The CertaPro Painters franchise is a painting and decorating business with defined residential territory rights and conditional commercial-service rights. For a prospective owner, its operating requirements, staffing model and local costs matter as much as brand recognition. This overview uses the March 23, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document issued by Certa ProPainters, Ltd.
Business model and history
Item 1 states that CertaPro was incorporated in December 1991 and has offered painting and decorating franchises in the United States since fall 1992. Its parent is FS Brands, Inc. The franchise operates year-round, with residential services defined in the agreement.
Commercial work is not an unrestricted entitlement. Qualified franchisees must meet additional conditions, including the applicable fee, commercial-services addendum and training. Review the CertaPro Painters franchise profile alongside the proposed agreement to understand the specific opportunity.
Initial investment: two staffing models
Item 7 separates the estimated startup investment into two models:
- Subcontractor painter model: $171,000 to $246,000.
- Employee painter model: $203,250 to $320,500.
Both tables include a $65,000 initial franchise fee. The estimates also cover categories such as marketing, the commercial-services fee, equipment, vehicles, licensing, technology, training travel, insurance, office costs and additional operating funds. The staffing approach affects several categories, so a single rounded range conceals important differences.
The disclosure explains that personal living expenses needed to support the owner’s lifestyle are separate from the investment chart. Local licensing, wages, insurance, lease terms and the time needed to establish operations can change the amount of cash required. Item 10 states that CertaPro does not offer financing or guarantee franchisees’ obligations.
Office and management requirements
This should not be presented as a permanently home-based franchise. Item 7 requires office space outside the home, within the territory, within three months of beginning operations. Virtual offices, shared workspaces and co-working spaces do not satisfy that requirement.
Item 15 requires the business to be operated by a person who has completed the initial and recurring training and Forum Program, and who devotes full time and effort to the business. Plan who will oversee sales, estimating, scheduling, crews and customer follow-up before committing to a territory.
Training and ongoing support
Item 11 describes Franchise Foundations 1 and 2, using virtual instruction, live classroom training and independent coursework. Topics include estimating, marketing, financial planning, recruiting, production management, sales and CertaOne software. Confirm the current schedule, required participants and travel costs with the franchisor.
The written support provisions include access to an operations manual, approved supplier information, an answering service, advertising materials and operational advice as the franchisor considers reasonably required. Training and systems can support operations, but they do not guarantee that an owner will attract customers or earn a profit.
Residential territory rights differ from commercial rights
Item 12 provides an exclusive territory for the defined residential painting and decorating services. Its boundaries are set before signing and included in the agreement. Residential services may not be offered outside that territory.
Commercial services do not have the same exclusivity. Other authorized franchisees may offer commercial work in the territory, and national accounts and other programs have separate rules. Obtain a clear explanation of these rights and exceptions for the territory being considered.
What the disclosed sales figures mean
Item 19 reports 2025 average gross sales of $2,102,015 and median gross sales of $1,294,333 for 291 franchisees operating for the full year. Of those franchisees, 93, or 32.0%, met or exceeded the average. Some franchisees owned more than one territory, so these are not uniformly single-location results.
The figures were reported by franchisees and were not audited or independently verified by CertaPro. They include qualifying commercial operations. Gross sales represent revenue, not owner earnings, and do not deduct the expenses of running the business. These historical results do not predict the performance of a new franchise.
Questions to resolve before investing
- Which staffing model fits local requirements and the available workforce?
- What office, vehicle, insurance and licensing costs apply in the proposed territory?
- Which commercial rights and additional training requirements will be included?
- How do current and former franchisees describe their opening experience, workload and operating costs?
Use our guide to researching franchises for sale to organize comparisons. Request the current applicable FDD and agreements, review the full Item 19 definitions and limitations, and evaluate the proposal with qualified financial and legal advisers.
Source: Certa ProPainters, Ltd. FDD issued March 23, 2026, Items 1, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 19. Figures and obligations above describe that disclosure, not a personalized investment or earnings estimate.