Fresh Coat

After four decades of painting cars,&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> found himself at a crossroads when health concerns forced him to leave the career he knew. His wife, Jenn, had also worked hard in multiple industries, including janitorial roles for FedEx and Allegiant Airlines, attending and graduating from the Tennessee School of Beauty, and earning credentials as a dental assistant. At a crossroads, the two decided to pursue a new opportunity that would be both more stable and more rewarding for them both.Their next step surprised even their own family, but it led them to an incredibly successful venture and&nbsp;<a href="http://freshcoatfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=fresh-coat-franchise-jeff-berry-rising-star-2729404" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fresh Coat’s</a> 2025 Rising Star award.<h2>Trading Auto Paint for a Painting Franchise</h2>Jeff’s journey in the automotive industry began in 1978. Following his family’s footsteps, Jeff joined the auto repair industry and began to specialize in painting. For 40 years, he worked alongside his family, but eventually, his health was affected by the work.“They repaired the vehicles, and I painted them,” Jeff said. “As the years went on, I got asthma and allergies. I ended up with a little breathing problem, so I had to retire from that business. Jenn had recently graduated from dental school, only to realize the industry was full. I told my kids that I’d start looking for something else for the sake of my health, and they thought I was going to look for another job. But the circumstances with both of our jobs is what led us to invest in Fresh Coat and leave all of that behind.”After considering their options, Jeff and Jenn decided a franchise would provide the structure and support they needed while still allowing them to function as independent business owners.“Starting something individually is a lot harder than being a part of a franchise,” Jeff said. “Franchises help you set everything up with the equipment, computer, software and everything else you need to get started.”In what Jeff described as a puzzle coming together perfectly, he discovered&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info">Fresh Coat</a> online, and the territory in his own neighborhood was available. The transition made perfect sense. In addition to the local opportunity, Jeff drew a parallel between auto painting and commercial and residential painting. While it’s not the exact same, it felt familiar and made the transition a bit smoother.<h2>Building the Business With a Foundation of Customer Service</h2>As he stepped into business ownership, Jeff knew he would need to focus on two things: leadership and customer service.&nbsp;“I did lots of reading and studying to figure out how to be a boss,” he said. “I was an employee. I was used to having a boss telling me what to do every day, and I didn’t want that anymore, but I also didn’t want to be that kind of boss to any of my team members.”Jeff developed his own approach while following Fresh Coat’s guidance. He credits the franchisor’s leadership and training with helping him build the structure for a successful business.In addition to his own leadership, Jeff knew it would be key to provide top-notch customer service.“Any new owner who comes in should have customer service as a primary goal,” he said. “If you can’t make the customer happy, you’ll be out of business.”One year into launching his Fresh Coat franchise, Jeff has brought on a manager to support the growing business, and he aims to double business in his second year. Already, though, Jeff has seen remarkable results and caught the attention of the Fresh Coat leadership team. Despite doubts when he first embarked on this new career path, he was recently named Fresh Coat’s Rising Star.For those considering a similar path, Jeff encourages the leap.“Be prepared to put your name out there,” he said. “Spread it around. Get the word out about who you are and what you do. If you can do that, you’ll get lots of business.”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;

Jeff Berry Named Fresh Coat’s 2025 Rising Star After Career Pivot

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Jeff spent 40 years painting cars before developing respiratory issues. After pivoting to franchise ownership with his wife, Jenn, they rose to the top with great performance in the first year.

This brand page has been paid for by FRESH COAT. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

After Health Concerns Pushed Jeff Berry to a New Opportunity, He Earned Fresh Coat Rising Star of the Year in Year One

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For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fonsecaapr">Alex Fonseca</a>, owner of&nbsp;<a href="http://freshcoatfranchise.com">Fresh Coat Painters</a> of Muskegon, building a high-performing team has been crucial to business growth. As he has expanded, Fonseca has consistently focused on his team’s role in the business's broader trajectory, emphasizing culture and demeanor as well as more technical requirements such as accuracy and efficiency.“We get many of our customers through word of mouth,” he said. “So a customer being happy and telling their neighbors about us and our results… The painters who deliver that result are probably the most important people on our team.”<h2>Quality and Care as the Foundation</h2>What makes a “good team member,” for Fonseca, may be a bit more nuanced than expected.“Obviously, a very basic level would be someone coming in below the budget that we have for a project and being productive and efficient,” he said. “But for us, it’s just people who, when they show up, have a good presence about them.”In the home services space, a team's attitude is especially important, as they’re working in customers’ homes and often making significant changes to their biggest investment. Building teams that both make customers feel at ease and meet the quality expectations set for them lays a healthy foundation for Fonseca to further develop technically proficient painters.Shifting the definition of success from just speed and industry knowledge to a level of care, ability to build customer rapport, and potential for long-term value can be quite beneficial for the business.“Sometimes I would rather have a slightly slower painter who does a good job,” he said. “Customers are happy with that person and write reviews for them, and we’re going to get more jobs from those over time.”<h2>The Practical Approach To Building These Teams</h2>Since establishing these expectations, Fonseca has worked to develop a clear, actionable hiring and team development process. First and foremost, he focuses intently on hiring the right people, not just anyone who can do the job.“My initial thought was to hire people who have a lot of experience, but that’s when I realized that just because someone is a good painter doesn’t mean they’re a good person,” he said. “It’s really tough to teach someone how to be polite and mind their manners when they’re in someone’s home. We’ve been successful at hiring people based on their personalities and training them in the painting skills.”Fonseca doesn’t ignore the painting skills required to succeed as a part of the team by any means. He uses the resources available to him through the Painting Contractors Association and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info">Fresh Coat</a> franchise system.“We’re a part of the PCA, and they put out a lot of material on how to train painters,” he said. “Fresh Coat also put together a painter advancement system. So we can place people in different categories based on their levels of expertise, and it shows them the skills they need to level up.”These tools allow Fonseca to hire and train effectively while also setting the stage for talent retention and increased profitability. As painters continue to learn and develop their skills, they can take on more complex, higher-paying jobs, boosting their earning potential and increasing revenue for the franchise.<h2>A Person-First Staffing Approach and Long-Term Vision</h2>As the scaffolding he has provided within his business supports the professional growth of his teams, Fonseca has also worked diligently to build and maintain a team that truly supports each other, collaborates naturally and celebrates one another’s wins.“Instead of seeing anything as a competition, we try to evaluate who is really great at something and pair them with someone else who is trying to develop that same skill,” he said. “Our painters are really open to giving each other feedback on the work that they do, and it comes from a place of love. They’re approaching it saying, ‘Hey, let me try to help you out.’”In addition to supporting painters’ professional development and advancement, Fonseca and his teams also celebrate one another’s personal successes.“I want my painters to enjoy their work, but I understand that they’re here to make money and support their families,” he said. “Understanding how work can be rewarding but also helps them meet their own personal goals encourages us to celebrate their wins outside of just work, too.”Over time, Fonseca has carefully and intentionally built a team that not only works well together but also brings the soft and technical skills that propel the business forward. Often, this requires a more disciplined approach and a true investment in team building rather than taking a “just hiring” approach, but the results are always worth the effort.“I’m willing to take longer to hire the right person rather than rushing to hire a bunch of people then realizing they’re not the right fit,” he said. “It’s important to try to envision, five years from now, what you want your company to look like. Who are the types of employees you want to have? And be intentional about hiring, supporting and developing those people now.”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;

Fresh Coat Painters franchise owner Alex Fonseca and President Lisa Hudson

Focusing on soft skills and professional development pathways as much as he emphasizes technical skill, Alex Fonseca has built and retained a thriving team of painters who power his business.

Inside a High-Performance Fresh Coat Franchise: How This Owner Built a Team To Scale

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Former McDonald’s Technology Manager Opens Fresh Coat Painters Franchise to Beautify the Klein Community

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Keys to Team Retention for Fresh Coat Painters Franchisees

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Painting a New Life: Why This Seasoned Management Leader Walked Away From the Oil Industry to Scale a Fresh Coat Painters Franchise

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MCALLEN, Texas&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://freshcoatpainters.com/locations/mcallen">Fresh Coat Painters of McAllen</a> has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office, as the 2026 Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year for the Lower Rio Grande Valley District. Owner&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/why-this-army-veteran-chose-fresh-coat-franchise-ownership-as-his-next-mission-2720664#stories">Gilbert “Gil” Perez</a>, a U.S. Army veteran, first pursued franchise ownership following military retirement as he searched for a way to build a business of his own while doing valuable work in his own community.&nbsp;“I’m honored to receive this recognition from the Small Business Administration, not only for myself but for the teams and community members who have made it possible,” Perez said. “Hard work and service have always been a way of life for me. I took those values to the Army, and I still use them today with every&nbsp;<a href="http://freshcoatfranchise.com">Fresh Coat</a> project. Being named Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year is a testament to the fact that, when you keep your values front and center and commit yourself to your community, the reward is immeasurable.”Perez was selected from business owners across the district, which spans 14 Texas counties, for his leadership, dedication and influence as a small business owner. In addition to his own resilience in business, Perez is celebrated for the commitment he has shown to positively impacting the community.Over his time as a&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info">Fresh Coat</a> franchise owner, Perez has served the McAllen community with quality, reliable painting services, and by thinking bigger, has been able to have a real impact beyond his organization. As a business owner, Perez is able to create opportunities for others, and he takes great pride in working alongside others who prioritize service and share his family-focused values. That commitment to service extends beyond his business, as Perez serves on the Board of Directors for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhporgv.com/">NHPO-RGV</a>, a professional organization dedicated to promoting enterprise and education for its members in partnership with the community.&nbsp;“After two decades of service, I was looking for another way to find purpose in my community,” Perez said. “Fresh Coat was my pathway, and I’m so proud of what I’ve built in McAllen. As a veteran, I know what it means to be a part of something bigger than myself, and business ownership has given me a platform to not only provide quality service but to become truly ingrained in the McAllen community, which has supported us every step of the way.”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;

image of freshcoat McAllen Named 2026 SBA Veteran-Owned Business of the Year

Following his service in the U.S. Army, Gil Perez pursued franchising with the national painting brand as a way to chase his dreams while serving the McAllen community.

Fresh Coat Painters of McAllen Named 2026 Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office

After Health Concerns Pushed Jeff Berry to a New Opportunity, He Earned Fresh Coat Rising Star of the Year in Year One

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