PCA Articles

Growing a painting business to $2M is no small feat. Many owners rely on sheer determination, grit, and countless hours of hard work to hit this milestone. But when it comes to scaling beyond $2M, the same approach that got you here will no longer work. If you’re aiming for $5M+ in revenue, it’s time to shift from owner-driven growth to team-driven growth.

Continuing to operate in the same way will only result in more stress, more chaos, and inefficient processes that will hold you back. In fact, the more you grow, the more difficult it becomes to manage every detail yourself. The key to unlocking the next level of growth lies in simplifying processes, automating repetitive tasks, and centralizing data to empower your team to drive the business forward.

As Sean Kennedy, owner of Kennedy Painting, put it:

“I was the hub of everything… but it created conflicting messages, and roadblocks across departments. I felt like a switchboard operator.”

The Pitfalls of Owner-Driven Growth

Relying on owner-driven growth has its limitations, particularly when you’re looking to expand. While it may have worked to get you to $2M, it won’t be sustainable for the long haul.

One of the biggest pitfalls of this approach is the bottleneck in decision-making. When the owner becomes the go-to person for every problem, the business becomes dependent on one individual, leading to slower decisions and missed opportunities. Furthermore, this often leads to inefficient processes, as owners tend to implement quick fixes rather than scalable solutions. Without standardized systems in place, success hinges on the owner’s involvement in every detail.

This model becomes unsustainable as the business grows. The owner ends up juggling every role, leading to burnout and operational inefficiencies that can hinder growth.

As Sean Kennedy shared:

“Departments were doing their little workarounds… but it was putting roadblocks up in other departments. Information wasn’t flowing well, and it just wasn’t sustainable.”

Why Team-Driven Growth is the Key to Scaling

To scale effectively, painting businesses need to transition to team-driven growth. This shift allows the owner to step back from the day-to-day and empowers the team to take the reins. But how do you make this transition?

1. Empowering the Team with Systems: A scalable operating system allows the owner to implement systems that enable the team to execute tasks efficiently without constant oversight.
2. Automation to Eliminate Bottlenecks: Automating tasks like scheduling, data entry, and reporting frees up time and ensures consistent results, removing bottlenecks caused by the owner.
3. Centralized Data for Real-Time Insights: With accurate, up-to-date information readily available, the team can make decisions independently, reducing the need for constant owner intervention.
4. Incentive Programs: A well-organized operating system allows owners to set up incentive programs that align with company goals, motivating employees to take action and drive the business forward.

As Sean Kennedy noted:

“Everybody I have in my company is good at what they do, but we don’t have anyone whose specialty is technology and automation. That’s what we needed.”

The Benefits of a Scalable Operating System for Team-Driven Growth

A scalable operating system not only enables team-driven growth but also brings about a host of additional benefits that contribute to the overall health of the business.

• Simplified Processes: By streamlining workflows, the operating system reduces the burden of administrative tasks, allowing your team to focus on high-value activities that drive growth.
• Automation of Repetitive Tasks: Automation reduces the risk of errors and saves time. Tasks like data entry, scheduling, and reporting can be automated, ensuring consistent and accurate results across departments.
• Real-Time Reporting for Better Decisions: With centralized data, the entire team has access to the same information, allowing them to make informed decisions that benefit the company.
• Effective Incentive Programs: Accurate data enables owners to set clear goals and reward their teams based on performance, fostering motivation and a culture of accountability.

Sean Kennedy summed it up well:

“Now that the data is accurate, we can focus on doing what matters — serving the customer and driving revenue. Everything is set up for the team to succeed.”

With this kind of system in place, you can achieve more revenue with less stress — a stark contrast to the chaos and headaches that come with an owner-driven model.

Real-Life Success: Kennedy Painting’s Transition to Team-Driven Growth

Sean Kennedy’s story is a perfect example of the power of a scalable operating system. Before implementing one, Kennedy Painting struggled with fragmented processes and conflicting data. Sean found himself holding everything together, but as the business grew, this approach became unsustainable.

After making the leap to a scalable system, the business eliminated redundant tasks, and Sean shifted from driving growth himself to empowering his team with automation and real-time insights. The result? A more streamlined operation, less stress, and the ability to focus on serving customers and growing the business.

“It was a huge leap of faith,” Sean said, “but we’re seeing the benefits. Everyone has benefited from it… now we’re on track to double in size with fewer headaches.”

The Consequences of Not Shifting to Team-Driven Growth

The consequences of not making this shift can be severe:

• Increased Stress: As the business grows, the owner-driven model leads to burnout, as the workload becomes unmanageable.
• Operational Inefficiencies: Without automation and simplified processes, mistakes multiply, slowing down progress and hindering growth.
• Stunted Growth: Operational chaos will eventually cap your revenue potential and prevent the business from reaching its full potential.

As Sean Kennedy wisely observed:

“We could have kept going, but the pain of not changing and hiring an expert outweighed the struggle of trying to do it ourselves.”

The Path Forward: How a Scalable Operating System Can Help You Grow

If you’re serious about growing your painting business from $2M to $5M and beyond, the time to implement a scalable operating system is now. With streamlined processes, automation, and real-time insights, your company can achieve significant growth without doubling your stress levels.

The choice is clear: more revenue with less stress, or more revenue with 2-3x the headaches?

As Sean Kennedy puts it:

“We’ll look back on this in five years when we’re twice the size and say, ‘It was the right time to make the change.’”

Ready to Take Action?

Ready to scale your painting business? Book a discovery call with Boolean Automation today to learn how you can make the shift to a scalable, team-driven model. Now is the time to set your business up for long-term growth with fewer headaches and more efficiency.