Trades License neededRepeat customersSide hustle

How to start a house painting business in Northern Ireland

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Northern Ireland asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In pounds 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for the United Kingdom: researched US figures converted to pounds by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are the United Kingdom's own.

To start£590–4.1kLean to full setup

Per month£3.4k–8.2kOnce established

Profit margin70–78%Before paying yourself, after paint, supplies and insurance

First customer2–6 weeksFrom today

DifficultyLearn the basics in weeks; mastery takes longer

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you're patient and like clean, careful work

Painting is a trade you can learn and start with modest tools: brushes, rollers, drop cloths and a good ladder. Careful prep and clean lines are what customers remember, and a single room can lead to the whole house.

You'll like it if

You're patient and enjoy careful prep
You like seeing a room transformed
You're comfortable on ladders
You're tidy and respectful in people's homes

Think twice if

Paint fumes or dust bother you
You'd rather not stand, reach and climb all day
You need steady income in winter for outdoor work
You rush and dislike detail work

02What it costs

From £590 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to start£590

What	Cost
Airless sprayerRent one at first, then buy a pro sprayer	£0
Brushes, rollers and prep toolsQuality brushes, roller frames and covers, poles, scrapers, caulk gun	£140
Ladders and planksA 6-foot stepladder, then an extension ladder, multi-position ladder and plank	£95
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	£0
Drop cloths, plastic and tapeProtect floors and furniture on every job	£80
Safety gearRespirator, masks and safety glasses	£25
InsuranceFirst three months: liability, plus tools cover	£150
Lead-safe certificationFor older homes; in the US, those built before 1978	£0
Website and marketingWebsite, cards, yard signs and local ads	£100
Total	£590

Once you're running: about £140 a month, plus about 20% of what you earn. Insurance, phone and estimating software every month, plus paint, supplies and card fees on each job.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per room £340 £100£1,350

Rooms a week 4 112

Monthly costs £140 £0£560

Typical in Northern Ireland: £200–£680 per room, 1–7 rooms a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustle£1k–2.1k

Weekends, 1–2 rooms a week

Full-time, on your own£3.4k–5.5k

4–6 rooms a week, or exteriors in summer

With a helper£5.5k–8.2k

Two painters on whole homes and exteriors

04Step by step

13 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Check the demand near you
2–3 days Free

See who paints homes near you, what they charge per room and how busy they are.
- Search "house painters near me"
- Note 5 competitors and their prices
- Ask friends who need a room done
2
Check your license rules
1–2 days Free

Many places license painting contractors above a small job size. Know your limit before you advertise.
- Contractor license limit
- Insurance or bond required
- Lead-safe rules for older homes
3
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that says what you do and where. Make sure no one in Northern Ireland has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
4
Register your business in Northern Ireland
1 day to 2 weeks £0–£100

Most owners start as a sole trader with HMRC; a limited company with Companies House costs a little and keeps business debts separate.
- Register as a sole trader: free
- Set up a limited company: £100
5
Get your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from HMRC, for taxes and banking.
- Register with HMRC
- Open a business bank account
6
Sort out VAT
1–3 days Free

You must register for VAT once your sales pass £90,000 a year. The rate is 20%.
- Know when to register for VAT
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
7
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability
- Tools and equipment
- Workers' comp, once you hire
8
Get lead-safe certified
1 day Up to £400

Old paint can contain lead. If you'll work on older homes, take a lead-safe course; in the US, homes built before 1978 need EPA or state certification.
- Eight-hour renovator course
- Firm certification
- Dust control kit
9
Buy your equipment
1 week £340–2.4k

Good brushes, rollers and drop cloths do most of the work. Rent a sprayer for big jobs until you're busy enough to buy one.
- Brushes, rollers and poles
- Drop cloths, plastic and tape
- A sturdy stepladder
10
Set your prices
1 day Free

Price by the room or by the square foot, with a minimum job size. Paint is usually included. See the prices below.
- Walls only, or ceiling and trim too
- Exterior by house size
- A written estimate for every job
11
Put your business online
1 day Included

Photos of finished rooms sell your work. A site with your services and estimate requests does the selling for you.
- Website with photos
- Estimate requests
- Google Business Profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
12
Get your first 10 customers
2–6 weeks Up to £200

Friends, neighbors and local groups first, then realtors, landlords and reviews.
- Neighborhood groups
- Realtors and landlords
- Ask every customer for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
13
Keep track as you grow
Ongoing Included

Track every estimate, job and invoice, and note each home's colors for next time.
- Estimates and follow-ups
- Invoices
- Colors used per home
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in N. Ireland

What Northern Ireland asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Register as a sole trader

You register as a sole trader by registering for Self Assessment.

HMRCFree

Set up a limited company

Registering online. Registering by post costs more.

Companies House£100once

Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

HMRCFree

Lead paint in older homes

Old paint can contain lead. Avoid dry sanding and burning it off, control dust, and keep customers away from the work area.

Your health and safety regulatorFree

Lead paint guidance

In homes built before the 1980s, old paint may contain lead: avoid dry sanding and burning off, and use dust extraction.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)Free

Work at height

The Work at Height Regulations apply if you employ anyone or your work could put others at risk: plan each job and use ladders safely.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)Free

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Brushes and rollersAngled brushes, frames and covers

£40–£140Must have

Extension poleFor ceilings and high walls

£40–£45Must have

Drop cloths and plasticCanvas drops and plastic sheeting

£14–£40Must have

Tape and masking toolsPainter's tape and a hand-masker

£7–£30Must have

Caulk gun, scrapers and 5-in-1Prep is most of a good paint job

£7–£12Must have

6-foot stepladderFiberglass is sturdy and safe

£95–£160Must have

Respirator and safety glassesFor sanding and solvent paints

£10–£55Must have

Airless paint sprayerMid-range to pro models

£220–£790Later

Extension ladder28 feet (8.5 meters) for exteriors

£260Later

Ladder plankWork safely along walls and stairwells

£320Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

One room, walls

£320 per project · About 1 day

Furniture moved and covered
Patch and prep
Two coats on the walls
Paint included

Room, ceiling and trim

£580 per project · 1–2 days

Everything in One room
Ceiling painted
Trim, doors and baseboards

Whole exterior

£3,050 per project · 4–5 days

Wash, scrape and prime
Siding and trim
Two coats
A single-story home

Prices to paint one room in Northern IrelandTypical: £200–£680

Average £410

£0£230£450£680£900

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Google Business Profile

Most customers search "painters near me". A free profile with photos and reviews puts you on the map.

Free

Before and after photos

Your best ad. Photograph every room and exterior, and post them on your site.

Free

Yard signs

A sign in front of each exterior job reaches the whole street.

Low cost

Realtors and landlords

Homes being sold or rented need fresh paint fast. Become the painter agents and landlords call.

Partnership

Reviews

Ask every customer. Clean lines and a tidy job get mentioned in reviews.

With PressUp Reviews

The next room

Customers who like one room often book the next. Ask before you pack up.

Repeat income

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Check your license rules
Choose your name
Register your business

Week 2

Get equipped

Get insurance
Buy brushes, rollers and drops
Paint a room at home

Week 3

Go live

Website with photos
Google Business Profile
Set your prices

Week 4

First customers

Aim for 10 rooms
Meet 3 realtors or landlords
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to paint houses in Northern Ireland?

It depends on where you are. Many places let you take small jobs without a contractor license, up to a size limit, and some license all painting contractors. Check with your licensing board before you advertise.

Who buys the paint?

Usually you do, and it's included in your price. Paint and supplies are a small share of a painting job; most of the price is your time.

How long does a room take?

A typical room takes a painter most of a day, including moving furniture, prep and two coats.

Do I need a sprayer?

Not to start. Brushes and rollers handle most interiors. A sprayer saves time on exteriors, ceilings and empty homes, and you can rent one until you're busy.

Is there a busy season?

Exterior work is seasonal: early summer and early fall are best. Interior work fills the cooler months.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources