Throughout my lifetime I have had many small part time jobs that tend to last short periods of time.  The pay was generally minimum wage and my responsibilities were minimal. There was never really any room to grow so I was always left wanting more. In my mind I felt that this was all normal and that one day when I finished school I would find a full time position somewhere and begin working my way up the ranks. I feel as if most people have this mentality but it doesn’t have to be that way… With College Pro Painters I was able to make way more money in one summer than I ever had, all the while being my own boss.

As a new College Pro Franchisee, I felt a little overwhelmed at first and was not too sure what to expect. Running and operating a business was new to me and everyday is a new learning experience. I started production the 2^nd week of May and began training 2 of my painters. The first job went rather smoothly and as a team we worked well.  I figured most days would run from around 9 AM to 5 PM followed by cold calling the area for about an hour.  I soon realized that every job would not turn out exactly like that. 8-hour days in the sun take a lot of energy and I found that my painters were very tired by the end of the day. None of my painters were motivated to go out and knock on doors, and, worst of all, the quality of work would begin to decline.  Promoting your business at a jobsite is the best type of marketing, so your painters need to understand that and work at attaining new business.

Heading into the first summer as a College Pro Painters Franchisee, my painting knowledge was certainly limited.  I had painted a few times in the past, but mainly followed orders and did what I was told. I was definitely nervous that my lack of painting skills would severely hurt me throughout the summer.  After meeting a bunch of other College Pro Franchisees it was clear that none of us were professional painters but we all had the drive to learn. Through classroom theory sessions, group discussions and a hands-on, week long, painting intensive, I learned and gained the necessary confidence and skills to get started. I acquired a wonderful foundation that I could build on.

Everything is in the details.  You’ve heard that before, right?  This idea sometimes gets lost in long hot days and metal oil paint fumes, but it is something every College Pro Franchisee must remember. I was doing around ten estimates a week at the peak of the summer and, at times, would find myself rushing through the estimation process.   I found myself making mistakes on the paint and supplies I was going to need or miss evaluating the prep wok etc… All of these things cost me both money and time.

If there is one thing I learned this past summer working at College Pro, it is that you never know what to expect! There were many instances where I would doubt a customer actually booking the job with me, and then I would book it on the spot!  Then again, just as many times they wouldn’t book with me. Estimates are the key to our business and sometimes you need to tough it out and do whatever you can to book that work. There is one example from last summer that stands out to me most.

As College Pro Franchisees, our target market is the homeowner. Prior to ringing the doorbell we have a very little idea of what that homeowner is like or what they do for a living. This was an exciting part of the job, in my opinion, as you get to meet quite a few characters along your journey. For example, last summer I booked a job with a retired gentleman in a rather wealthy area of my turf. He would constantly make jokes and pick on my painters as well as myself during the days we worked. He told us stories about his illustrious career, from working as an assistant to later becoming the boss. He shared some hardships as well as some wild memories.  He offered tons of wisdom and, at times, it felt as if he just needed someone to talk to.  Once the job was complete, he simply paid me and thanked us for listening. He never once mentioned anything about the job. It was certainly one of the most interesting jobs of the summer.

YOU ARE THE BOSS, as a College Pro Franchisee.  You are responsible for your business, working with clients and making decisions all come with the title.  Being your own boss is not for everyone, but, for some, it is the best way to go. I myself have had many jobs over my 22 years. From working part-time as a receptionist at a gym to working retail in a clothing store etc… Through all my experiences I have always been an employee and always had limitations in what I could/couldn’t say or do. I hated taking orders and would often offer my opinion on things when it wasn’t requested. I wanted to take action and be the boss…but I wasn’t the boss.