As August comes to a close, it might seem early to think about planning season, but the time for 2025 Annual Planning is just around the corner. At Nolan Consulting Group, our mission is to support and hold our clients accountable for dedicating intentional planning time. To achieve this, we use our Cascading Process Cycle…

Help customers make their next color decision with confidence using these tools One of the most difficult parts of the painting process can be working with a homeowner who isn’t confident or needs help with a color decision. Waffling over important decisions can make jobs take longer to get started, cause delay, and prevent your…

Cost codes are a group of individual costs based on their nature or function. They usually consist of numeric characters with an account title. These make it easier to find the cost of a job. For example, costs related to priming are classified under Prep Expenses with a cost code of 0001. Cost coding is…

In the subcontracting industry, hiring and retaining qualified estimators presents several significant challenges. High market rates, investment costs, and competition contribute to these difficulties. Addressing these challenges effectively is crucial for maintaining efficiency and supporting growth. Understanding the Challenges in Estimating High Market Rates and Costs Substantial Investment: Hiring a skilled estimator requires an annual…

Growing a business can be challenging, and sometimes, what you think you need isn’t really what you need. Many business owners, not just in painting but in any field, often think they just need more leads to grow. However, needing more leads is often a sign of a deeper problem. To truly grow, you need…

Prior to joining the supplier side of the paint industry, I was part-owner of a successful painting company for 11 years. Over that time span, we worked tirelessly to optimize every facet of our business. From performing thorough onsite inspections, writing comprehensive proposals, or delivering memorable customer experiences, the commitment to these core principles led…

Finding reliable subcontractors can be tough, but we’ve got you covered. This week, we’re breaking down how to simplify finding, vetting, and keeping great new subcontractors in your local area. We’ll share some proven strategies the HeyPros team used while working with subcontractors at Homze.com. In 2022, we hired 200 excellent subcontractors in just six…

Having difficulty keeping top performers in your contracting business? Setup a bonus structure based on performance! Boy that sounds too easy, why haven’t I thought of that? Perhaps your estimating and project management softwares are not managing the scope of work properly. Any estimate that you do in the field should have some estimate of…

As a service contractor, you have probably seen this a thousand times! You have done all your diligence in setting up a great cost based estimate! The client was happy with the scope of work and accepted with your pricing! On paper your cash flow and profit margin both look good on this project!!! Now…

In the world of painting contracting, a common pitfall awaits new entrants: underpricing. This critical issue not only hampers growth but directly impacts profitability. Having had the opportunity to examine the financials of numerous newcomers in the painting business, a recurring theme emerges: their profitability is compromised due to inadequate pricing strategies. So, what leads…