From paint job to maintenance service

How to set up work in advance and secure a steady flow of income with maintenance deals.

Many companies – big and small – are shifting towards a more flexible business model of providing their offerings as a service instead of independent products or transactions. What does this mean for painting contractors? Tikkurila collected ideas and inspiration for rethinking, future-proofing and growing your business in the new decade.

Painting & maintenance as a service

You submit a tender response, get the project, do the work, get paid and leave. You typically offer a one-off paint job. After the job is done, you might never see that client again. Unless you redesign what you offer.

Imagine providing a well-maintained, safe, clean and care-free roof, facade or interior surface with no need for expensive repairs, as you visit or contact your client every 2–5 years to make sure everything is up to standards. Now you’re offering an ongoing professional maintenance service that extends the scope of your business.

For clients, one clear benefit of the Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) model is transforming large investments into smaller operating expenses, as the cost of the product is spread throughout its life cycle. On the contractor’s side, PaaS offers a steady and predictable flow of revenue, which is more sustainable from a business point of view: instead of continuously seeking and bidding for new projects, at least part – if not most – of your income could come from fixed maintenance deals.

Maintenance deal ideas for consumer clients (B2C)

When dealing with consumer clients, peace of mind, low-effort maintenance and predictable costs are important. After coating the roof or painting the living room it might be worthwhile inquiring, if the client is interested in keeping the surfaces as neat in the future as they are right now.

For example, a freshly coated patio is more likely to stay in good condition if you examine and wash it every 2 years and recoat it every 5–10 years. Patio maintenance might well be something that a client would consider acquiring as a service – it's a hassle and takes up precious time.

Another idea is to offer help with redecorating in different phases of life: when children grow and change rooms, when the house is going up for sale or it's just time for a updated look. The time-span between maintenance jobs might be long, but when you have a large enough client base and ongoing contracts the business model will provide you with a steady stream of revenue. For the client, maintaining their property proactively helps avoid unexpected repair costs and provides peace of mind.

Maintenance deal ideas for business clients (B2B)

Predictable costs and peace of mind are key in the B2B sector as well: a relatively low service fee in exchange for inspection and timely maintenance is preferable to unexpected renovation costs and bigger investments.

Large real estate owners and lessors want their properties to stay in good condition and keep their value, so most of them already use different maintenance, cleaning and security services on a regular basis. As the business model is familiar to B2B clients, you might have a very good chance of providing your services through a long-term contract.

You are an expert on coating surfaces and keeping them in prime condition. Whether you specialize in interiors, facades or roof coatings, maintenance deals can be a great way to expand and future-proof your business: