CertaPro

As a former Army armor officer and highest ranking cadet at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), Bill Sharp knew the importance of honesty and hard work. When he decided it was time to open his own business, he only considered concepts that revered those values as much as he did.

“Integrity is something that really means a lot to me. As a cadet at VMI, I was taught not to lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do. This code of ethics carries over to everything that I do. It’s in the fabric of who I am,” said Sharp, 36. “I wanted to align myself with an organization that makes a promise and delivers quality results. CertaPro Painters did that and more.”

In 2003, Sharp opened CertaPro Painters in Loganville, Ga. and continues putting homeowners at ease with his reliable service to this day.

VETREPRENEUR ASKS

V: What do you enjoy most about owning CertaPro Painters?

BS: So many of my clients have told me stories about how horrible their previous experiences have been – painters that were prepaid and never finished the job or paint jobs that looked good when done but didn’t withstand the test of time. We really respect the individual and follow through with our promises, so seeing the satisfaction on my clients’ faces at the end of the day is the greatest reward.

V: Do you plan to grow your business in the future?

BS: Most definitely!

V: Has your military training helped you succeed in business ownership?

BS: The Army taught me how to communicate with people from varied backgrounds who have arrived at different stations in life. I now serve a variety of customers and am able to communicate effectively with them and with my teams because of my military experiences. 

Franchise Facts

Company Name: CertaPro Painters

Franchise Headquarters: Oaks, Pennsylvania

Phone: (800) 462-3782

Web site: www.certapro.com

Company Info: CertaPro Painters is the largest painting company in North America and provides a customer-driven painting experience that is unparalleled in the industry (both commercial and residential). CertaPro franchisees establish large-scale, regional painting companies backed by CertaPro’s proven track record as the “Brand of Certainty” and a customer referral rate that exceeds 95 percent.

Cost: Between $90,000 and $140,000, including marketing and other start-up related expenses. Royalties are 5 percent of gross sales with an additional 3 percent advertising royalty. The business can be operated from home, but is expected to relocate to an outside office when annual sales reach $500,000 to $600,000.

 Written by Rhonda Sanderson