There’s more to becoming a successful franchisee than most people think. For the right person, the commitment and drive pays off in a big way. One person who can tell you all about the steps to own LIME painting franchise is Matthew Snider. Here’s some things about his journey from employee to a business owner that you need to know.
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Background on LIME Painting
LIME Painting is an emerging residential and commercial painting franchise that provides the best in professional service and support. We offer services like carpentry, epoxy coatings, drywall installation and restoration, gutter repair and replacement, and all sorts of masonry work. We also provide custom door restoration. We know all about how to start a painting business and have a franchise program that’s attracting a lot of attention.
Life Before Coming to LIME Painting
Prior to working with LIME Painting, Snider served as a youth minister for about a decade. Along with those efforts, he conducted motivational speaking at different colleges. He also managed the college recruiting for a time. Seeking a way to use his skills in a different setting, he went for a “complete change of industry” selling Yellow Pages advertising. It was during his time with advertising that he connected with LIME Painting CEO Nick Lopez. That led to a job offer in sales.
Becoming Part of the Team
Snider became part of the team when he joined our sales department. Over the course of four years, he began to ask himself: is starting a painting business a good idea? In his case, the answer was yes.
Officially opening in January 2019, Snider’s franchise is based in Castle Rock CO. He holds the distinction of being LIME Painting’s first franchisee. While growing his business in the Castle Rock area, he remains active as the senior account manager for LIME Painting’s Denver territory.
By any measure, Snider did great things for the sale effort. During those four years, he generated around $4 million in sales. Owing to his background, he participated in shaping the company’s social media efforts while also serving as something as an ambassador for the business.
The Transition Begins
It was Lopez himself who actually encouraged Snider to think about becoming a franchisee. At first, he wasn’t sure about making the move. As he explored the steps to own a painting franchise, he began to see the potential. While sales remain something he loves, the potential associated with starting up and learning how to grow your painting business became more attractive. Finally, passing up the chance to own a LIME Painting territory was something he couldn’t pass up.
“It just kind of hit me that I capped financially,” Snider said. “I was averaging about $1.2 million in sales over the past few years working many hours overtime and thought it’d be great to keep more of those profits with the same or less amount of time instead of keeping a sales salary, and also keep the clients I’d already developed in these territories. It caused me to make the jump and go for it.”
Training for a New Role
Potential franchisers often have questions. Is starting a painting business a good idea? Are painting companies profitable? What sort of training will I need to be a success?
Snider spoke well of the franchisee training he received through LIME Painting. That training involved shadowing Lopez and learning every aspect of the business. It also involved checking out painting franchise owners reviews to get a feel for what can happen.
“It’s easy to go out there and pound the pavement just implementing what they’ve taught you,” he said. “When I was in the youth ministry, I was big on leadership training. It’s easy to learn from Nick. I’ve been around a lot of great trainers and leaders, and Nick is beyond exceptional. Listening and learning have always been a big part of the LIME Painting culture.”
Off to a Great Start
This first franchise is off to an excellent start. Since January, Snide has generated $140,000 of business volume, something that makes franchiser and franchisee alike happy.
“We bought our second house because of LIME Painting,” Snider said of him and his wife. “LIME Painting is a great opportunity in a niche market. It’s a great system that really works and has a quick ROI. LIME Painting is a cash cow versus other franchise opportunities.”
In reference to the strong start with the Castle Rock franchise, Lopez has only good things to say about Snider’s efforts:
“Matt was a sales guy in our corporate location and worked with me for four years,” Lopez said. “He did about $4 million in sales in our Denver territory before becoming an owner in Castle Rock. He has a proven track record in account management, serving clients, representing the brand well in all aspects and delivering on services. He is continuing to do a great job. He has great people skills and is a wonderful brand ambassador.”
Ongoing Support
Snider’s history with LIME Painting and his rapport with Lopez certainly aided in the transition. The open communication line that’s part of the company’s culture ensures that potential franchisers who want to know more about how to start a painting contractor business and what kind of support to expect will have what they need. As Snider notes, “Nick’s a quick phone call away from me. We also text a lot. Nick is great about getting back.”
What Does the Future Hold?
Snider’s excited about his new role within the LIME Painting family. In fact, he’s thinking of launching another franchise soon.
“My goal is to be very successful,” Snider said. “I really want to get this place growing. My territory is a good-sized territory and there is a lot of residential need in million-dollar homes. Right now, I’m working on making contacts with custom builders, and I’m hiring a production coordinator very soon.”
He also has plenty of financial-based advice for prospective franchisees. Anyone interested in knowing how to start their own painting business is encouraged to look at what LIME Painting has to offer.
“LIME Painting is more profitable than most franchise opportunities,” he said. “You go out and acquire a client, land on a neighborhood and once you get paid, there’s a good amount that goes right into your pocket. There’s a lot of cash flow that comes in quickly, it’s a great ROI and it happens right away as you’re building. That’s definitely a plus.”
