Fresh Coat

Francis Strutt's journey to Naples, Florida, isn't your typical franchise story. This isn't just about opening a business; it's about a family's 12-plus-year dream of moving to Florida finally becoming a reality. After years of visiting the area, Francis and his wife, Jade, decided Naples was the perfect place to put down roots. Navigating the complexities of international relocation and visa requirements led them down an unexpected path from which they found their way to franchising.Having run independent businesses in the past, Strutt knew the challenges of opening a business from scratch well and was looking to do it differently this time. With&nbsp;<a href="http://freshcoatfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=familys-american-dream-takes-shape-in-naples-florida-with-fresh-coat-franchise-2728797" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fresh Coat</a>, he is getting the support he needs to build a successful business — and life — in Florida while bringing a higher quality painting experience to the community he holds so dear.Strutt took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what he had to say.1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Francis Strutt:&nbsp;I have visited Florida for years and thought about moving to Florida over a decade ago.&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info">Fresh Coat</a> allowed us to finally do it. Working with an immigration attorney, we realized an E-2 visa would be the best way forward. I’m originally from London and leveraged the opportunity to invest in a business to support our move to the U.S.Once we found franchising and Fresh Coat, we decided to get started, so we’ve been operational in Naples, Florida since last October, and our managing partner,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-failla-66b80a348/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=familys-american-dream-takes-shape-in-naples-florida-with-fresh-coat-franchise-2728797" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sebastian [Failla]</a>, is overseeing the projects. Sebastian has 40-plus years of experience in the industry, so we were very confident to take him on. He has been a wonderful partner in starting the business, bringing perspectives and knowledge that have made the business even stronger from day one.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Strutt:&nbsp;We knew that investing in a business would provide a clear path for us to relocate to Florida. I looked at other independent businesses, but I own self-storage and mailbox shops, and I always started those from scratch.I’d never looked into franchising, and once I did, I was really excited. All the things I had to do — and fail at — with my own businesses, Fresh Coat has already figured out. With a franchise, you get out the gate running, and that was the biggest takeaway for me.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Strutt:&nbsp;I think there’s a stigma, especially in the U.K., that you’ve got no control. You’re told to do this and that, and to me, that’s not very exciting. I like to have my own input. After training, we realized that they do have certain guidelines, but really, you’re out there running&nbsp;your business. You can make a lot of decisions by yourself.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Strutt:&nbsp;We’re working to become fully immersed in the community. We didn’t want to start just any business. We’ve started&nbsp;<a href="https://freshcoatpainters.com/locations/naples/about-us/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=familys-american-dream-takes-shape-in-naples-florida-with-fresh-coat-franchise-2728797" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fresh Coat in Naples</a> to bring a better painting service to the neighbors and community we love so much.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Strutt:&nbsp;Definitely do your research. One of the things I did was speak to people in a similar position — those who had just started — to see how they were getting on. I spoke to three different new franchisees, and they all sounded confident. That gave me confidence.ABOUT FRESH COAT PAINTERS:Fresh Coat Painters, the residential and commercial painting franchise under the Strategic Franchising Systems umbrella, offers a low-cost, high-margin business model that gives entrepreneurs from all walks of life the chance to become successful business owners in the communities they serve. Since starting in 2004, Fresh Coat has expanded to over 190 franchise locations nationwide. Thanks to its unparalleled professionalism and affordable business model, it has become one of the leading concepts in the booming residential and commercial painting segment. With continued year-over-year growth, Fresh Coat is well on its way to achieving its overall goal of becoming a truly iconic painting brand.&nbsp;

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Fresh Coat Franchise Creates Path for U.K. Family To Achieve American Dream

1851 Franchise

After over a decade spent dreaming of moving to Florida, Francis Strutt learned of the E-2 visa pathway and decided to bring the painting franchise to the community he knows and loves.

Family’s American Dream Takes Shape in Naples, Florida With Fresh Coat Franchise

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Multigenerational Contractor Seph Duggan Launches Fresh Coat Painters of Lakeland, Florida

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Following a 2024 divorce after 27 years as a military spouse,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryesteele96/">Mary Steele</a> sought to control her future and build her own business.&nbsp;<a href="https://freshcoatfranchise.com/">Fresh Coat Painters</a>, the residential and commercial painting franchise, immediately appealed to her with its focus on home transformation, strong support and proven model. Her real estate background and passion for making houses feel like homes confirmed it was the right fit.What stood out most to Steele was&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info">Fresh Coat’s</a> culture of transparency and community. The brand’s training, marketing guidance and network of experienced franchise owners provided not just a roadmap for success but a team genuinely invested in her growth.Now preparing to open her Melbourne, Florida, location in January 2026, Steele is focused on building a business that reflects her values like treating employees well, serving homeowners with care and creating lasting impact through every project.&nbsp;1851 Franchise spoke to Steele about her franchise journey with Fresh Coat and her plans for the future. Here’s what she had to say:&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Mary Steele:&nbsp;Before getting into franchising, I was an active-duty military spouse. I traveled for many years — over 27 years. I got a divorce in 2024 and decided, “What does Mary want now that she gets to live life on her own terms?” Things were different. What did I want to do?I started digging into my past and the dreams I had, the things I wanted to do. I’d always wanted to become a franchise owner, but I thought that space would be in the food industry. Then I started working with a career coach, and we did a personal assessment to see what I liked to do. That turned out not to be what I wanted.We pulled up several franchises, and I did some research. I realized that one thing I love — because I also have a real estate background — is that every time we moved over the past 27 years, the first thing we did was paint. We’d either paint in preparation to sell the home for curb appeal or repaint once we arrived at a new place to make it feel like home.When I started looking at painting franchises, I connected with the culture at Fresh Coat and what the franchise had to offer. It just looked like a great fit. Once I started talking with the professionals there — especially the gentleman I spoke with for several months before he retired — and then my new franchise development coach, I felt at ease and comfortable.There was no hard-pressure sales, just transparency. They shared what their 20-year history looks like and what other franchisees say about Fresh Coat. It felt good. It felt right. That’s how I ended up with the Fresh Coat franchise.I have a background in real estate sales and the military, working with service members who were preparing to leave active duty and transition into civilian life. That’s what I did for 10 years. That was what I was used to, and that’s how I ended up coming to Fresh Coat.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Steele:&nbsp;I think my perception was that if you decided to join a franchise, you’d have this big, established brand — something national or even international that everyone already knew about. I thought that was it. You join the franchise, they hand you the brand, and then say, “Now go make it your own.”What I found out is that it’s so much more than that. Especially with Fresh Coat, you have a built-in network of people who are rooting for you — people who want to see you win. When you partner with a national brand, they want to help you succeed because your success is their success.I gained a network of professionals who could help me with marketing and establishing my territory, as well as all the background support you need to be successful. Since going through training, I feel that even more. I had the opportunity to meet with other franchisees, hear their stories, learn what works, and understand what to focus on at 30 days, 90 days and six months in.I really value that because I’ve never been a franchise owner before; you don’t know what you don’t know. Having that built-in network of professionals who understand what I’m about to experience and can help me through it has been incredibly rewarding.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Steele:&nbsp;I think what excited me most about the company was that it’s something I’m genuinely interested in. Mind you, I’m a person who doesn’t color well inside the lines at all. When it comes to painting, I make a big mess — but I know what colors I like and what looks good. That part I’m great at.Knowing that Fresh Coat has been established for many years and has such a diverse collection of owners really stood out to me. We’re talking men and women, people born in the United States, people who weren’t, people who have lived here long-term and even those who live here part-time. It’s a great, diverse group of owners, and that was engaging to me.I liked seeing myself reflected in the ownership and the willingness of other owners to say, “Hey, if you need something, I’m here. Give me a call.” I love that sense of community.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Steele:&nbsp;I hope to be a successful small business owner — replacing the income I had when I worked for someone else by working for myself and continuing to grow and expand.When I worked for other people, I often thought about why I stayed with a company. What did they offer that made me want to stay? Some things were great, and others, not so much. So, as I grow my business and eventually bring on my own staff, I want to be the kind of small business owner employees want to stay with because they’re treated well, have great benefits, and have steady painting opportunities.Starting out, I’ll be using subcontractors to get the business off the ground, and I’m glad to have that flexibility. My ultimate goal is to have my own crew — to employ several painters and build strong relationships with them so they don’t want to leave. I want them to stay and grow with me as the business grows.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Steele:&nbsp;Don’t give up on your dreams. Don’t give up on your goals. Life will throw all kinds of curveballs, but as long as you can embrace the pivot, you’ll be okay. That’s what I call this stage of my life: embracing the pivot.“Pivot” has been used in military marching terms for years, but to me, it means being able to adjust and move in a new direction. As long as you don’t lose hope, stay optimistic and keep a positive attitude, you can embrace that pivot, go in a new direction and not be afraid. Life can be scary. We don’t always win or succeed right away. But one thing’s for sure — if you stop or quit, you’ll never grow or be successful. If you keep going, one step at a time — slowly but surely — you’ll get where you want to go. I truly believe slow and steady wins the race.You could not have told me 20 years ago that this would be my franchise. My mind was totally somewhere else. But because I stayed open to a different type of franchise, I’m so glad I embraced that pivot.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Steele:&nbsp;Do your research. Do your due diligence. Don’t rush; take your time and ask all the questions. If it’s something you feel strongly about, go for it. You don’t want to live with a bunch of regrets or a bunch of “woulda, coulda, shouldas.” Go for it, and that way, when it’s time to tell your story, you can say, “This is something I wanted to do.”&nbsp;ABOUT FRESH COAT PAINTERS:Fresh Coat Painters, the residential and commercial painting franchise under the Strategic Franchising Systems umbrella, offers a low-cost business model that gives entrepreneurs from all walks of life the chance to become successful business owners in the communities they serve. Since starting in 2004, Fresh Coat has expanded to over 190 franchise locations nationwide. Thanks to its unparalleled professionalism and affordable business model, it has become one of the leading concepts in the booming residential and commercial painting segment. With continued year-over-year growth, Fresh Coat is well on its way to achieving its overall goal of becoming a truly iconic painting brand.

Fresh Coat Painters - Mary Steele - Franchisee Feature - 1851 Franchise

How a Major Life Pivot Led This Military Spouse to Open a Fresh Coat Franchise in Melbourne, Florida

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With his background as a Finish Carpenter and a General Contractor,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/seph-duggan-899a3310a/">Seph Duggan</a> is well aware of the struggles people face when looking for people to handle their construction needs. Lack of awareness can make it difficult for customers to find help, leading to a major issue with customer access to a reputable workforce. His solution was to launch&nbsp;<a href="https://freshcoatfranchise.com/">Fresh Coat Painters</a> of Lakeland, providing an accessible, reputable workforce and a great customer experience.Duggan’s passion for the customer experience is driven by his other career. He spent a decade as a tour director and trip manager, where he learned about hospitality and customer experience. Duggan wants to ensure customers never feel abandoned after a project is completed.&nbsp;1851 Franchise spoke with Duggan about his journey into franchising with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info">Fresh Coat</a> and his plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Seph Duggan:&nbsp;I come from a multigenerational construction family. My grandfather, father, and I are all general contractors. I’ve been working on homes since I was 14, so I’ve worked in all areas of construction the majority of my life. Most recently I’ve worked in new home construction, historic preservation and commercial construction.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Duggan:&nbsp;I’ve been a carpenter for 15 years and own my own carpentry business. I got into Fresh Coat because I wanted something with a little more brand awareness and internal support than my solo carpentry business offered. Franchising just made sense because during the process of growing my own businesses, I got to a point where I knew I needed to either invest in systems or hire more support. I wanted something that came with more tools at my disposal, like the internal systems brands have already formed. Franchising offers a structure with professional guidance that is indispensable for an owner looking to navigate the ups and downs one experiences in an attempt to scale a business at pace.&nbsp;1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Duggan:&nbsp;As a business major, I understood the benefits of franchising. If anyone is skeptical over franchising, it is important to point out how many successful businesses are franchises. It's a wildly successful model, whether you look at the founding story of restaurant chains like&nbsp; Five Guys or Starbucks, Lowe’s or Home Depot; the model is proven time and time again on any scale, big or small. Starting any business takes time and money, but franchising provides more opportunities and advantages than I had on my own, especially in mitigation of risk through access to a network of professional support. The experience has been pretty incredible so far because the established systems, like the established brand recognition, access to marketing assistance like building of a website and Google SEO, I am able to focus on work and customer relations rather than system development.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Duggan:&nbsp;I worked with Fresh Coat franchises in Charleston, South Carolina, when I was a Finish Carpenter, and I always had a great experience working with them.I also realized that focusing on one aspect of construction, like painting, gives me the opportunity to channel all of my experience into one trade rather than in general construction, where you’re spread out over multiple trades and phases. Choosing to focus on one aspect of construction like painting with Fresh Coat provides an opportunity to hone my skills and more effectively maintain my bottom line:&nbsp; overhead, workforce, margins, and most importantly the customer experience.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Duggan:&nbsp;Right now, one of the issues I see in construction is customer access. I talk to a variety of people on a weekly basis who need a variety of tradesmen such as contractors, handymen or painters, but they just don't know where to find them. For Fresh Coat Lakeland, I want to provide a great customer experience through trust and accountability by making sure customers are satisfied with not just the work but the entire process as well. Homes aren’t just an investment, they provide safety and comfort, and any disruption in our day to day at home can be nerve wracking. Understanding this, it is my goal to build a resource for professional industry knowledge and trusting relationships to facilitate a smooth process start to finish and after.&nbsp;The goal is to focus on residential painting first and eventually develop into the commercial painting space. I would also like to offer other services like drywall repair and handyman services, potentially by acquiring a handyman franchise once the painting business runs more autonomously.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Duggan: Interestingly enough construction isn’t my only area of expertise. For the past 10 years, I’ve supplemented my career with seasonal hospitality work as Tour Director/Manager for renowned travel companies like National Geographic and Gate 1 Travel in the summer months. This endeavor has equipped me with access to some of the best hospitality training and experience which I’ve been able to incorporate into my best practices for construction as well. A field that, at times, can be desperately lacking in customer service. With me you’ll get a well rounded diversified experience that benefits the end result.I don't want any of my customers ever to feel like I’ve abandoned them after the job is done. Something that happens far too frequently in the Construction space. With Fresh Coat Lakeland not only will customers have direct access to myself but the comfort of knowing that I have the support of the entire Fresh Coat and Sherwin Williams guarantees as well.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Duggan:&nbsp;Honestly, it’s just to trust the process. It’s a large investment up front, but that investment pays itself back as you utilize the support and resources the franchisor provides. You’re not just out there stranded on an island. I like the franchise because you can mitigate some of that risk by joining on with a team.ABOUT FRESH COAT PAINTERS:Fresh Coat Painters, the residential and commercial painting franchise under the Strategic Franchising Systems umbrella, offers a low-cost, high-margin business model that gives entrepreneurs from all walks of life the chance to become successful business owners in the communities they serve. Since starting in 2004, Fresh Coat has expanded to over 190 franchise locations nationwide. Thanks to its unparalleled professionalism and affordable business model, it has become one of the leading concepts in the booming residential and commercial painting segment. With continued year-over-year growth, Fresh Coat is well on its way to achieving its overall goal of becoming a truly iconic painting brand.&nbsp;

Fresh Coat Painters - Seph Duggan - Lakeland Florida - 1851 Franchise

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Father-Son Duo Brings Fresh Coat Painters Franchise to Northwest Arkansas

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Former Project Manager and Executive Assistant Swaps Corporate Life for Fresh Coat Painters Ownership

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As homeowners face the realities of climbing inflation and a somewhat uncertain real estate market, many are seeking lower-cost, higher-impact ways to care for and update their homes. For franchisees of&nbsp;<a href="http://freshcoatfranchise.com">Fresh Coat Painters</a>, the 190-plus-unit painting franchise with a national presence, this presents a unique opportunity.According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jlconline.com/cost-vs-value/2024/">2024 report</a>, the mid-range cost for a minor kitchen remodel is about $27,000, and the mid-range cost for a major kitchen remodel is nearly $80,000. Alternatively, homeowners can overhaul the appearance of their kitchen for under $10,000 by painting their cabinets.<h2>The Market Shift: Higher-Impact, Lower-Cost Projects</h2>“Painting the cabinets is one of the quickest, easiest, most beautiful ways to update someone’s kitchen,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-nelson-1092a12a/">Kimberly Nelson</a>, owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://freshcoatpainters.com/locations/stone-oak/">Fresh Coat Painters of Stone Oak</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://freshcoatpainters.com/locations/alamo-heights/">Fresh Coat Painters of Alamo Heights</a>. “We paint the cabinets, and the homeowner will change the hardware. It’s not necessarily a cheap project, but compared to a whole remodel, it’s a very cost-effective, beautiful project.”Cabinet painting directly meets consumer demand for alternatives to a full remodel, and it even offers a more affordable alternative to less involved options like cabinet replacement or refacing.“I had a customer that called us to paint their living room, and they told me they had recently hired a company to reface all their cabinets. They were spending over $15,000 to do that,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/automotive-painter-takes-control-of-familys-future-with-fresh-coat-painters-franchise-in-tennessee-2726322#franchisee-stories">Jeff Berry</a>, owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://freshcoatpainters.com/locations/maryville/">Fresh Coat Painters of Maryville</a>. “I told them I could’ve painted them for around $7,000. It’s about half the price of refacing, but if you’re getting them painted professionally, it’s going to last a whole lot longer than a reface. The kitchen cabinets were already done at that point, but they called me back to paint the laundry and bathroom cabinets.”While the cost of some alternatives and durability of others present hurdles for homeowners, cabinet painting is a great, affordable alternative with a real impact and lasting results. For&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info">Fresh Coat</a> franchisees, it can also serve as a way to expand an existing relationship. Whether an owner paints one set of cabinets and is invited to return and paint more, or they’re able to turn a room painting project into a strong relationship that yields other project opportunities in the future, Fresh Coat’s quality and customer service allow owners to capitalize on additional revenue stream opportunities.<h2>Strong Margins for Franchisees</h2>While cabinet painting projects appeal to homeowners thanks to their lower cost ranges, these same projects are also financially appealing to franchisees. With Fresh Coat’s SMART Quote program, owners can generate actionable plans to help them price and complete a successful project.“If you’re using the SMART Quote cabinet template, it is dead on with what you need paint-wise and labor-wise — the number of days the project will take,” Nelson said. “It’s always accurate; you’re not guessing. When I first started, I knew I would need a system that made sense, and SMART Quote did that for me. If you know the margins for your area, and especially if you’re using the SMART Quote template, it’s an easy sell, it’s very fair and you will make money on the project.”While kitchen cabinets require a specific skill set, they’re ultimately very profitable in terms of projects.“Kitchen cabinets are profitable for the business, too, because it’s a little less expensive,” Berry said. “You have to have a good painter because you can’t roll and brush them, so it’s a little different, but once you have the right people, the profits are good on cabinets.”<h2>Long-Term Scalability and Business Success</h2>In addition to the profitability of a single cabinet-related project, getting into the cabinet painting space serves as a great runway for franchisees looking to scale.&nbsp;With Fresh Coat’s professional methods, cabinet projects turn out beautifully and have the durability to benefit the appearance of a space for years to come. Homeowners realize this, and after a successful project, they’re eager to share with their friends and neighbors.“You do one great cabinet project, and that homeowner runs to tell the neighbor and the next person because their cabinets came out beautiful,” Berry said.Cabinet projects can also serve as a “foot in the door” for B2B partnerships. For homeowners who do have the means or motivation to remodel a space, working with a professional remodeling company is often the way to go. Fresh Coat franchisees can tap into the segment of the business, too.&nbsp;“Remodelers are able to work within their client’s budgets, and they can propose different options, like, ‘Instead of doing all new cabinets, I’ll bring in Fresh Coat, and they’ll make your cabinets look brand new in a style that will update your house by 20 years,’” Nelson said. “My ability to do cabinets has already opened doors where I’m working with pretty high-end remodeling companies in the area on projects like these.”While cabinet painting begins as an ancillary service or supplemental revenue stream for many franchisees, it can quickly become a key business driver. For Nelson, over half of her projects since launching earlier this year have been cabinet-related. As a proven, high-demand and profitable service line, it directly addresses consumers’ needs and serves as a key growth engine for Fresh Coat owners.“It’s a win-win for the Fresh Coat owner and the homeowner,” Nelson said. “With a few thousand dollars, the homeowner is completely changing the look of their kitchen instead of spending $25,000 on a remodel. It is a quick fix for the homeowner, but it’s also profitable for the Fresh Coat owner as well. I look forward to selling cabinets now because I really know the system, I know the materials, and I know my crew can handle the project. Cabinets can be pretty foolproof, which is lovely in our painting world.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info.">https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info.</a>&nbsp;

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How Fresh Coat Franchisees Are Winning the Kitchen Market — Without the Remodel

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Family’s American Dream Takes Shape in Naples, Florida With Fresh Coat Franchise

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