How to Get More Painting Jobs: Seven Moves and Where the Work Is
To get more painting jobs, work with builders that build again and reach them while the painting package is still open: from about 5% of the way through the build to about 35%, with the last realistic approach at about 55%. On October 9, 2026, 51,955 painting projects were in that window across 25 markets. That is the job Builtie automates: permit-sourced projects timed to the trade's award window, the builder behind each one, and outreach that runs every day.
The same four steps, whether the buyer is a builder, a designer, an owner or a company you want to acquire.
The job math
Across the markets Builtie covers, 41% of open painting projects are new buildings and 59% are renovations or alterations, and a job counts only if it is worth at least $3,000 of painting work. New buildings come from builders who build again; renovations come from owners and renovators, one at a time.
Seven ways to get more painting jobs
- Go after builders, not single jobs: one builder means a stream of permits.
- Call inside the window: from about 5% of the way through the build to about 35%, with the last realistic approach at about 55%.
- Lead with unit pricing across a project, crew size for the finishing weeks and references on similar work.
- Keep a short list of builders active in your area and watch their new permits.
- Follow up when the build moves, not on a timer.
- Ask every builder you finish for for their next project before you leave site.
- Automate the finding and the first messages, and spend the time saved on quotes and site visits.
Where the jobs are
| Market | State or province | Projects in the award window |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | New York | 24,335 |
| Austin | Texas | 8,661 |
| Miami-Dade | Florida | 4,817 |
| Los Angeles | California | 2,862 |
| Calgary | Alberta | 2,555 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | 1,671 |
| Toronto | Ontario | 1,436 |
| Chicago | Illinois | 1,364 |
More for painting contractors: sales automation, finding clients, finding projects, new construction projects.
Plans
Builtie's Starter plan is $79 per seat per month (CAD) for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds the LinkedIn and email outreach you run yourself. Opening a project spends one credit, and the decision makers, emails, phones and AI call script inside it are included. Your monthly credits reset at each renewal, and extra credit packs are valid for 30 days. The free trial runs 7 days with 10 projects. Custom, where Builtie's team runs the outreach for you, starts from CAD $1,500 a month on top of a Growth seat.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get more painting jobs?
Reach the builders with projects in the painting award window, lead with unit pricing across a project, crew size for the finishing weeks and references on similar work, and follow up as each build moves. Builders that build again give you a stream of jobs from one relationship.
How do I get painting jobs from builders and general contractors?
The builder or general contractor usually chooses the painter well before the finishing stage, often near the start of the build, from painters it has used before.
Can I automate finding painting jobs?
Yes. Builtie finds the projects from permits, stages them, attaches the decision maker and sends LinkedIn and email outreach; it saves about 2 hours of prospecting a day.
What does Builtie cost?
Starter is $79 per seat per month for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds LinkedIn and email outreach. There is a 7-day free trial with 10 projects.