Painters’ workers’ compensation insurance costs on average $275 per month, or $3,320 per year. This coverage, which is needed in almost every state for firms with employees, can assist in covering medical expenses and missed earnings due to work-related accidents and illnesses.
On Insureon’s workers’ compensation insurance cost analysis page, you can learn how premiums are calculated and more.
Do you have proof of insurance?
Every painter should have General Liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $1 million. This insurance covers the homeowner in the event that the painter causes damage, such as spilling 5 gallons of white latex on your new roof or crashing a ladder into your convertible. Are you in need of some repairs? This is classified as carpentry and necessitates a separate rider. Insurance is a necessary part of doing business. Of course, if these mishaps did not occur, no one would need insurance.
Are your painters employees or independent contractors?
A well-run business will show up when they say they will, work for a full day, and then return every day until the project is finished.
Employees are covered by their employers’ general liability insurance, while independent contractors should be covered separately. Painting companies frequently utilize independent contractors, but it is much less common for each worker to be fully insured. Independent contractors are not covered by a company’s general liability coverage. Murphy’s Law says that the one independent contractor whose insurance you haven’t confirmed will be the one who…
May I have a copy of your insurance certificate for my files?
“Trust but verify” is a sound philosophy. You don’t want uninsured personnel peering through your windows or unplugging your workplace server from a ladder. A call to the insurance agent should clear things up if the certificate doesn’t answer the following questions.
New homes or old?
Painters who fail to provide sufficient breathing protection to their employees are failing the worker, the homeowner, and the environment. New home painters are hunting for work in older communities due to the construction slowdown.
Many layers of (lead) paint, metal storm windows to remove and replace, window putty, deeper soffits, and more architectural detail can be found in homes older than 30 years. These residences necessitate a slower, more meticulous pace as well as unique labor techniques. A paint team that is used to the “blow and go” speed of new construction will likely be unfamiliar with the attention to detail and meticulous prep work that an older property necessitates.
Which brand of paint do you recommend?
Painters develop a relationship with a specific store for a variety of reasons, including competent assistance, high-quality goods, and competitive price. It’s reasonable to inquire as to why a painter is hesitant to utilize a different product. It’s good to have a strong believe in a product based on personal experience, but when a financial incentive takes precedence over everything else, the advice you receive may not be in your best interests.
All of this implies high-quality materials; if you’re being led to a low-cost option, look for another painter. You never receive more paint than you paid for when it comes to painting. Furthermore, most professionals avoid using paint from Big Box chain stores for a variety of reasons, including product quality, limited selection, bad service, and availability.
Do you require any payment up front?
There is no right or wrong answer here; instead, there are a few factors to consider. If your painter is a bad business owner, he may utilize your down payment to cover last month’s costs, then be in a rush to finish the job so he can pay his employees. You’ve just given up a lot of power in terms of ensuring the agreed-upon quality of work. A significant upfront payment is frequently indicative of a business that is undercapitalized. Making a partial payment after a few days is a reasonable option. The painter has committed labor and equipment to the job, and the homeowner can see how it’s coming along, so both parties are invested in a successful outcome.
Will you start on time every day? Will you finish on time?
A well-organized and motivated crew of painters will show up when they say they will, work a full day, and then return each day until the task is finished. Those that don’t will take longer and cause more disruption in your life than necessary.
Some painters overwork themselves by taking on too many projects at once. As workers travel between jobs, work progress slows or becomes intermittent. This is a typical difficulty that painters who are as good at business as they are at painting avoid.
Job delays are also influenced by the weather. Work gets done quickly when the weather is nice. Due to the inclement weather, everyone must remain patient.
Will my property be protected?
A good painting firm will cover everything with tarps, relocate or stake valuable plants, and keep cars out of the way of overspray. This type of meticulous planning is sometimes disregarded because it is inconvenient it is far easier for a painter to urge his staff to “watch out for the plants” or simply hope they aren’t negligent. Paying attention to detail from the outset will save everyone time and money in the long run.
Will I hear loud music, objectionable language or find cigarette butts in my garden?
Some painters mistakenly believe that your home is their workspace. Then they behave in this manner. It’s preferable to be upfront about your expectations.
What is your source for new product information?
Every year, paint manufacturers, specialist distributors, and inventors release new products. Even from their own producers, paint outlets only stock a tiny number of new goods. Is the painter sure the primer, caulk, or equipment he’s used for 37 years are still the finest for the job? Does he read industry blogs and subscribe to trade magazines?
What about lead paint and dust?
This question will reveal whether the painter is aware of the lead problem or whether he will minimize it in order to secure the job. Lead paint is a fact that is best regarded from a knowledgeable standpoint both the painter and the homeowner should be knowledgeable. On their websites, the EPA and the City of Kansas City provide useful information on how to deal with lead paint.
Any paint put to your home prior to 1978 should be assumed to contain lead. Any sanding should be gathered in a vacuum with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. Sanding without HEPA filtration and proper respiratory protection is against EPA and OSHA rules. Painters that do not properly equip their employees are harming the worker, the homeowner, and the environment.
A surface that is consistent in appearance, color, texture, concealment, and gloss. Foreign material, lumps, skins, runs, sags, holidays, misses, or insufficient coverage are also absent. It’s also a surface that’s devoid of drips, spatters, spills, or overspray from the Painting Contractors Association’s crew.
What are liabilities in insurance?
- Liability insurance protects you from lawsuits stemming from injuries and physical damage to people and/or property.
- Liability insurance pays for legal fees and payments if the insured party is proven to be at fault.
- Intentional harm, contractual liabilities, and criminal prosecution are among the provisions that are not protected.
- Automobile insurance coverage, product producers, and anybody practicing medical or law all require liability insurance.
- Responsibility insurance includes personal liability, workers’ compensation, and commercial liability.
Know the market you’re painting for.
The first step is to determine whether there is sufficient demand for painting in your area. Do you live near any large communities or business areas? Will you be able to find enough interior work during the winter months if you live in a state with harsh winters?
Be upbeat, but not unrealistic. You need a good awareness of the opportunities in your market to launch a successful painting business.
Talking with other painters is a fantastic approach to gain these insights. You most likely already know a few successful professional painters in your region. Don’t be scared to inquire about their opinions on the market. Is there a backlog of work that they can’t handle? Is the majority of the property business or residential? Is it better to be indoors or outside? Maybe there’s even a market for speciality painting like faux finishes that hasn’t been filled yet.
Whatever the answers, you should have a thorough awareness of the market before investing time, money, and energy into your new painting business as a wise entrepreneur.
Painting practice makes perfect.
Now let’s look at your assets – and what abilities you might like to develop.
Painting is a painstaking, detail-oriented job. Getting to work outside on occasion is a significant plus for many painters. It can also be physically demanding, as it is frequently done from the top of a ladder. And getting a place ready for painting may be a workout in and of itself – consider scraping, patching, and sanding before picking up a brush.
Learning how to establish a painting business is also a creative and enjoyable experience. Can you, for example, provide appealing color schemes to your clients? Do you want to do some ornamental work, such as stenciling or even murals? Tap with your creative side and develop abilities that will keep you in demand.
Of course, the greatest method to become a great painter is to practice! Before you start soliciting clients, see whether any of your friends or family members require painting services. Work for a while with an established painting company to fully learn the ropes. There’s no better way to learn than by doing it yourself.
Also, how are your interpersonal skills? You’ll be going into people’s homes and businesses, bidding on work, conversing with customers, and directly dealing with any issues that arise. You want to come across as a true professional who is kind, prompt, and respectful of their time and space. Clients will be eager to suggest you to others if they enjoy both your personality and your work.
Schedule some office time.
You’ll be doing a lot of administrative work in the first several months. It’s a crucial stage in starting your own painting business, and if you think about it now, you’ll save time and frustration later on when you’re swamped with work.
Depending on where you live, state and local restrictions will change. Visit the Small Business Administration’s website if you’re not sure where to begin. Your town office or municipal hall should also be able to assist you. Check out their online resources, or schedule an in-person meeting with them and write down the questions you want to ask so you can receive all of the answers you need in one visit.
Set aside time to take care of taxes, invoicing, and a few other details. You’ll need to complete the most (if not all) of the following as you prepare to become a top-notch professional painter:
How much is general liability insurance in NY?
Call 800-900-8657 to speak with one of our New York general liability specialists to determine if your company qualifies for cheaper rates and greater coverage. Alternatively, you may begin your New York liability quote online right now.
The cost of liability insurance in New York varies greatly amongst insurance carriers. The total sales of the business, b) the gross payroll for employees and owners, c) the square footage of the premises, and d) any subcontractor exposures are all used to calculate liability insurance rates (if applicable). One or more of the aforementioned parameters are used to calculate insurance prices per $1,000.
A general liability policy for a typical small firm in New York might cost anything from $300 to $5,000 per year. Based on the SIC code or the insurance company’s own classification method for GL rating, the final cost of liability coverage will vary dramatically from one business to the next. The kind of your firm, your physical location, prior claims experience, and your years in operation are all factors that go into determining insurance costs.
Do you provide a free estimate?
When you initially call the company, ask this question so you know what to expect right away. Inquire about the scope of the estimate. To guarantee that you can compare all of the bids equally, ask each company to include the following information in their estimate:
Instead of getting quotes over the phone, request in-home estimates. An in-home estimate helps the estimator to gather more information about the project and anticipate any areas where further work, and thus additional costs, may be required.
What are your credentials?
Inquire about the company’s insurance coverage. To avoid being held liable for accidents on your property, use a contractor with general liability insurance. Workers’ compensation insurance is also required in several states.
You can also request to view the company’s business license, as some jurisdictions require home improvement businesses to be licensed or registered as contractors in order to undertake work in people’s homes.
Inquire about the company’s and its personnel’ certifications and training. Many painting companies belong to the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, which offers its members ongoing education opportunities. Look for a painting contractor who is EPA Lead-Safe Certified if you have an older home constructed before 1978.
Who will be on my crew?
Ask if you’ll have the same people in your home for the duration of the project if it’ll take more than one day. Also, find out who will be your primary point of contact for the project. Would it be a call from the office or a project supervisor on the job? Inquire about whether the company uses subcontractors and, if so, whether a company representative will be on the work with the subcontractors.
Can I see a list of references?
Request a list of homeowners you can call to inquire about their experiences with the company. If you want to see the paint job in person, don’t be scared to question the references.
Also, request a portfolio. Painters’ websites may not be updated frequently, but they are almost certain to have record of their best work that they may share with you in some manner.
What materials do you use?
You’ll want to know what brands of paint they sell. It’s critical to invest in the best paint you can afford. If you choose a high-quality brand, you won’t have to repaint in a year or two.
Also, talk to the contractor about the several types of paint finishes. Some finishes are more suited to different rooms in your home than others, and an experienced painter can advise you on which finishes work best in your kitchen vs your master bedroom, for example.
What kind of painting prep do you do?
Is painting prep, as well as the cost, inclusive of wall sanding, wood or drywall repair, and covering and relocating furniture? If furniture needs to be covered or relocated, make sure to address it and determine who is responsible for moving it.
Also, inquire about the effort that goes into the project once it is completed. Ask if they’ll re-hang gutters and downspouts if they’re painting the outside.
Do you offer a workmanship warranty?
Painting contractors with a good reputation will stand behind their work. Inquire about the warranty. Many businesses provide craftsmanship guarantees in addition to manufacturer warranties. When you’ve decided on a contractor, make sure you acquire the details of their warranty in writing.
What are the two most common liability coverage?
It does not, however, cover your personal belongings. It’s crucial to understand that liability insurance is divided into two categories: bodily injury and property damage.
What are the 3 components to liability insurance?
Liability. Most auto insurance policies are divided into three sections: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage.
How do you price a painting job?
Some contractors use a rough base rate of $1.50 or $2.00 per square foot, multiplying 4 to 6 times the paint cost, estimating the time the job will take and adding it to a materials estimateand some simply give the lowest price to outbid the competition.