The Mag
Please join me in welcoming to the broadcast with Fresh Coat Painters of South Fulton, Unique, and Brandon Ottley, good morning gang.
Brandon Ottley
Good morning, how are you doing?
Unique Ottley
Good morning.
The Mag
We are doing great. Before we get too far into things, can you share a little bit about Fresh Coat how you serve in folks?
Brandon Ottley
Well, pretty much Fresh Coat Painters is a one-stop franchise, pretty much we deal with commercial residential painting. So, I mean, we cover the whole gambit residential, inside and outside, interior exterior cabinet painting, ledger all wall repair. So pretty much we want everything to be a o, you know, the painting industry is kind of scattered, some people don't you know, really see it as being something condense. So, we try to go ahead and bring that aspect of, you know, having a having someone to provide a service for you, right there without you having to go and get different people from different areas.
The Mag
But it's all-around paint a painting, correct? Correct. Now, how did you find out about it?
Brandon Ottley
Pretty much. We were avid readers of Entrepreneur Magazine. So pretty much every but every year, they come out with you know, a list of top franchises, you know, their franchise 500. So, pretty much through research, and, you know, kind of looking and comparing, you know, other services and other industries. We felt that the, you know, the painting, service industry was pretty much a good go around because eventually everyone is going to need.
The Mag
Right. That's our thing, everybody paints, and they don't want to do it themselves. No, I had a very tough time. Correct. Now, what was the impetus that drew you to a franchise? Like you? Where did you have your own careers prior to this?
Brandon Ottley
Correct? Correct. But the franchise model, pretty much, you know, you're looking at a franchise based on the fact that there's already a system set in place for you, right, so pretty much the groundwork is already covered. I mean, that's what you're paying that franchise fee for sure. As for the, I would say convenience, but that aspect of you having to build something from the ground up.
The Mag
They already have systems in place, right?
Brandon Ottley
Correct. Correct. So you know, we just want to get into something you know, and not have to worry about you know, that ground up the build-up, we just want to get in and just start.
The Mag
Just start right now, where you deciding among several different choices and then eventually landed on Fresh Coat was Fresh Coat. You saw that and you're like, oh, this is it. This makes perfect sense.
Brandon Ottley
Well, the terms of the painting industry, it was just Fresh Coat. Once we kind of made a decision on what type.
The Mag
They became the obvious choice.
Brandon Ottley
But you know, in terms of the franchise, and everyone always gravitates towards the restaurants, the food industry.
The Mag
So, restaurants are usually where people start looking. Well, I mean, with the franchise,
Brandon Ottley
I mean, that's the first thing that normally comes like McDonald's.
The Mag
Right, you know, said, are you looking at restaurants first?
Brandon Ottley
Lately, you know, going around, because I mean, that's the first thing we kind of gravitated to once we wanted to look at the franchise option. So, you know, after seeing, you know, other industries, and, you know, the restaurant industry during a recession, you know, we felt that you know, maybe we want to go a different avenue, right? So then that's when we went ahead and started looking at the services. And the painting just came to mind because like I said before, earlier, I mean, eventually, you're gonna need it done. Right. And it's very time-consuming for people to do it on. Had you ever painted on your own right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely. Definitely. And that's how we learned Hey, you know, this is not something that and
Unique Ottley
So that's what sparked the interest as well as painting and just seeing the ins and outs of what needs to be done and you know, the experience we had an actual painter that can paint our home a lot of payments were inconsistent, they didn't show up. Exactly. And we wanted to just, you know, be able to provide that experience to the community. Well, you know, painters that are on time on a budget, and do painting right.
The Mag
Now is part of what you get when you work with Fresh Coat. Do they teach you how to paint? Like, is there a right way and a wrong way to paint a house or paint a room?
Brandon Ottley
Well, maybe pretty much the basics, because you're going to need to know some type of information for the, you know, service that you're providing. So, in terms of painting, I mean, there is a very, you know, we said, like training or, you know, giving you an overview on things that look for, right, in terms of good quality, because I mean, that's what we want to focus on, right? Like quality,
The Mag
Quality work quality paint, right? You got to use the right materials, correct? Correct.
Brandon Ottley
So, what materials to use, with surfaces are the correct techniques. Another big aspect of the paint industry is a lot of the different, you know, devices and, and tools that they have to actually make the job more efficient. So, there's a good training a good overall aspect, you know, learning about what to look for. Because, hey, in order for us to provide good quality, we need that foundation.
The Mag
Sure. And that's what we're getting. That's what, that's what you get when you choose to be a franchisee, right, right. Yeah, correct. Now, is this a franchise where you have to do the painting? Or? Or do you hire other painters?
Brandon Ottley
No, we go ahead, and we find and hire an actual crew. So we are pretty much you know, start from the ground up, you know, we look for our lead painters, we look for our project managers, our project leads, so we have a crew, and pretty much the crew, are the ones that will be going out.
The Mag
And doing the jobs or the salespeople in the operations people.
Brandon Ottley
Correct. So mainly, we're dealing with operation in the beginning, I mean, you're gonna be doing a little bit of, you know, a little bit of everything, sales operation, going from site to site, but for the most part, you know, we hire, you know, employees, which is a lot different from subcontract, and, you know, we just not gonna pull somebody from Home Depot.
The Mag
What that what people do
Stone Payton
For that stack of business cards, right?
Unique Ottley
We call those tucking the truck.
The Mag
And then, so that's what, that's why a lot of people have a bad taste in the mouth. Because those people tend not to be the most reliable or they sound good. They convince you to spend the money, and then you may not see them again, and you're like, you got a half-done job.
Brandon Ottley
Correct? Correct. And that's what we're here for, you know, we're here to educate the consumer.
Unique Ottley
And provide a consistent experience as well, right?
The Mag
So now, when you hire these people, you then have to train them right to do it the Fresh Coat way?
Brandon Ottley
Correct. Because I mean, when you've been in the industry for a certain amount of time, I mean, you have, you know, certain, you know, ways that you know, right, your standards, right, you know, you're kind of stuck in certain habits. So, I mean, when, when we bring them aboard, we let them know what we expect because we don't want to have anyone on board that stuck in their ways, right? Because we want to provide the quality of service, where we will be your number one pain for years to come, right. So, you know, we do have a system set up to pretty much trained the staff and let them know, hey, listen, we have a quality standard that we abide by. And, you know, we want everyone to go ahead and pretty much follow that standard. So, we could provide that service.
Unique Ottley
And we also do refresher training and also like best practices as well, is to continue to improve the payments that we do have.
The Mag
Now is that the biggest challenge is choosing the right employees because they are representing your brand, because you're not there. They're there in the house.
Brandon Ottley
Correct? Correct? Correct. I mean, with any industry right now, I mean, the hardest thing is finding, you know, good workers, I mean, there's, there's quantity, the quantity is easy to come by, but the quality is the challenge. So pretty much you know, we have a system set up to where hey, we'll put, you know, a painter, or we'll put an employee on probationary status, and we'll view, you know, their work, you know, we'll put them on smaller projects, and see how they operate.
And pretty much we go through an interview process. So, I mean, a lot of people will look and say, wow, you know, you're interviewing painters, but that's a service that we want. We want to make sure that the people that we have on staff and are doing quality work. And that's one of the things that we do we put people on a system so we can go ahead and observe their quality because it's very hard to find good quality work. So that's something that we pride ourselves on.
The Mag
Now. Do you have any advice for the person out there that is hiring their first-person any tips like how to pick the right person because that seems critical? If you get this wrong, they can screw up the whole job and your reputation?
Brandon Ottley
Correct? Correct.
Unique Ottley
I would say trust your gut. You know, watch for red flags look for inconsistent.
The Mag
What's a red flag? When you see it, you're like, if they're late, if they’re late for the interview, right?
Unique Ottley
Right, they will be late for the interview.
The Mag
Route right there.
Unique Ottley
If they show interest, that's very important as well, because you can show up, but you may not be 100% dedicated like enthusiasts, right, though, would you say what else Brandon?
Brandon Ottley
I mean, just observe, you know, people's demeanor. I mean, you could tell a lot from the first impression. So, just the whole demeanor, you know, I mean, if they see that they, you know, they excited about the opportunity, you know, once we present, you know, what we do offer, then, you know, just observe the person's demeanor, and pretty much you could pick up a lot, you know before you actually haven't go and come aboard and work on larger, bigger projects.
The Mag
So, and then, what I'm hearing you say, is to start small, like in my little, where they're not, they're not in front of your biggest client, right? Give them a little project, let's see how they do. Yep, make sure they're on time. They're respectful, they're smiling, happy, and you got a happy client, it's easier to trust them. The second time is all about observation. Right? Correct. So, you spend a lot of your time doing that, like kind of observing and then
Brandon Ottley
correct. I mean, you know, the beginning like I said, before, you know, you're doing a lot of the groundwork yourself in the beginning, but then once you go ahead and you find that one individual that you can trust, right, then you could go ahead and promote now you can now kind of scale a little bit, exactly, then have them take on a lot of responsibilities that you were doing yourself. So, once you find that good quality painter, this a person that you can trust, then you go ahead and promote them. And then that's why we want people here because this is the opportunity for growth, right? So once you provide someone with the opportunity to grow, they're going to perform for you because they see that, hey, you respect them, you value them, and they can grow with the company.
The Mag
Now, what's your favorite part about being part of this business?
Brandon Ottley
Oh, the favorite part is probably just dealing with what the clients you know, because, you know, I'm always observing you know, so once we in the field you know, we're constantly speaking, talking and how you meet some interesting people out there so I mean, that's one of the things that I do enjoy you know, just definitely just talking to people you know, I mean, hey, you know, small talk a, you know, an about the family Kids Children, you know, I mean it's not always about painting and I mean, we all provided service, right? It's human beings talking to human beings, right? Correct. We just don't want it to be a mechanical experience, we want it to be an actual communication type of experience, something that's lacking in today's society just communicated. So that's the one thing that I enjoy just to communication with people.
The Mag
Now how do you kind of divide and conquer the work of the day like Brandon Do you specialize in one part of the business and then Unique you do another part or do you just kind of join forces?
Unique Ottley
We are kind of we kind of split it up so I'm more on the admin side operations he's more in the field in working with the team on a project specifically and
The Mag
now, what's it like working together this closely? Because it's 24/7 right? It's not like when you had separate jobs you know, you would do your thing you would do, and you get together at night.
Unique Ottley
Oh, well we were married so we're a team regardless, so this is just another segment that we get to work together with, and I think we work well.
The Mag
Now any advice for married couples out there doing a franchise is that is that a fun thing. Is it challenging? What are some of the challenges in this?
Brandon Ottley
I mean, it helps bring you closer, but it also brings you further apart depending on what industry you're in. So, I mean one of the good things about this is that hey, you know I mean there is some downtime you know so I mean it's time for you to go ahead and kind of get together and you know brainstorm, right? You know so it's not a constant every day you know all night you know type operation so I mean there's pretty much areas when we have downtime where we could go ahead and discuss and brainstorm and come up you know, with new ideas so right so I mean, that's one of the good things about it, you know, if you have some downtime, I mean, take advantage of it because then that way you can go ahead and communicate with one another and be able to come up with new ideas.
The Mag
Now the franchise is fresh cut based here in Atlanta, or they're based in another part of the country.
Unique Ottley
They are based in Cincinnati.
The Mag
In Cincinnati, Ohio. And then are they easy to work with? Are you enjoying that relationship? Like if you have a problem can you call them you get?
Unique Ottley
Yeah, I feel like they set you up to succeed you get a business coach. So weekly, you have weekly coaches with weekly meetings with your business coach and kind of look for any opportunities or you know, try to provide you just some information that currently will may be going on in the industry. All the information that you get is consistent across all parties, whether that those are other franchise owners other aren't like owners of the franchise?
The Mag
Were there other Fresh Coat people here in the metro Atlanta area? Are you the only game in town when it comes to pressure?
Brandon Ottley
Correct? Correct. In the metro Atlanta area, we have about four of franchisees. So, you know, we have one of you for we have one coming out for Reto. Another one is in Marietta. So, where we, we are the pretty much the first ones in the actual city of Atlanta. So pretty much anything within the actual city, you know, we cover so as a franchise as a whole is number, there's a number of different locations, you know, from California, all the way up to, you know, upstate New York.
The Mag
So, did you call them before you decide to do that you call some of the franchisees to say, what's it like?
Brandon Ottley
Correct? Correct, that's one of the good things about making the decision is that they pretty much align you with other franchisees that you can go ahead and speak with. So we were able to speak with one, you know, down in Texas, you know, kind of Acts, you know, how her about her operations? You know, how did she get into what industry she came from? So then that way you can make an informed decision? Or is this the route that you want to? You don't want to go?
The Mag
Now, since you've been doing this how important is it to really kind of immerse yourself in the community? Like you're based in South Fulton, right? That's where you're where you live, I guess, is that something where you have to get involved with the chamber and the churches and the, you know, the school is just so that you get your name out?
Brandon Ottley
Correct, Correct, you know, the Chamber of Commerce, you know, do have one down and cell phone, that's a good source, a good outlet, you know, especially with the churches, you know, community work is a big name, because, you know, one of our main aspects is just educating the consumer. Now, there's a lot of people, you know, we have a lot of millennials now that own homes, right. So, you know, one of the things that we want to get out, you know, to the consumer to the client is, you know, just educate them about, you know, things that you want to do when you're looking for a contractor or a company to hire to do a job for you. So, the community aspect is a big, big, big, you know, thing that we hop on.
Unique Ottley
And I did want to say, we currently have a community service project that we are doing for people in our community. So, there is a link on our website. Um, if they would like to apply for a free painting service if they qualify,
The Mag
Wow, you do that as just been serving the community. That's very generous.
Unique Ottley
We call it painting forward or Fresh Coat Cares. Yes.
The Mag
Wow. And then so then, they just apply, and then what they have to write says why they're worthy of this, and then you choose somebody to be, and you pay Exactly, yes. Wow. Um, that can be like a church or?
Unique Ottley
Church, family, single mother business.
The Mag
How do you paint, that must be so hard? Whoever had whoever qualify the most, makes you cry? Yes.
Unique Ottley
We need someone who makes us cry.
The Mag
Wow. Cuz there's probably a lot of need. Right? Right.
Brandon Ottley
Correct. Correct. Correct. Correct. So that's a big aspect that we, you know, want to be a community name. And I said before when it comes to the service industry, contract, and industry, painting industry, hey, we want to make a good impression and have a good reputation. Because we just want to be known and seen and, you know, in the community, so that's a big thing.
Stone Payton
If you're just now joining us, you're listening to franchise marketing radio, our guest today, or Unique and Brandon Ottley, with Fresh Coat painters of South Fulton. So, a couple of questions you touched on just a moment ago, educating people in the community. And I got to thinking, boy, I'm one of those people that need to be educated. I don't have the first clue about the right questions to even ask a prospective person who I might want to engage to paint, do drywall any of those things. Are there some go-to questions or things I should look for? Just so I can have a reasonably competent conversation with someone I'm thinking about hiring?
Brandon Ottley
Correct? Correct. One of the first question questions you should always ask them, I mean, just dealing with any contractor is if you know, are you insured, because I mean, a lot of situations where someone will come into a property worker, contractors, subcontractors, and, hey, it happens a mistake, the accident, someone may get hurt, something may get damaged. One of the big things is that a lot of people are not insured. They're not bonded, or they may not have workers comp.
Stone Payton
Alright, so what are the implications of that somebody gets hurt out trying to work on staining my deck, which it does need to be stained by the way they get hurt. That could get could come back on me, right?
Brandon Ottley
Correct that as a homeowner, if that individual company you're contracted doesn't have workers compensation, whether or not insured that person, what I worked at, I got hurt, they can come back and sue you. You may have a lawsuit on your hands where This person got injured and now, they're suing you for their medical bills and the medical payments so a lot of contractors a lot of hidden a lot of companies don't provide that aspect.
Stone Payton
Chuck in the truck rings my doorbell says Hey, I'll stay in your deck for half of what everybody else was at that's a red flag Yes, that's definitely Chuck shows me your insurance thing right okay good What's another question or something to look for?
Unique Ottley
I would ask for a portfolio just so you can get us a feel for their quality of work and also ask for references.
Brandon Ottley
another aspect is a warranty I mean with the deck stain and you know that's one thing you know your deck is in the elements so now is one time you know to what is it you know cool raining so as I'm like I said deck stain today and you have you know, bad storm come You know, come the next day or the next week if it wasn't done properly, or there wasn't enough time for the stain the settlement cure because weather is unpredictable sometimes it may be a little bit difficult for you to get in touch with that previous contract you know, if they didn't provide a warranty for you, so you may give them a call and hey, guess what, once you pay them, they're gone. You're not going to get in contact with them anymore because they don't provide a warranty when they work. So that's another aspect you know, finding out pay do you provide a warranty when you work because you know things do happen?
The Mag
Now how do you get your business? Is it word of mouth? Does that franchisor help you get the business, or do you have to be super active on social media and be involved in the community? Like how do jobs come your way?
Brandon Ottley
Correct? Correct when it comes to business in the contracting industry word of mouth is the first thing that that that pretty much gravitates a lot of business towards yourself is referrals but you know when you're new in the industry of course you know you may not be you know provided out but Tony because I mean you know so I don't know who you are sure so of course going back to you know the franchise and the brand Google is a real big aspect.
The Mag
Right, so people look up painters.
Brandon Ottley
Correct, correct so if you have that brand and that following behind you especially you know the brand is known you go on Google someone does a Google search Hey, they're gonna pick you over the company.
The Mag
You've gotten calls people just find you on the internet right, correct, correct, that's a good feeling, right?
Brandon Ottley
Family yeah families and Nov aspect hey you know hey they got a new painting business maybe we need something done so you know.
The Mag
Where you are you don't sound like you're from here that's not a southern accent now had to do you have a lot of families here though?
Brandon Ottley
Correct? Correct. We have a lot of family you know that's you know move down here so Africa support you know support system no terms of family and relatives that you know.
The Mag
And then you do a good job for them, and they tell their friends.
Brandon Ottley
correct? Correct you know sort of referrals the internet Google searches that's a big aspect and then once you get you to know you're following a people see that they got some skin in the game and there's some momentum then there goes the referrals and right that's why it's so crucial to have that good foundation in the beginning.
The Mag
So now how to how do you expand and how do you grow Is it something you open up a second franchise or you get if you get a good crew, you say okay, you now do this, and then we're gonna go to Megan or we'll take over the sound like how do you expand beyond what you got?
Brandon Ottley
Correct so they have territories so of course, you know what a franchise you know you're always assigned
The Mag
You know right to you. Is your territory South Fulton or is that the metro?
Brandon Ottley
So be Southwest Atlanta So pretty much right now you know since you know with the sole you know franchise within the actual city of Atlanta we pretty much cover everything for Southwest Atlanta what we over the East Atlanta may go down as far south as Hampton you know, Jonesborough Riverdale, so I mean, pretty much we cover from Southwest all over the East Atlanta you know, those neighborhoods within the that Atlanta, you know, the area we pretty much covered so it works about territories, but you know, once you go ahead and get a solid, you know, foot in and go fill for certain areas or a neighborhood that of course, you know, you can go ahead and start marketing and branding within.
The Mag
So, like once you start doing work in one place, then you put signs up and hey, we're painting here and then you can offer deals to other people. Correct, correct already sent the crew there.
Brandon Ottley
Correct? Correct. Correct. You know, if it's, if it's something that's near your territory, right, pretty much you know, you're able to cover it. So, you know, by us being you know, within this Atlanta, you know, National City, you know, it gives us a pretty good.
The Mag
There's a lot of definitely yeah, do you do more residential or commercial?
Brandon Ottley
Definitely more residential. You know, the commercial contracts, you know, they're pretty good. But um you know of course you know within the city of Atlanta you know you have a lot of homes.
The Mag
Right, you know but that's our bread and butter is the houses condos house right, correct?
Brandon Ottley
Correct and we have so many people moving down here now the population is growing every day there's a new house being built everywhere you know the residentials you know, the realtors, the property manager.
The Mag
He got to know more realtors because when they are about to sell the house I gotta paint it right get ready for sale.
Brandon Ottley
Right those relationships are very vital correct, correct.
The Mag
So how do you do like outreach to real estate agents that's one of the more real estate agents you know the better, right?
Brandon Ottley
Right correct so pretty much you know we you know of course we purchased a home in the past so the first person that we pretty much went you know the contact who was a realtor was a real individual so I mean pretty much you know once we go from there, we contacted them hey they could put us in touch with you know other avenues. No, to where we could find a contact to speak with other realtors, so I mean our first realtor you know that we that came to our mind was you know the one that helped us you know, the buyer bought the buyer.
The Mag
How did they get you to get business from that person?
Brandon Ottley
Oh, is for pretty much referrals.
The Mag
They refer referrals, right?
Brandon Ottley
You know, because mean sometimes at that moment they may not be dealing with the client or they may not have a particular IP that they need to be painted but they always know other individuals that hey, I worked with them before they may need some of your services.
Unique Ottley
And we also joined a BNI yeah yes. Um so it has different professionals and different industries and you know we’re able to provide leads to them and they provide leads to us as well.
The Mag
Now, you mentioned, Stone mentioned like decks do you do that? Is that part of it? Or you just say you do decks? Say you like pressure wash, clean it, and then?
Brandon Ottley
Grow the pressure washing. Staining.
The Mag
Right on the top part of the services that you, correct? Correct.
Brandon Ottley
This is more than just the interior, right? exterior painted, you know, because you know, when it comes to painting, you know, people just think of just okay slapping paint on the walls but right I mean, there's a whole another aspect to it, you know, there's drywall sheetrock, right? There's the popcorn ceiling, there's, there's lead abatement. So, I mean, those are services that we do provide.
The Mag
Now what about like, do you do like flooring or just painting? Like if somebody says, like, they have a hardwood floor and they want to refinish? Do you do that?
Brandon Ottley
Floor and we have people that we work with that we can go ahead and refer to so that's a good thing about the service industry is that we have partners that hey, we don't cover that particular aspect of the project, we can refer you to a carpenter, we will refer you to a flooring specialist.
The Mag
Because that's you're serving the home. So, you want to know who's best in class and all these different areas. So, you all refer to each other, right?
Brandon Ottley
Great, we work with people before and we know their quality of work. So, if you need something done a particular, we can move for you steer you down the right path.
The Mag
Now if somebody wanted to get ahold of you to learn more, is there a website just for your location, or do they have to go to the fresh coat painters on the main website?
Brandon Ottley
Correct, we do have a website pretty much specific to our location. So be freshcoatpainters.com/south-fulton. And pretty much we also have a Facebook page, we have a Google page. So, once you type that Fresh Coat Painters of South Fulton, then all that stuff comes out our Google profile will come up, and also on Facebook, you do search Fresh Coat Painters of South Fulton and you have our page for a specific location up here.
The Mag
And then they can just call you to ask you questions, there's no charge for that right? Or do is there a charge for you to come out and just kind of look at the thing?
Brandon Ottley
All the quotes are free. So, we pretty much provide free quotes so if you need a free quote, there's no charge to the customer right, we'll come out sit down with you 30, 40 minutes, discuss about your project and you can access any kind of questions that you want, and we'll be there to answer them for you.
The Mag
And then how quickly if I said okay, can you do my deck how long does it take for you to kind of order the books and then?
Brandon Ottley
Depends on the time of the year you know, normally around this time the one at a time is about a one to two-week turnaround but you know once you start approach in the spring, it's best too early.
The Mag
Alright, one more time the website.
Brandon Ottley
It will be freshcoatpainters.com/south-fulton.
The Mag
All right. Well, thank you both so much for sharing your story today.Our online small business opportunities magazine is intended for you to start up and be a success in business. The Mag Business RadioX ® is loaded with helpful business articles and podcasts, browse it for free.
Image source: https://www.freshcoatpainters.com/south-fulton/about-us/meet-the-team/
