Choosing the Right Marketing Partner for Your Painting Business: A Transparent Guide

As a painting contractor, finding the right marketing firm to help grow your business can feel overwhelming. With so many options available, each offering different strengths and approaches, it’s important to understand your choices and determine which one aligns best with your goals.
What to Look for in a Marketing Firm for Your Painting Business
When choosing a marketing partner, consider the following factors to ensure you get the right fit for your business:
- Industry Experience: Look for firms that specialize in the painting industry and understand the unique challenges contractors face. Be wary of firms that assign account representatives fresh out of college who may lack the practical experience needed to truly understand your business. Additionally, ensure the firm is adaptable and not stuck in outdated marketing methods.
- Service Offerings: Assess whether the firm provides a comprehensive suite of services such as SEO, social media marketing, PPC, direct mail, and content creation.
- Customization vs. Templates: Determine if the firm offers tailored strategies specific to your business or relies on a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Client Support and Longevity: Choose a firm that prioritizes long-term relationships and consistent support. Some agencies experience high turnover, meaning you could find yourself working with multiple account reps in a short period.
- Adaptability and Innovation: Marketing is constantly evolving. Ensure the firm stays updated with industry trends and is adaptable, rather than being stuck in outdated methods.
- Budget and ROI: Some firms invest heavily in their own marketing, which can drive up their fees. Consider whether their pricing aligns with your budget and expectations for return on investment.
- In-House vs. Outsourcing: Evaluate whether it makes sense to hire in-house marketing staff or to outsource. Many painting companies grow large enough to hire full-time marketing professionals, but marketing is a broad field. A single person cannot effectively manage everything from writing and designing to running Google Ads, social media, and trade shows. Having a mix of in-house staff and an outsourced marketing team can create a balanced and effective approach.
- Team Collaboration: If you choose to have in-house marketing personnel, ensure they are teachable and can collaborate effectively with an external marketing firm. Some companies find success by having specialized team members in areas like social media, content writing, or graphic design while outsourcing more technical tasks such as SEO and paid advertising.
Top Painting Marketing Firms to Consider
Today, there are many exceptional marketing firms that specialize in serving painting businesses. Some of the most notable names in the industry include:
- Base Coat Marketing (basecoatmarketing.com) – They offer comprehensive digital marketing solutions with a focus on automation and growth strategies.
- Painter Marketing Pros (paintermarketingpros.com) – Led by Brandon Pierpont, they are heavily involved in the industry with PCA podcasts and events.
- PaintScout, DripJobs, and Hello Boolean – These platforms provide software solutions and marketing automation to help painters streamline their operations. PaintScout offers estimating solutions, DripJobs provides CRM and automation tools ideal for startups, and Hello Boolean specializes in automation for marketing, sales, and operations.
- Painting Business Pro (paintingbusinesspro.com) – They offer business coaching and marketing support tailored to painting contractors.
- Painters Academy (paintersacademy.com) – A resource-rich organization providing business training and marketing services.
- AltaVista Strategic Partners (altavistasp.com) – They provide a broad range of marketing services with a strong emphasis on lead generation.
- Footbridge Media (footbridgemedia.com) – A full-service marketing agency offering branding, website design, and lead generation.
- Painter Growth (paintergrowth.com) – Led by Mike Gore-Hickman, they provide marketing solutions and business coaching tailored to painting contractors.
Each of these firms has its own strengths, and it’s important to evaluate which aligns best with your business goals and budget.
Who Am I and Why Am I Writing This?
I’m David Chism, and I’ve been in and around the painting and marketing industry my whole life. My journey started long before founding A David Creation (ADC Marketing for the Trades) in 2009. Growing up, my dad and uncle ran Chism Brothers Painting, a company I now own and operate in San Diego. In fact, painting runs deep in my family — my grandfather was also a painting contractor, and rumor has it that I am even the 5th generation of painters on my dad’s side.
I launched ADC to provide tailored marketing services exclusively for painting contractors, offering a hands-on, custom approach to help businesses grow. I was one of the first to focus entirely on painters, and while I’m not the largest or flashiest, I’ve remained small, humble, and focused. I haven’t achieved big podcast successes like some of the firms listed above, but I’ve been around and consistently delivered value. In fact, I also co-host The Commercial Painting Podcast, where I share insights and industry best practices.
My approach has always been about collaboration and learning, and I’m friendly with many of the companies I mention in this guide and have worked with some of them in various capacities. I believe in friendly competition — if I saw these folks at a conference, I’d gladly share a drink or better yet, toast over drinks to our shared passion for helping painters succeed.
How A David Creation is Different
At ADC, I take a highly personalized and hands-on approach to marketing. Beyond residential painting, I have worked with companies transitioning into commercial painting, some of which have grown from under $10 million to $30 million or even $50 million in revenue. My team has helped build their digital footprint, and I’ve played an active role in business development, assisting with hiring salespeople, leading peer groups, and developing sales teams.
Whether you’re a small residential painter or a growing commercial contractor, I can provide scalable solutions tailored to your needs.
If you’re interested in learning more, visit our About Us or Services pages to explore how we can help your business grow.