After selling 12 franchises in just six months, the painting concept is looking to award 30 to 40 more over the next year.
Founded in 2011, That 1 Painter is a painting franchise based in Texas that offers over 18 painting services to the communities of Austin, San Marcos, Tyler, Longview, Frisco and Plano, with several other locations in the works. Since launching its franchise concept in June 2021, That 1 Painter has already sold a whopping 17 franchises and 27 territories, and launched three corporate locations, teaming up with franchise law firm Spadea Lignana to put together the FDD and encourage sustainable growth. Now, the brand is looking to continue that momentum with plans to award 30 to 40 more units over the next year.
“The idea of franchising came up after I had successfully grown the company on my own for several years,” said That 1 Painter owner Steven Montgomery. “In 2018, I had a change of focus, and I decided that instead of being self-employed, I wanted to grow something I could be really proud of. I organized all the procedures and doubled my business over the next two years. That is when I really started to dig into franchising and fell in love with the idea of giving other entrepreneurs the chance to partner with me and leverage the lessons I’ve learned over the past decade. I knew that would be a lot more rewarding for me.”
That 1 Painter provides 18 separate services, allowing owners to diversify their revenue streams and tap into the increased demand for home services following the pandemic. The brand’s streamlined operations have been carefully calibrated and proven to ensure a smooth onboarding process and maximize franchisees’ bottom lines. With an extensive training program that involves personal coaching and seamless scheduling systems, Montgomery says franchisees have enough support to hit the ground running before their business even launches.
Additionally, Montgomery says That 1 Painter uses its resources and talents to offer free painting to those in need through their Paint It Forward program, and extends its charitable outreach to refugees in Africa.
“Our brand marketing and our numbers are very strong, and we are also operating in a great niche,” said Montgomery. “But I think the primary reason franchisees are signing on with us is because of our culture of giving back. We participate in a lot of charitable programs and paint homes for free in Austin for families in need. I also do a lot of mission work in Africa. A lot of people who sign on have done so simply because they love that culture.”
Marketing Director Roxan DeGennaro says incoming franchisees also recognize the solid infrastructure Montgomery has put into place. “He really leverages the lessons he’s learned to help other people open and operate and be successful as fast as possible,” she said. “It is really strategic and systematic, with no room for failure. Also, franchisees can see that Steven has walked a mile in their shoes.”
“I spoke with three law firms when we were getting started, and Spadea Lignana stood out right away with a great system in place that is very technologically advanced,” said Montgomery. “They help you build the FDDs and map different registration states. They also make introductions for networking. I could tell their system would be the easiest for me to manage, and as someone who was new to franchising, it was the least intimidating way to go through the FDD. They truly answered all my questions.”
Now, as the brand targets prospective franchisees across the nation, Montgomery says the team will continue to work closely with Spadea to ensure they are well-positioned for success in each new market they enter.
