The First 3 Hires Every Growing Painting Business Should Make

Running a painting business is no small feat. When you're juggling job sites, estimates, marketing, and customer service, it can feel like you're wearing a dozen hats. At some point, most painting business owners realize they can’t grow any further without help.

At Taurify, we’ve worked with over 100 painting companies across the U.S., and we’ve seen what separates scalable companies from those that stay stuck. One of the biggest differences? Hiring the right people at the right time.

In this article, we’ll walk through the first three hires that we believe every serious painting contractor should consider as they scale. These roles not only free up your time, but they also unlock the ability to grow faster and more efficiently.

1. General Painter (Entry-Level Crew Member)

When to hire: Around $100K in annual revenue

This is your first essential hire. A general painter is someone who can help on job sites with the day-to-day tasks — sanding, taping, brushing, prepping — while you stay focused on running the business or handling more technical parts of the job.

They don’t need to be highly experienced, but they do need to be dependable and willing to learn. Over time, this hire can evolve from part-time to full-time as your project load grows.

Why this matters:

• Speeds up job completion

• Reduces burnout for the business owner

• Delegates time-consuming, non-skilled tasks (like picking up paint supplies)

2. Lead Painter

When to hire: As jobs increase and you're juggling multiple responsibilities

Once your business is handling several projects at once, you’ll need someone who can take ownership of the job site when you’re not there. A lead painter is more than a technician — they’re someone who can manage the crew, handle client questions, and ensure quality standards are met.

This person isn’t quite a project manager yet, but they’re trustworthy, experienced, and represent your business well.

Why this matters:

• Allows you to step away for sales calls or meetings

• Builds confidence with clients

• Bridges the gap between being a one-man show and running a true team

Pro tip: Train your lead painter on basic customer service and communication. A positive experience on-site often leads to more referrals.

3. Office Admin (or Virtual Assistant)

When to hire: Once your phone is ringing consistently — typically around $250K in revenue

This is the most overlooked but game-changing position in the painting industry.

An office admin handles lead intake, answers phone calls, follows up with web forms, and books appointments. You don’t need a physical office or a $60K salary to make this happen. A part-time virtual assistant (VA) can do the trick and cost as little as $1,500 per month.

Why this matters:

• Increases “speed to lead” — a major factor in closing more jobs

• Stops you from missing calls while you’re on the job

• Improves client experience and booking rates

Stat to know: Most customers don’t leave voicemails. If they call and no one answers, they’ll just move on to the next company. A dedicated admin ensures you're not leaving money on the table.

Hire for Your Weaknesses, Not Your Strengths

One rule we always tell our clients: hire for what you’re not good at or what you no longer have time for.

If you’re a rockstar salesperson, keep doing estimates — hire for production first. If you're great at painting but hate the phone, bring in admin help early. Playing to your strengths while outsourcing your weaknesses is how smart businesses grow.

Don’t Let Missed Calls Kill Your Marketing ROI

We’ve seen painting businesses spend thousands on ads, only to miss over half of their inbound calls. That’s not a marketing problem — that’s a lead management problem.

As an agency that specializes in helping painting contractors get more leads and book more estimates, we at Taurify know how important it is to not only generate leads — but to convert them into paying jobs.

Ready to Scale Your Painting Business?

If your painting company is ready to grow but you’re stuck spinning your wheels, we can help.

At Taurify, we don’t just run ads — we help you generate leads and turn them into appointments with real strategies that work in the painting industry.

Click here to book a call with our team

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