In this episode of the Price Sell Paint podcast, Jon and Michael are joined by industry leader and PCA board member Chris Elliott. From Army Ranger to painting company CEO, Chris shares how he built a successful residential repaint division before scaling into commercial work and why running both requires different teams, different strategies, and a whole lot of intentionality. They dig into sales structures, marketing tactics, pipeline math, and how he's creating long-term success on both sides...
Jun 26, 2025•31 min•Ep. 43
Sales not following up? Clients slipping through the cracks? This episode is for you. Jon chats with Chris Kiefer , founder of Boolean and automation nerd, about how painting contractors can use smart tools (and common sense) to take work off their plate. No fluff, just real tactics that save time and actually help you close more deals. You’ll hear: Why your CRM should feel like a second brain The simple automations that reduce mistakes and boost conversions How to follow up like a pro without s...
Jun 11, 2025•43 min•Ep. 42
Sales isn’t always sunshine and signed contracts. In this episode, Jon and Michael unpack the real reasons why customers ghost, lowball, and lead you on — and how painting contractors can shift the sales dynamic using proven strategies. If you've ever left an estimate thinking "this one's a sure thing," only to get radio silence, this one's for you. Learn how to build trust, set better expectations, and stop wasting time chasing dead-end leads. This podcast is powered by PaintScout — The Ultimat...
May 29, 2025•53 min•Ep. 41
In this episode, Jon and Michael sit down with Amanda Bryant, color consultant, interior design pro, and Jon’s sister—to talk about the powerful role color plays in the painting sales process. From how Amanda supports The Urban Painter’s sales team with design consults, to how color choices impact mood, trust, and upselling opportunities, this episode is packed with insights. You'll learn: - How to make color part of your sales strategy - Why The Urban Color Box makes clients feel like VIPs - Wh...
May 14, 2025•36 min•Ep. 40
In this episode of Price. Sell. Paint., Jon Bryant sits down with Daniel Honan, founder of Bookkeeping for Painters, to uncover the key financial habits that separate thriving painting companies from the rest. From pricing strategies and gross profit benchmarks to understanding your financial ratios and cash flow management, Daniel shares practical, data-backed advice from years of working exclusively with painters. Whether you're struggling with pricing, unsure if you can afford to hire, or jus...
May 01, 2025•44 min•Ep. 39
In this episode, Jon Bryant and Michael Murray sit down to give you an inside look at PaintScout X: Sales Unleashed, happening April 23rd, 2025. They share why this virtual conference was created specifically for painting business owners and sales reps, and what you can expect from this full day of powerful sessions, keynote speakers, and real-world strategies you can apply right away. From mastering your money mindset to building scalable sales systems, unlocking commercial sales, and learning ...
Apr 17, 2025•31 min•Ep. 38
In this episode of the Price Sell Paint podcast, Jon Bryant and Michael Murray dive into the controversial topic of virtual estimates. Can they really work for your painting business? Jon and Michael share their experiences, from the early days of experimenting with tools like Groundwork to designing a fully virtual process for cabinet painting. They discuss the surprising results, including challenges with lead conversion and the broader implications for the painting industry. Is a seamless, Am...
Apr 02, 2025•39 min•Ep. 37
In this episode, we sit down with industry leader Kevin Nolan to dive into the fundamentals of building a strong sales team in the painting business. Kevin shares insights from his decades of experience, including how to attract top sales talent, create a winning sales culture, and implement processes that drive revenue growth. We also discuss key takeaways from his new book, Organizational Talent , and how painters can scale their businesses by developing a high-performing team. Whether you’re ...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 36
Today, we dive into one of the most debated topics in the painting industry—whether painting contractors should include material costs in their hourly rate or itemize them separately. Jon Bryant & Michael Murray discuss the impact of pricing strategies on profitability, sales, and business sustainability. The conversation covers how fluctuating paint prices affect job costing, the pros and cons of bundling material costs into labor rates, and how clear guidelines for sales reps can improve p...
Feb 12, 2025•31 min•Ep. 35
In this episode, Eric Barstow from Painting Business Pro offers actionable insights on mastering sales in the painting industry. Eric breaks down common customer objections, shares proven closing strategies, and highlights the critical role of training sales representatives. By focusing on understanding customer motivations and building trust, he reveals how to significantly boost sales performance. The discussion explores key benchmarks for success and traces the evolution of Eric’s business mo...
Jan 29, 2025•52 min•Ep. 34
This episode dives into the strategies you need to scale your painting business, increase sales, and succeed in the painting industry this year! Jon Bryant & Michael Murray focus on the reality of achieving 10X growth and why it may not be feasible for every painting business. You’ll learn how to set realistic sales goals that drive measurable results, as well as proven marketing strategies to maximize leads, conversions, and brand awareness. Sales capacity and team dynamics are key topics, ...
Jan 15, 2025•43 min•Ep. 33
In this episode, Luis Rodriguez, from Lifetime Custom Painting, shares his journey from college student to business partner with his father, detailing the growth of their painting business through effective sales strategies, job management, and digital marketing. The conversation delves into the importance of understanding net profit, implementing job costing, and utilizing a profit-first mindset to ensure financial health. Luis also discusses his successful marketing strategies, particularly th...
Jan 01, 2025•45 min•Ep. 32
They say "sales doesn't start until you hear an objection." This episode focuses on just that: handling objections in sales, a critical skill for success in the painting industry. Jon Bryant & Michael Murray cover the mindset needed to address objections, strategies for separating personal identity from sales performance, and actionable techniques to navigate pricing concerns, indecision, and competition. Michael & Jon emphasize proactive communication, sharing insights on engaging decis...
Dec 18, 2024•38 min•Ep. 31
In this episode, hosts Jon Bryant & Michael Murray engage in a listener Q&A session, addressing common challenges faced by painters and business owners in the painting industry. They discuss hiring your first painter, the importance of setup calls, pricing strategies, and navigating customer requests for extra work. The also chat about whether or not geography effects pricing, creating a fun and engaging sales culture to boost morale, and effective sales management practices to foster a ...
Dec 04, 2024•43 min•Ep. 30
Today Jim Falk, the VP of Sales at Nolan Painting, shares how he went from hating sales to excelling at it — now training hundreds of salespeople! He shares his experience transitioning from a sales rep to VP of Sales and the challenges and rewards of managing a large sales team. Jim discusses his mindset shift from viewing painting as a commodity to focusing on the value and emotional connection with prospects. He emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions and understanding the cus...
Nov 20, 2024•51 min•Ep. 29
In this conversation, Jon Bryant & Michael Murray explore the concept of the 'Good-Better-Best' tiered pricing strategy within the painting industry. Is it something your company should offer or is it just not worth the hassle? They discuss the pros & cons of providing customers with options, the psychological effects of pricing strategies, and the challenges of implementing such systems effectively. The conversation emphasizes the need for trust and quality in service offerings, as well...
Nov 13, 2024•51 min•Ep. 28
Today Tom Reber, founder of the Contractor Fight, shares his experience of starting a new painting company… again . Tom discusses the lessons he learned from his previous painting company and how he is applying them this time around. He emphasizes the importance of having the right mindset and putting the sales methods like the ‘Shin Fu’ technique into practice. He also shares how a concept called “bracketing” can help sell jobs more effectively and at higher rates. In this conversation, Tom enc...
Nov 06, 2024•48 min•Ep. 27
In Part 2 of this discussion on pricing strategies in the painting industry, Jon Bryant & Michael Murray focus on the Pros & Cons of Discounting. They explore how to balance capacity with pricing, the psychology behind pricing, and the necessity of maintaining profitability during slow seasons. This episode emphasizes the need for an abundance mindset to thrive in a competitive market. Remember, if you didn't catch Part 1, be sure give it a listen! This podcast is powered by PaintScout —...
Oct 23, 2024•16 min•Ep. 26
How much are you charging per hour? The answer is: probably not enough! Many contractors confuse being busy with being successful, leading to underpricing their services. Today, Jon Bryant & Michael Murray break down various aspects of pricing in the painting industry, including understanding market prices, the role of sales skills, the emotional impact of the environment on customer decisions, and the importance of job costing. They explain, step-by-step, how to calculate your price by incl...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 25
In this episode, Jon Bryant & Michael Murray interview Seth Peek to explore his journey in the painting industry and other endeavours that all point to business growth. Seth emphasizes the importance of quick customer responses, innovative sales strategies, and the need for professionalization in the painting industry. He also shares insights on work-life balance and simplifying production rates for efficiency, ultimately advocating for a customer-centric approach in business. They discuss h...
Oct 02, 2024•52 min•Ep. 24
Today, Jon Bryant & Michael Murray are thrilled to chat with Nick Slavik, a 32-year master craftsman and Board Chair of the Painting Contractors Association (PCA). They talk about setting proper expectations for sales reps, the importance of volume in estimating, and the current challenges in finding leads. Nick emphasizes the need for consistency and effort in sales and marketing, and focusing on personal connections and reactivating past clients. He also shares on the importance of buildin...
Sep 18, 2024•58 min•Ep. 23
In this conversation, Mike Green, a top-performing sales rep at Fitzpatrick Painting, shares his expertise in sales and prospecting with podcast hosts, Jon Bryant & Michael Murray. Mike discusses the importance of generating leads and the benefits of a hybrid role that combines office leads with self-generated business. He emphasizes the need for a targeted list, effective messaging, and a well-defined cadence in prospecting activities. The three then discuss the significance of closing out ...
Sep 04, 2024•36 min•Ep. 22
Today's guest, Ty Brown, shares his journey in the painting industry, from starting as a side hustle to growing his business to over $2 million in revenue! He emphasizes the importance of running the business by the numbers and maintaining a minimum gross profit of 50% on all jobs. Jon & Michael also talk with Ty about his process for hiring a sales rep and the training involved, as well as the significance of professionalism and processes in the industry. Ty highlights the potential impact ...
Aug 21, 2024•35 min•Ep. 21
On today’s episode, Brian Struble, owner of Shaver Painting & Decorating, shares his experience transitioning from residential to commercial painting over the last few years. Jon & Michael discuss the use of time-based rates with Brian, and they explore the benefits of using technology to streamline the bidding process and improve accuracy. This conversation provides valuable insights into the commercial painting industry and general strategies for running a successful painting business....
Aug 07, 2024•53 min•Ep. 20
This episode brings on Maggie Kuyper, Owner & CEO of Harpeth Painting, to discuss the role of women in the painting industry and the benefits the female perspective brings. Maggie shares her experience as a female salesperson and business owner. She highlights the importance of diversity and new perspectives in a male-dominated industry, and the unique needs and concerns women might face. Maggie & Jon also discuss the impact of culture and company values in attracting and retaining femal...
Jul 24, 2024•37 min•Ep. 19
In this episode, Jon Bryant & Michael Murray chat with Colten Bethel as he shares about his journey to becoming a top painting sales rep. Colten discusses his approach to sales, managing leads, and the importance of following a system. He also shares insights into his sales process, his win-rate and close-rate, and the key factors contributing to his success. The three then discuss when the best time to schedule an estimate is and how to juggle multiple appointments in a week. Finally, this ...
Jul 10, 2024•49 min•Ep. 18
Today, Jon Bryant & Michael Murray interview Connor Forbeck from Sound Painting Solutions — a top painting sales rep in the PaintScout database. Connor shares his insights and experiences as a sales representative in the painting industry, and emphasizes the need for a client-first approach and building trust with potential customers. He shares his strategies for handling price objections and maintaining an abundance mindset, and also discusses the factors that influence clients' decision-ma...
Jun 26, 2024•40 min•Ep. 17
In this episode, Jon Bryant & Michael Murray interview Russel Godoy, one of the top painting sales reps in the PaintScout database. Russel shares his journey and success in the painting industry, emphasizing the importance of having a growth track and his goal-setting strategies, including setting monthly and yearly goals and breaking them down into smaller, manageable targets. Russel also shares his approach to achieving a high closure rate, which includes setting Next Step agreements with ...
Jun 12, 2024•38 min•Ep. 16
This conversation discusses the importance of follow-ups in the sales process and provides strategies for effective follow-up communication in the painting industry. Jon Bryant & Michael Murray cover topics such as how to start the follow-up process, taking ownership of follow-ups, setting specific dates and times, challenges in getting back in touch with customers, best follow-up methods (automated vs. manual), effective communication in follow-ups, and avoiding desperation — i.e., what do ...
May 29, 2024•47 min•Ep. 15
In this episode, Jon Bryant & Michael Murray discuss how to handle the busy season in the painting industry and avoid burnout. They emphasize the importance of being intentional with time management and setting parameters for scheduling estimates. They also discuss the ideal number of estimates to do in a week and the impact on close rates. They share their strategies for lead vetting, including using videos and pictures to assess the project and determine if it's a good fit. Finally, they d...
May 15, 2024•58 min•Ep. 14
