Student F.A.Q. (View Parent FAQs)
This page attempts to answer some common concerns of prospective Interns. Have a question not on this list? Ask us anything you like.
- How will I succeed if I have never painted before?
- How do I find enough work?
- Why painting?
- How do I get my equipment?
- How do I get paid?
- How do I know I will succeed?
- Is College Works Painting a scam?
Q. How will I succeed if I have never painted before?
Since CWP started in 1993, fewer than 10% of our managers have had any previous painting experience. Your primary focus, as a manager, will be overseeing your painting projects. This includes ensuring your customers are happy and your painters are motivated. During your training seminars, you will be trained in every aspect of basic painting. You will also receive on-site training and continuous support from your experienced District Manager.
Q. How do I find enough work?
Fact: 10% of all homes are painted each year. After training, you will create your individual marketing plan with your District Manager. You will be furnished with all marketing materials required to execute your plan. This will include 5,000 high impact flyers, lawn signs, business cards and on-going direction from your District manager on how to reach your goals. By committing your Spring Break and several of your spring weekends, half of you summer should be booked before it even starts.
Q. Why painting?
Painting is an easily taught trade so you spend your time managing, not learning the industry. Also, it provides hands-on experience in all facets of running a business. In most internships, your function is mostly clerical. Here you market your service, negotiate deals, estimate projects, source, hire, and manage up to ten employees, and manage profits by controlling costs. Lastly, painting provides a significant moneymaking opportunity in a short amount of time.
Q. How do I get my equipment?
Once you have begun estimating and booking jobs, we will guarantee a line of credit for you with a major retail supplier. We will also furnish you with a list of suggested items to purchase based on the volume of business you have chosen to do. With this list and a line of credit, you will be able to purchase your paint and equipment without interrupting your personal cash flow.
Q. How do I get paid?
At training you will learn how to price a paint job. You will be taught how to calculate wages, material, supplies and your profit. The average house will cost approximately $2700 and you should expect to earn 20% of this selling price per house painted. Remember as in any business, your profit margin depends entirely on how well you manage your costs. (Note: CWP cannot guarantee how much you will make, as it is dependent upon how you price the job and the costs you incur in delivering it. However, the average profit last year was 22.5%)
Q. How do I know I will succeed?
You must begin by recognizing what it will take to be successful. While your friends are relaxing on spring weekend, you will be setting up your summer. When exams are over, the hours will be longer than any job you have had before. Most of your evening and weekends during the summer will be consumed with marketing, estimating, and follow-up phone calls. You will be tired and stressed at times, but you will have to get up early every morning to run your business. Most businesses fail for two reasons: lack of financing and lack of management expertise. When you commit to a summer with College Works, we provide the financial backing and a proven system with continuous training and constant support. The only missing ingredient is you and your personal determination to be a success. You don't know you will succeed, you can only think you might.
Q. Is College Works Painting a scam?
No. College Works Painting is a nationally recognized internship program for college students. Click here to read more.
Q. I Googled College Works Painting and found a number of sites claiming this is a scam.
A small percentage of customers, while taken care of in the end, have found their experience to be unsatisfactory. In the Internet age, individuals trying to attach the word scam to an organization can lead to confusion in the marketplace. At College Works, if the homeowner isn’t completely satisfied, neither are we. Please take the time to read our scam rebuttal and decide for yourself if College Works Painting is the right company to paint your home.