America’s Best Franchises (ABF) Brand Insight —
CertaPro is the largest painting company in North America and still holds under 2% of the market, which says as much about the category as it does about the brand. Painting is overwhelmingly small independent operators, so a national name with systems and inbound lead flow competes on a different footing. Owners do not paint. The job is hiring crews, managing production, and selling work, run from a home office with almost no fixed overhead.
At a Glance
- Liquid Capital Required: $85,000 (readily available cash or cash-equivalent assets — not from borrowing, selling a primary residence, or relying on future income)
- Ownership Model: Owner-operator
- Location Type: Home-based to start
- Time Commitment: Full-time
- Experience Required: None; painting experience not needed
About CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters began in 1992 with the idea of making residential and commercial painting easier to buy. The system now runs more than 450 franchised locations plus four company-owned units across all 50 states and nine Canadian provinces, making it the largest painting contractor in North America.
Owners serve homeowners and commercial clients through crews they hire and manage. Michael Stone, who joined in 2003 and became President in 2015, leads the company. CertaPro is part of FirstService Brands, alongside California Closets, Paul Davis Restoration, Pillar to Post, and Floor Coverings International.
Why Own a CertaPro Painters Franchise?
- Inbound leads arrive through certapro.com and paid search, routed to owners by customer ZIP code, so the business does not run on cold calling.
- No real estate and minimal inventory — most owners start from a home office and move to space in their territory as the business grows.
- Protected residential territory defined by ZIP code and assigned before the agreement is signed, so the market is clear from day one.
- Commercial work is not restricted by territory, which gives owners a second growth path alongside residential.
- Ranked number one in Franchise Business Review’s home services category for franchisee satisfaction, and number one in Entrepreneur’s home services category.
- Vendor relationships across the system give owners pricing that an independent painting business would not reach on its own.
Why This Opportunity, Why Now
ABF Market Analysis —
Painting is a $60 billion market and it repeats. Housing stock across North America needs repainting every three to seven years, which means demand renews on a cycle rather than depending on new construction. The category is also unusually fragmented — most competitors are small independent crews with no brand, no systems, and no marketing engine. That gap is where a national operator gains ground, and it explains how the largest company in the category still holds less than 2% of it.
ABF Timing Insight —
CertaPro reports more than 120 territories open plus 20 or more resale opportunities, with roughly 24 new units and 24 resales projected over the coming year. Territories are built from homeowner data, paint sales trends, buying patterns, and three decades of system performance history. For candidates focused on a particular market, the question is which ZIP code clusters remain unassigned there now.
Training & Support
- The four-week Foundations Training Program combines two weeks in person at headquarters in Audubon, Pennsylvania with two weeks of virtual instruction, covering sales, production, marketing, recruiting, and financial management.
- A Franchise Business Consultant provides ongoing operational guidance, with multiple visits from a General Manager through startup and into regular operations.
- A Marketing Success Manager works on local marketing and advertising, with regional co-ops available in larger markets to extend reach.
- Continuing education includes a second training session months after launch, a session at the National Conference, and web-based Forum Group meetings with peer owners.
- Technology support covers leads management and scheduling software, marketing materials, staffing advice, and the business processes that run daily operations.
Our Ideal Franchisee Candidate
- Executive-management backgrounds with real leadership experience
- Owners who can hire, train, motivate, and retain crews
- Sales or client-facing experience, though not required
- Assertive operators who want to build something substantial
- Candidates ready to work on the business full-time
Who Is Not A Good Fit
- Candidates who cannot meet the liquid capital requirement without borrowing
- Anyone seeking passive or absentee ownership
- Owners who expect to do the painting themselves
- People uncomfortable recruiting and managing crews
- Candidates unwilling to commit full-time effort
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need painting experience?
A: No. Many successful owners came in with no painting or home improvement background. This is a leadership and business management role focused on building teams, serving customers, and growing the business.
Q: Can I operate from home?
A: Yes. Most new owners start from a home office to keep overhead low, then move into space within their territory as the business grows.
Q: How do I find customers?
A: Leads come through national brand recognition, certapro.com, paid search, SEO and website support, referrals, and repeat business, with a Marketing Success Manager helping drive local demand.
Q: Do I need a contractor license?
A: It depends on your state and municipality. Some locations require a painting contractor, home improvement contractor, or similar license before operations begin.
Q: How important is the leadership team when choosing a franchise?
A: Very important. A proven model matters, but the people leading the brand matter too. During due diligence, spend time with leadership and operations—not just franchise development—and ask how they prioritize franchisee profitability, support, and long-term brand health.
Next Steps
If you are drawn to a national brand in a fragmented market, inbound leads instead of cold calling, a home-based start with low overhead, and a business built on managing crews rather than doing the work yourself, CertaPro Painters is worth a direct conversation. Complete the form below to request a qualification review and discuss territory availability for CertaPro Painters.
This profile represents general franchise information. Individual results may vary. Refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.
CertaPro Painters Franchisee
CertaPro Painters Franchisees, Portland, OR
I started my franchise in the Greater Atlanta area in 2017, and the return on my royalty investment has come back to me several times over. I am extremely pleased with the support I receive; the training is top-notch, and the systems are cutting edge, state-of the art. This has allowed me to grow a team of office and field talent who help in delivering our highly personalized CertaPro Painters® brand experience. We’ve developed a set of core values that each team member believes in and helps guide us in bringing new people into our local business.
It’s very attractive to join CertaPro Painters® because they have all these tools and processes for you to use—and they work! We’re not here trying to figure things out on our own. You don’t have to recreate the wheel. I like being part of this brand because there’s a healthy relationship between the franchisee and the corporate office. There is a lot of respect and independence—we own our local business—yet we receive a high level of support. It’s just a really good company.
If I had to do it all over again, I would definitely buy a CertaPro® franchise. One of the reasons behind this is the strong collaboration between franchisees and the CertaPro® corporate team. What I’ve been impressed with is being able to work closely and directly with the corporate team to make sure we’re being heard and discuss what we’re looking for, as well as the current things we can work on. Additionally, the CertaPro® marketing team is constantly trying to innovate and try new things in the current changing times.