Painter and decorator jobs for the self-employed – how to get started

Painters and decorators are always in demand across the UK. And if you’re knowledgeable about DIY and decoration, as well as self-disciplined and a good communicator, it could be a great career option for you.

But it’s about more than just grabbing a paintbrush, working as a self-employed painter and decorator requires a range of skills, so keep reading to learn how to start a painting and decorating business – and how to find jobs.

What is the self-employed painter and decorator hourly rate?

Before you start your painting and decorating business, you’re probably wondering what the self-employed painter and decorator day rate is. So, how much does a painter and decorator charge a day or an hour?

According to Checkatrade, the average hourly rate for a self-employed painter and decorator is £32. This will of course differ depending on your experience, reputation, and location.

If you take on a longer job, you might instead choose to charge a day rate. Checkatrade puts the average UK day rate for painters and decorators at £325. This will again depend on a variety of factors – including the work you’re completing.

How to become a painter and decorator – in 5 steps

Ready to take the leap and become a self-employed painter and decorator? Read the steps below to get started.

1. The skills required to be a painter and decorator

Painters and decorators need to be extremely practical and happy working with their hands – whether indoors or outdoors. Increasingly, painters and decorators use computer software or digital colour charts to complete tasks like finding the correct paint mix, so you’ll benefit from basic computer skills. You’ll also need some maths in order to work out how much of each material you need.

As a self-employed worker, you’ll be taking on many roles in your business – not just the painting and decorating. This means you’ll also benefit from:

• good communication skills to work with clients – understanding their needs and managing their expectations
• strong financial skills to create quotes, track invoices, and manage your finances
• good problem solving skills to resolve issues such as unexpected repairs or material shortages

2. Get the right painting and decorating equipment

If you’re starting out as a self-employed painter and decorator, you’ll need to provide your own equipment. This might include:

• paintbrushes in a variety of sizes
• paint rollers and trays
• materials for cleaning brushes and rollers
• dust sheets
• sandpaper
• spirit levels
• stanley knives
• stepladders

Bear in mind that this is an incomplete list and that the actual equipment you’ll need may vary from job to job.

3. Get the legal side sorted

If you’re starting a painting and decorating business, there’s a range of legal tasks that you need to get sorted straight away. It’s likely that you’ll operate as a sole trader, but you might alternatively choose to set up a limited company for your work.

You’ll also need to make sure that you’re registered as self-employed with HMRC. You’ll have to complete an annual Self Assessment tax return, and pay any tax due by the relevant deadlines.

We’ve also compiled a full guide to going self-employed in the UK, which contains lots of useful information on getting started.

4. Get painter and decorator insurance

Business insurance is vital for self-employed painters and decorators. Remember that as you’re your own boss, you’ll also be liable for any mistakes or accidents. The consequences of even a small mistake can be financially devastating, so it’s important that you’re properly protected.

As a self-employed painter and decorator, your core cover is likely to be public liability insurance. This protects you against claims arising from injury or loss suffered by someone in the course of your work.

If you employ anyone, you’re legally obliged to take out employers’ liability insurance. You might also consider business equipment insurance or tools insurance to protect the items you need to do your work. And if you’re driving from job to job in your own work vehicle, it’s likely you’ll need business van insurance too.

Simply Business offers tailored painter and decorator insurance. This means you can combine all the covers you need into a single policy, with a single premium and renewal date.

5. Find clients for your painter and decorator jobs

Now that you’re all set up as a self-employed painter and decorator, you’ll need to find some clients.

It’s often best to start local – try advertising in local newspapers or magazines, or placing ads in shops. On top of that, you should make sure that you have at least a basic web presence showcasing your work. There are plenty of helpful tools to help you build a business website.

Once you’ve got your website up and running, you might also choose to try some other online techniques. You can look into local SEO companies that specialise in helping small businesses, or build out a marketing plan so you’re making strategic marketing decisions.

Related reading: 23 ways to advertise your business for free

What does a painter and decorator do?

But is painting and decorating the right business for you? Painters and decorators can work on a variety of different projects – whether domestic, commercial, or industrial. Some of your key tasks are likely to include:

• measuring areas and determining how much of each material is required
• stripping old surfaces
• filling or repairing surfaces, for example to fix cracks
• priming surfaces or covering them with undercoat
• mixing paint
• applying paint or other materials, depending on the nature of the job
• filling out invoices for clients and paying suppliers

In terms of your working schedule, painters and decorators normally work 35 to 40 hour weeks in normal working patterns. However, you may be required to work overtime or during weekends if a project demands it.

What qualifications do you need to be a painter and decorator?

There’s no set route into painting and decorating, and you don’t need a qualification. Many painters and decorators start out by working as an apprentice.

However, if you’re working on building sites, you should remember that you’ll need a Construction Skills Certificate Scheme card.

You can also look into additional training and qualifications if you want to specialise in certain areas or expand your business. These could include courses on interior design and colour theory, or even managerial training if you end up taking on staff.

Are you getting started as a self-employed painter and decorator? Are you already up and running? Let us know in the comments.

More guides for the self-employed

• A guide to going self-employed in the UK
• The self-employeed guide to Self Assessment tax returns
• How to keep tools safe in a van
• What does business insurance cover?
• How to start a business

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