Fresh Coat

<a href="https://freshcoatfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-fresh-coat-painters-franchisee-is-determined-to-become-the-brands-first-3-million-franchise-2718939" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fresh Coat Painters</a>, the residential and commercial painting franchise under the&nbsp;<a href="https://strategicfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-fresh-coat-painters-franchisee-is-determined-to-become-the-brands-first-3-million-franchise-2718939" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Strategic Franchising Systems</a> umbrella, offers a low-cost, high-margin business model that trains franchisees on how to find and unite all painters, hire them as employees and provide customers with the security and professionalism they deserve. Since starting in 2004, Fresh Coat has expanded to over 170 franchise locations nationwide and is well on its way to becoming a truly iconic painting brand thanks to dedicated franchisees like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-ross-2646323?trk=public_profile_browsemap_mini-profile_title&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-fresh-coat-painters-franchisee-is-determined-to-become-the-brands-first-3-million-franchise-2718939" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sarah Ross</a>, the owner of Fresh Coat of Marble Falls, Lakeway, Kyle and the Hill Country in Texas.&nbsp;Prior to franchising, Ross spent most of her career in corporate America, working as a CPA in the Austin area for various start-up companies. “I spent 14 hours a day behind a computer looking at numbers, and I really got burnt out,” said Ross. “I knew I wanted to start my own business, and it was clear I had the time to dedicate to it if I tried — I could put those 14 hours a day towards myself and my own growth, instead of someone else’s.”In 2013 Ross was ready to finally follow her entrepreneurial dreams, but she recognized that she couldn’t do it alone. “I had enough background knowledge to run a business, but I wasn’t comfortable when it came to marketing and sales,” she said. “I was too risk-adverse to start something from the ground up, so franchising was a perfect option.”&nbsp;With that, Ross said she went franchise shopping and analyzed concepts across a wide variety of industries. Soon, Fresh Coat came across her radar online based on her specific goals, geography and financial metrics.&nbsp;Fresh Coat is one of the most affordable painting franchises available, Ross noted. Franchisees’ operating costs are significantly lower and their potential profits much higher, with a competitively low franchise fee, small branding and technology fees, royalty minimums and no training fees. For that lower investment, Fresh Coat franchisees like Ross 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.&nbsp;“Painting felt like an industry that I could learn more about and would be comfortable with,” said Ross. “It wasn’t super-techy, and I knew I'd be able to handle the business model. I was also looking for something that could withstand an economic downtown — COVID-19 actually helped the painting industry.”Even during market downturns, demand for painting remains strong. Over the past two years, Fresh Coat has proven to be a uniquely pandemic-proof business, especially as homeowners spent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/despite-devastating-effects-broader-economy-pandemic-has-been-boon-us-home-improvement?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-fresh-coat-painters-franchisee-is-determined-to-become-the-brands-first-3-million-franchise-2718939" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">more time investing</a> in home services during lockdown. In fact, the brand grew its systemwide sales by 44% year-over-year, saw six record-breaking sales months and opened 30 new locations in 2021 alone.In terms of standing out in the thriving painting industry, Ross says there were several benefits of joining Fresh Coat. “I liked that it involved background-checked employees and paid project-by-project,” she said. “That encourages the good painters to stick around and protects the owner from unnecessary expenses. I wanted to sell something I could believe in as a homeowner and have a model behind me that could produce good results for customers.”When it comes to support, Ross said Fresh Coat offered the marketing model and the sales coaching that she was looking for when initially analyzing franchise concepts. The Fresh Coat team is proud to be a marketing company first, and a painting company second. The brand’s goal is to drive more leads than franchisees can handle, compelling them to grow their staff and profits over time. Fresh Coat’s dedicated HQ marketing teams not only drive residential leads, but also provide access to National Accounts that are already signed, sealed and delivered.&nbsp;Since officially opening her first territory in 2013 and second in 2019, Ross says growth has been strong and consistent, largely thanks to a principle taught by Fresh Coat during training: the rule of threes.&nbsp;“The rule of threes is something all owners are trained on,” said Ross. “Always answer the phone within three rings, go on the quote within three days and be able to start a project within three weeks. I consistently use that as a principle to know when I need to scale the business. When we got too busy to go on a quote in three days, I knew we needed to hire an estimator. When we couldn't start a project in three weeks, I knew I needed to hire my next crew. Fresh Coat had the model in place — I just followed it.”&nbsp;In terms of local marketing, Ross says she did the same thing: simply followed the Fresh Coat model. “We have been doing grassroots networking, reaching out to realtors, interior designers, etc. We built a reputation in the community with referral partners,” she said. “When COVID hit, more people were spending money on their homes, so we continued to get those phone calls and the current real estate market has continued to thrive. We are in a high-growth area of the U.S. and of Austin, so our population is growing exponentially, and the market always has more potential.All of these factors, Ross says, explain why she is currently one of the top-performing franchise owners in the Fresh Coat system. And looking ahead, she says she has no plans of slowing down.&nbsp;“My goal is to become the first $3 million franchise with Fresh Coat,” Ross said. “It wasn’t my plan to achieve it this year, but based on our trajectory, anything could happen.”Now, with plans to cross the 200-unit mark this year, the Fresh Coat team is looking to help more passionate and qualified entrepreneurs like Ross 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, California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Missouri.“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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tararileymba?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-fresh-coat-painters-franchisee-is-determined-to-become-the-brands-first-3-million-franchise-2718939" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tara Riley</a>. “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&nbsp;<a href="https://freshcoatfranchise.com/cost/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-fresh-coat-painters-franchisee-is-determined-to-become-the-brands-first-3-million-franchise-2718939" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$53,850 to $76,750</a>, including the $44,900 franchise fee. For more information, visit: https://freshcoatfranchise.com/

This Fresh Coat Painters Franchisee is Determined to Become the Brand’s First $3 Million Franchise

1851 Franchise

Sarah Ross, a Texas-based owner of the residential and commercial painting brand, has been one of the system’s top performers for two years in a row.

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

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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

This Fresh Coat Painters Franchisee is Determined to Become the Brand’s First $3 Million Franchise

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