How to start a house painting business in Alabama

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.

From $975 to start

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

Once you're running: about $180 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.

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.

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. 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. 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. 3

   Choose your name

   1 day Free

   Pick a name that says what you do and where. Make sure no one in Alabama has it.

   • 3–5 name ideas
   • Check no one else uses it
   • Check the domain

   Get name ideas, then check yours with AlabamaFind a name
4. 4

   Form your LLC in Alabama

   1–2 weeks $200 state fee

   An LLC keeps your personal savings separate from the business. You file Certificate of Formation with the Alabama Secretary of State.

   • Certificate of Formation
   • A registered agent
   • An operating agreement

   PressUp can file your LLC with the state for youForm your LLC
5. 5

   Get your EIN

   Same day Free

   The IRS's tax number for your business. You'll need it for a business bank account.

   • Apply online with the IRS
   • Open a business bank account

   Apply for it along with your LLC filingAdd your EIN
6. 6

   Sort out sales tax in Alabama

   1–3 days Free

   Alabama's sales tax is 4%, and cities and counties add their own. Ask the Alabama Department of Revenue whether what you sell is taxable.

   • Check if your services are taxable
   • Register for sales tax if needed
   • Set money aside for income tax
7. 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. 8

   Get lead-safe certified

   1 day Up to $530

   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. 9

   Buy your equipment

   1 week $440–3.2k

   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. 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. 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. 12

    Get your first 10 customers

    2–6 weeks Up to $270

    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. 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

What Alabama asks for

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

What to buy first

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

3 packages that sell

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

How to get your first customers

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

A month from now, you could be open

Common questions