Trades License neededRepeat customersSide hustle

How to start a house painting business in Texas

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

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In US dollars 12-minute read

To start$1.2k–6.1kLean to full setup

Per month$4.9k–12kOnce 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 $1,150 to start

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

Total to start$1,150

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	$190
Ladders and planksA 6-foot stepladder, then an extension ladder, multi-position ladder and plank	$140
Registering your businessThe state's fee to form an LLC in Texas	$300
Drop cloths, plastic and tapeProtect floors and furniture on every job	$120
Safety gearRespirator, masks and safety glasses	$40
InsuranceFirst three months: liability, plus tools cover	$210
Lead-safe certificationFor older homes; in the US, those built before 1978	$0
Website and marketingWebsite, cards, yard signs and local ads	$150
Total	$1,150

Once you're running: about $190 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 $490 $150$1,950

Rooms a week 4 112

Monthly costs $190 $0$760

Typical in Texas: $290–$970 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$1.5k–2.9k

Weekends, 1–2 rooms a week

Full-time, on your own$4.9k–7.8k

4–6 rooms a week, or exteriors in summer

With a helper$7.8k–12k

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 Texas has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas, then check yours with TexasFind a name
4
Form your LLC in Texas
1–2 weeks $300 state fee

An LLC keeps your personal savings separate from the business. You file Certificate of Formation with the Texas 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
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
Sort out sales tax in Texas
1–3 days Free

Texas's sales tax is 6.25%, and cities and counties add their own. Ask the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts 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
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 $580

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 $490–3.4k

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 $290

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 TX

What Texas asks for

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

Certificate of Formation (LLC)

Registers your business with the state.

The Texas Secretary of State$300once

Annual report

Keeps your LLC in good standing with the state.

The Texas Secretary of StateVaries

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

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

IRSFree

Sales tax registration

Only if what you sell is taxable where you are: ask the state.

The Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsFree

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

Contractor license above a job-size limit

Many states license painting contractors above a limit that varies a lot by state, and some ask for a bond and insurance to register.

Your state's contractor licensing boardVaries

Lead-safe certification

To paint homes built before 1978, your business needs EPA or state lead-safe certification (renewed every five years) and a trained renovator.

EPA or your state$570–$580

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

$60–$190Must have

Extension poleFor ceilings and high walls

$55–$60Must have

Drop cloths and plasticCanvas drops and plastic sheeting

$20–$60Must have

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

$10–$45Must have

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

$11–$17Must have

6-foot stepladderFiberglass is sturdy and safe

$130–$220Must have

Respirator and safety glassesFor sanding and solvent paints

$14–$80Must have

Airless paint sprayerMid-range to pro models

$320–$1,150Later

Extension ladder28 feet (8.5 meters) for exteriors

$370Later

Ladder plankWork safely along walls and stairwells

$450Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

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

One room, walls

$460 per project · About 1 day

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

Room, ceiling and trim

$830 per project · 1–2 days

Everything in One room
Ceiling painted
Trim, doors and baseboards

Whole exterior

$4,350 per project · 4–5 days

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

Prices to paint one room in TexasTypical: $290–$970

Average $580

$0$330$650$980$1.3k

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 Texas?

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