Explore every episode of the podcast Painter's Business Podcast

When Tila Lee started Pretty in Paint, she was a one-woman show — just a roller, a van, and a big vision.

Today, that vision has grown into a national brand helping women across North America build profitable painting businesses on their own terms.

In this episode, Tila joins host Stephanie Stover to share how she went from burnout to breakthrough, transforming bias in a male-dominated industry into the backbone of her success.

🎧 In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to scale your painting business without losing your purpose

• The mindset shift that turned bias into opportunity

• Why visibility and authenticity are key to building a powerful brand

• The "Respect Model" Tila uses to turn skepticism into trust

• How Pretty in Paint became a movement, not just a business

It's a story of grit, growth, and proving that leadership looks different when women take the brush.

👉 Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a business owner ready to think bigger.

You can find Tila Lee from Pretty in Paint at: 

Website: https://goprettyinpaint.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettyinpaint/

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@prettyinpaintschool

What happens when your painting business starts running you instead of the other way around?

In this episode, Kevin Schramm opens up about what owner fatigue really feels like — those days where you shut down, turn on Netflix, and wonder if all the hard work is even worth it.

It's not about working too many hours.
It's about losing direction. Losing clarity. Losing the fire that got you started in the first place.

Kevin shares how he hit that wall — mentally drained, overwhelmed, and unsure of his next move — and the exact shift that helped him rebuild his focus, motivation, and purpose as a business owner.

If you've ever felt stuck, tired, or disconnected from your own business, this one's for you.

🎧 In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to tell when you're not just tired — you're mentally done

• The signs your painting business is running you (not the other way around)

• What to do when motivation disappears — and how to get it back fast

• The exact mindset shift Kevin used to fall back in love with his business

• How to build systems so your crew, clients, and cash flow don't rely on you being everywhere at once

No fluff. Just real talk from people who've lived it.

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another painting business owner who's ready to grow!

You can find Kevin Schramm from Lime Painting of Boise at:

Website: https://limepainting.com/boise-id
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/limepaintingboise 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limepaintingofboise 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@limepainting 

In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Patrick Dew, owner of Fresh Coat Painters of Beaumont, to talk about how smart painting contractors can rise above low-price competition and win more premium jobs.

Patrick shares his journey from lean manufacturing to successful painting business owner, and the mindset shifts that helped him scale quickly — from creating a professional client experience to mastering in-home sales presentations, local marketing, and follow-up systems that convert.

You'll learn:

✅ Why competing on price is the fastest way to lose profits and burn out
✅ How to use "leave-behind" folders, professional branding, and fast quoting to build instant trust
✅ The #1 most valuable thing you can do as a business owner to grow your painting company
✅ How to win repeat business and referrals by focusing on client experience — not just paint quality
✅ Why marketing and presentation separate pros from the "chuck in a truck" crowd

Whether you're just starting out or already running a six-figure operation, this episode gives you actionable strategies to help you scale smarter, close faster, and dominate your local market.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another painting business owner who's ready to grow!

#PainterPodcast #PaintingBusiness #ContractorGrowth #FreshCoatPainters #PainterMarketing #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship

In this episode of The Painter's Business Podcast, host Stephanie Stover sits down with Robert Dahlstrom, CEO and Founder of Apellix — the company that's revolutionizing the industrial coatings industry with robotic drones that paint, clean, and protect massive structures.

Robert shares how a near accident on a scaffold led to a world-changing idea: drones that could safely and efficiently handle painting, pressure washing, and corrosion protection for everything from bridges to skyscrapers — even U.S. military facilities.

You'll learn:

✅ How the "war on corrosion" costs the U.S. economy 3% of GDP every year 
✅ How Apellix drones deliver outsized ROI by replacing scaffolding with safer, faster tech
✅ What industrial and commercial painters can expect as aerial robotics go mainstream
✅ Why drones won't replace painters — they'll multiply profits and create new opportunities

If you've ever wondered where technology and the painting industry collide, this episode will blow your mind.

👉 Watch, learn, and share this with another growth-minded painting contractor.

You're losing because you're fighting in a red ocean.

Everyone's bidding on the same Google Ads. Chasing the same realtors. Begging HomeAdvisor for scraps.

And wondering why their close rates suck and their margins are getting crushed.

Here's the truth: The best leads aren't where everyone's looking.

In this episode, Stephanie reveals 5 lead sources that sound boring as hell—but print money once you tap into them. We're talking repeat work, predictable revenue, and zero competition.

You'll discover:

• The client type that needs you every single month (and most painters never call them)
• Why divorce attorneys and estate sales are goldmines hiding in plain sight
• The pre-listing hack that gets you jobs BEFORE the paint is even requested
• How to position yourself so clients chase YOU instead of shopping your price

No ads. No discounts. Just smart outreach to the right people.

Stop competing on price in crowded markets. Start dominating where nobody else is playing.

The riches are in the niches—especially the weird ones.

Listen now.

Most painters are broke because they're playing the wrong game.

They chase homeowners. Beg for referrals. Pray the phone rings next month.

Meanwhile, there's a market of clients who need you 4-6 times per year... and nobody's talking to them.

In this episode, Stephanie breaks down the exact strategy you can use to go from feast-or-famine chaos to 58 units painted per year—with the SAME clients buying over and over again.

You'll discover:

• The client type that has higher frequency, faster decisions, and bigger lifetime value than any homeowner
• The 12-contract model that turns your painting business into a subscription (yes, really)
• Why you don't need more clients—you need better clients who buy more often
• The real numbers: how small jobs and fast turnarounds print more profit than you think

Stop trading time for money on one-off jobs. Start building a machine that pays you monthly.

This is how you win.

Listen now.