If you’re ready to improve on last year’s performance and build a business that supports you and your team, we’ve got some expert advice. You can set up for success in 2026 by establishing goals, streamlining your processes and revisiting the basics of the trade.

Peter Edmonds is Resene’s Business Mentor and has been with the company for some time, so is an expert in helping painter decorators operate effectively.

“I keep a close overview of the painting trade nationally, with particular focus on costs and maintaining an average cost index table of common painting tasks through the Resene professional development programme,” he shares. “This is updated as costs alter and is available to painters nationwide.

“I consult on a wide range of issues with Resene staff, often meeting with groups and encouraging positive actions to get the best out of paint and painting,” Peter says. “Resene is a fantastic supporter of their trade customers and I am so privileged to be involved with the initiative.”

Peter has provided his top 10 best pieces of advice that resonate strongly with the many painters he meets and helps through his role.

1. Be business savvy

The business of painting differs from the trade of painting. Many good tradesmen only see the cost of a job as time and material, but there is much more to consider: client relationships, careful book balancing, staff management and keeping up with industry trends.

2. Invest in quality

To paint anything you need paint, obviously, and the tools to prepare and apply that paint. Always choose the best products for the job – not only will they perform properly, you are showing your customer that you’re focused on quality and the costs of materials are small compared with the costs of application.

3. Keep costs front of mind

The time spent on painting tasks is what earns you the money to pay for all the costs of wages, overheads, materials, equipment and everything else, so make sure these costs are properly allowed for and included within your quoted work. Always remember, if you drop your price, the labour content is the only variable – you still need the same amount of materials, scaffolding, travel and overheads, but the amount earned simply evaporates!

4. Do right by your clients

Think about your customers. They need you to do a good job and need to be treated fairly, reliably and respectfully. Word of mouth is critical – your clients tell their friends and neighbours about your great work, it’s a powerful advocate for your business.

5. Stand firm on pricing

Over time, much of your work will come from repeat customers (the 80/20 rule: 80% of your work or revenue comes from 20% of your clients). While this is great, it’s not advised to give them ‘mates rates’ prices. Make sure you treat them and yourself equally, which will work far better in the long run.

6. Keep an eye on costs

Be up to date with current industry costs – they almost always go up and so should yours. Watch how the big paint suppliers have regular, smallish price rises and do the same with your pricing. Remember, the prices given to customers must be carefully worked out to include everything needed for the job – it’s the best chance to get it right.

7. Consider cost of labour

The cost of labour, mostly on an hourly waged basis, more than doubles when all the bits and bobs are allowed for. An offer of around $35 per hour equates to a must-earn of about $80 per hour of time on the job, and most certainly with the productivity of labour carefully managed on the job.

8. Use the golden rule

The golden rule is Essential Back Costing. This simple formula tests your performance and the quality of your quote:

For example: A quote of $12,000 minus $2500 materials leaves $9500. Divide that by 120 hours and you get an hourly earning of $79.10.

This exercise is simple but brutally accurate; do it for every job and your business will flourish.

9. Quote accurately and thoroughly

Quick check for quality quotes: Is the measure correct? Is the specification correct? Are the rates for the work correct? What special things are needed? Is the math correct? When you wonder how that other chap can charge so much less than you, it’s probably a snafu on his part that could have been checked – we’ve all made those simple mistakes before!

10. Be proud to be a painter

Celebrate our trade! We decorate and protect buildings and homes all over the country. Go places, see things, meet people, make friends, become a Master Painter, look after the next young person, enjoy each day and plan for the future.