It takes a lot to become a successful Painter and Decorator. From starting out labouring, to an apprenticeship, to setting up your own business. If you’re in the industry, then you already know it’s a long and arduous journey, but the rewards can be great.
However, there’s a vast difference in the amount of money each Decorator can generate as an income. Luckily, there’s a series of books to help self-employed Decorators to elevate their businesses. Be it business and pricing help, marketing, or specialist skills such as spraying.
I am also in the industry, and I thought I’d list some of the available books for Painters and Decorators that have helped me over the years.
Sales and Marketing for Decorators by Jon Mears
This book can be a little hard going, but it does come as an audio book, which is a lot easier to digest. It’s designed to help Painters and Decorators to look at their business as a whole, and actually run it as a business.
It teaches you to focus on sales. If you generate the right type of leads, learn to think of it as a sale, and execute it properly, then you can essentially raise your prices and still ensure you have work all year round.
For me, this book helped with time management. It’s so easy to get lost in the decorating work when you’re a Painter and Decorator. This book teaches you that the decorating work is only one aspect of being in business, and staying on top of the other parts of your business will mean you naturally earn a better income.
I have started sitting around the house in my gym clothes though.
Fast and Flawless Pricing by Pete Wilkinson
This is probably the most popular book amongst Professional Painters and Decorators. It’s very easy going too. Pete uses a character called Richard throughout the book to help explain things in a way that we, as Decorators can relate to.
It talks about the different pricing strategies, deposits, how to price jobs, how the industry is changing, even employing someone and why it doesn’t always work.
The book helps you look at the pricing differently. You stop worrying about being too expensive and start to understand what we can charge. If you’re one of the Decorators who thinks you “can’t charge more than £150 a day in your area”, then this book will help, and you will earn more money.
Social Media for Decorators – by Jon Mears
Another book by Jon Mears, and this is another easy going one. As the name suggests, Social Media for Decorators is all about advertising on social media. There’s nothing too complicated in it, which is a breath of fresh air.
It talks about the types of posts you should publish to attract the right type of customer, including how often you should include a sales post. It explains what you need to include to get more of a response, and even why you get more time wasters on social media than anywhere else.
Simple Steps into Spraying by Pete Wilkinson
Pete Wilkinson is an instructor at the PaintTech Training Academy. As such, he has put together a series of short books covering the basics on spraying. These books won’t replace a course, but they will help you to understand the theory behind each respective spraying method and how the machines operate.
Book one – Airless – Click here for prices
Book 2 – HVLP – Click here for prices
Book 3 – Conventional – Click here for prices
The Specialist Decorator by Pete Wilkinson
I haven’t read this one so I can’t go into any real detail, but it is on my list. Pete understands the painting and decorating industry better than just about anyone else I know. This book explores the different niches that exist.
To be a specialist Decorator, you would need to understand marketing and you may need more equipment, but I know from talking to other Decorators that you can earn a heck of a lot more money than the average deccy doing Mrs Jones’ living room.
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