College Pro Painters Scam

By: Linda Strong

This is for any college student out there who has heard of College Pro Painters, heard the success stories of College Pro entrepreneurs, about the culture, the friendships made and has wondered if this experience is too good to be true.  You may even have heard of a College Pro Painters scam.  You’ve heard a little gossip, you’ve looked online and saw it mentioned, or someone knows someone who heard something – and perhaps it’s even caused you to hesitate.  Let me tell you that College Pro Painters has been in the business of investing in the future of young people for over 40 years.

To be selected as a College Pro franchisee you will go through the interview(s) process and you will likely be both excited and uncertain at different times – it’s not your average student job.  Once past this initial level, understand that just because you are accepted does not in itself automatically make you that successful entrepreneur.  This is just the beginning and where it all starts.  The hours are long, the training will be intense, and it’s your level of dedication in the pursuit of success that will either make you or break you.

By: Sam Lewis – Senior Franchisee, Columbus OH

My parents asked me not to sign on the dotted line. They told me that College Pro Painters is a Scam. It was their protective parenting instincts kicking in. It had to have been, because if I ask them what they think of College Pro now, after growing my business to one of the largest exterior, residential painting companies in Columbus, “Scam” would be the perfect antonym.

The journey wasn’t always fun or easy, though. In fact, it was never easy. Running a business is a lot like riding an emotional roller coaster. From the second I signed that contract, all the way to my first day of marketing, I was heading up that first hill. I was excited, of course, but also nervous.  I had big goals, a lot of motivation, and was more than optimistic! At 10AM someday in March I started knocking on doors, I needed leads. 8 hours later I went home with absolutely nothing. Not a single person told me they were interested in a free estimate. My roller coaster just hit a brick wall. Maybe my parents were right. Maybe College Pro Painters is a Scam, I thought. I tried to find someone to blame so I called my GM, a staffer in College Pro whose job is to coach franchisees on how to run a business, and told him how door-to-door marketing doesn’t work. He walked me through my emotions and brought me back to a logical stand-point to solve the problem. Long story short, Door-to-Door marketing is actually very effective, but more importantly, running a business isn’t easy. I worked through the hard times and cherished the good times. Nothing beats the feeling of booking your first job on the spot!