Although Matt Boden started his career in the restaurant industry, where he remained for 20 years working his way up the ranks from a bartender to an owner-operator, he has always had another passion on the side: painting. Taking the odd painting job here and there for friends and family over the past 20-plus years, the hobby gradually evolved into a real source of joy for Boden. When he found himself burnt out with the hectic and draining restaurant lifestyle, he decided he was ready to try something new. Fresh Coat Painters, the residential and commercial painting franchise, proved to be the perfect fit.

“I wanted to start spending more time with my family, and I wanted to be able to watch my kids grow up,” said Boden. “I enjoy serving clients and utilizing my entrepreneurial spirit though, so I knew I wanted to stay in business wherever it was possible. That’s when I found Fresh Coat.”

And as someone who had owned and operated his own businesses, Boden says he recognized the strength of the franchise model right away. 

“The franchise model is very much turnkey, which is what made me look into it,” he said. “I could’ve started my own company, but I like having the backbone and support that the model offers.”

Boden researched a few franchise concepts. But deep down, he says he knew painting and Fresh Coat was the way to go. With affordable startup costs, multiple revenue streams and impressive brand recognition, Boden says there was a lot to love about the franchise opportunity. But the biggest selling point? Support.

“Fresh Coat stood out to me because of the support from corporate,” said Boden. “I was able to speak with the leadership team, and really understand their process. I shared a lot of similar backgrounds with them as well. They are former restaurant people themselves. Overall, the leadership and chemistry helped me to make my decision.”

This corporate support is why Fresh Coat franchisees don’t need to be painting experts or focused on reinventing the wheel. The team provides the business model, trusted brand name and support so they can be successful with Fresh Coat, including access to training, business coaches, digital marketing, PR, estimating/quoting technology, painter-recruitment systems, regional/national conferences, online seminars, peer-to-peer educational programs, national supplier/vendor alliances and more.

This level of support has allowed the brand to attract a uniquely diverse group of franchisees, including veterans, women and those from underrepresented communities. Owners come from all types of industries and backgrounds, whether it be tech, consulting, teaching, manufacturing, construction, home improvement or working for the state.

Boden officially opened his Fresh Coat operation in North Tampa this year and is already thinking about scalability. 

“Within two years, I plan to have a commercial division, mainly focused on commercial clients, but I will still be doing residential,” he said. “I will also be doing two-minimum Fresh Coat Cares charity projects per year, if not three. Within the next five years, I plan on opening another one or two more units.”

Overall, when it comes to Boden’s advice for other entrepreneurs, he says it comes down to one thing: passion. 

“You are your own boss, so you have to be passionate and let that passion grow as you get further in,” he said. “I’ve had a passion for painting for about 20 years. In addition, the restaurant industry showed me that I had a passion for teaching and coaching younger employees to become successful. I hope to use that same experience with Fresh Coat. I can build my business and give back to the community at the same time. Fresh Coat delivers more than most franchises do.”

Now, the Fresh Coat team is looking to help more passionate, qualified entrepreneurs like Boden to achieve their goals while expanding the brand’s footprint across the country. The Fresh Coat team has identified several markets that are primed for franchise development, including Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and additional states throughout the Northeast.

“In order to be iconic, we need to be industry-leading in our customer service, our franchise system, our business model and our size,” said Fresh Coat President Tara Riley. “In five years, we want to be the number-one painting company in the U.S. We know that means we have to find the right franchisees, help them grow profitable businesses and continue to expand our footprint. Now, as we achieve those goals faster than ever, the time has never been better to join the Fresh Coat team.”

The total investment required to start a Fresh Coat franchise ranges from $53,850 to $76,750, including the $44,900 franchise fee. For more information, visit freshcoatfranchise.com.