
• Precision Painting’s biggest advice would be to just follow
your inner desires for your business ideas. If it is something
that you really enjoy, such as my Dad loving to paint, then it
will most likely be a business that will be successful. You
will look at it as fun task everyday rather than a job.
• Strong dedication in the beginning is key to making a
business grow so much. Especially in the intro phases,
dedication will keep you going, and it will keep your visions
alive.
• I learned that my Dad took many risks to get this business
going, and I honestly love my Dad so much for doing what
he did. He did this all on his own, and he was able to make
a full living off of it and support my entire family. Precision
Painting will always be a part of my Dad.
