Commercial and exterior painting crew
Lead a small team painting shops, offices, rental properties and house exteriors.
- £3k-12k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
16,319 UK companies in this field, 31% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 43341 “Painting”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
Larger painting jobs for businesses and property owners, such as shop fronts, offices, communal areas and house exteriors, usually done by two or three people.
Your first three steps
- Introduce yourself to local letting agents and property managers with photos of past work
- Get quotes for a van, access equipment and insurance that covers working at height
- Line up one or two reliable painters, self-employed or casual, to work with on bigger jobs
Who pays
Letting agents, landlords, property managers, small businesses and homeowners with larger exterior jobs.
How it makes money
Fixed quotes per job or contract, covering labour, materials and access equipment, with repeat work from agents and managers.
Skills that help
- Quoting larger jobs
- Organising people and schedules
- Safe working at height
- Dealing with agents and businesses
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and employer's liability insurance once you employ anyone
- Safe working at height: check rules and training for scaffolds, towers and ladders
- Check how to treat helpers, since self-employed status depends on the actual working arrangement
- Slow-paying commercial clients: agree payment terms and consider deposits
- Weather delays on exterior work can disrupt your schedule
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: commercial and exterior painting crew
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a commercial painting business?
Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on equipment, access gear, vehicle and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and cost out the kit you need for larger exterior and commercial jobs.
How much can a commercial and exterior painting crew earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £4,000 to £15,000, depending on job size, crew numbers and how steadily you win work. Weather delays on exterior work can disrupt your schedule and slow-paying clients can affect cash flow.
What safety and employment rules should I check before starting?
Check public liability insurance, and employer's liability insurance once you employ anyone. Check rules and training for safe working at height with scaffolds, towers and ladders, and how to treat helpers, since self-employed status depends on the actual working arrangement.
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Photo: MamaShaw on Pixabay