Having good communication and people skills and being polite to your customers will definitely help your painting business to succeed. Here are some pointers that you may already know.

1.) Get some rubbers for your shoes when working in someones home. This way you don't have to keep slipping your work shoes back on and off every time you have to go out to your truck and come back in during the winter months. No one will be happy if you and their dog is making their floor muddy.

2.) Take a bath and shave before going to the job site. You will be surprised how many people show up for work looking like they don't own a mirror. If it's new construction or a rental propery no one is going to see you, but if you are dealing with homeowners you might want to keep a clean image.

3.) Don't smoke in the customers house unless they do and you have their permission.

4.) Keep a radio on but not up too loud. Being too quiet can make customers uneasy.

5.) Always be honest. If you are dishonest with a customer they will probably sense it and you will lose their trust and possible years of repeat business and referrals.

So there you go. Be honest, be polite, do good work at reasonable prices and your business should prosper if you give it time and momentum. Just as having good people skills is important for your painting business, so is having the right business knowledge when starting out. Double and even triple your painting profits: http://Painting-Business.com

With todays newer paints do you really need to use alkyd or oil-base paint on woodwork anymore? I find that the Benjamin Moore Satin Impervo in the latex formula looks and feels pretty good when dry.

In my painting business, it seems that I have run into a lot of woodwork that is done in latex enamel in many of the newer homes now days. Latex cleans up easier, painting is faster, and it's a lot less of a hassle cleaning up your brushes at the end of the day.

I know that latex doesn't sand very well though when restoring older woodwork like it does if you use oil. The enamel under coater primers in latex formula are sandable though.

Many times I will under coat with a latex primer and top coat with alkyd. The primer levels good because it is an enamel primer (holds gloss) and that makes it work well with an alkyd enamel top coat.

As a residential painting business owner (since 1991) I never have used contracts. I have always secured a deal with a down payment. I know from past sales experience that if you get a down payment the customer will not cancel.

Getting a third down has always secured an agreement between myself and the customer. Now, if I wasn't starting the job for another week yet, I wouldn't ask for any money until I actually started the job. Some customers have offered me cash as much as a month in advance and I said no. (I would hate to spend the money before actually doing the work.)

Now I know there are horror stories of someone paying a contractor half down and the guy takes off on them, never coming back to do the actual work. But that is not me. I live in the same town I work in and besides that, I pride myself in being an honest businessman.

As of today, I have never been ripped off by a customer either. Have I been lucky? Was the customer lucky? Let's put it this way. I don't paint for anyone who cannot afford my service. A down payment "QUALIFIES" the customer as being someone who has the money.

And when it comes to my credibility, many times I am referred to them by another satisfied customer, so I gain their trust as well. I also supply a new customer with work references if they ask. Most people I paint for though seem to trust me so it all works out well.

So when should I as a painter use a contract? To me, it would be wise to use a contract if you have employees. This way, the contract guarantees you will get paid so that you can in turn, pay your employees. Especially on a larger job. And it also guarantees that the work will be completed as described in the contract. This agreement gives you and the customer peace of mind.

But for small [tag]painting businesses[/tag], (1 - 2 man operations) a promise and a handshake plus a third down payment works out nice. It keeps things friendly between the painter and the customer. Also, if the customers adds a bathroom, dinning room or a spare bedroom into the deal, you don't have to whip another contract out on him or her.

On my Paint Like a Pro Estimating and Advertising CD I supply a ready-to-print-out contract form for painters who would like to use contracts.