Only you can hold yourself backColton LeFevre

College Pro Franchisee In West Carmel & Westfield

Graduate from Indiana University

2nd Year Franchisee (6th year with College Pro!)

How has College Pro set you apart from your peers?

This company has developed me faster than any other opportunity that I have been presented with. Although my fellow peers are starting new jobs or finishing school, working for College Pro has made me develop into a better businessman and person than most of my peers. Having the chance to run a business hands-on has been the most eye-opening and rewarding experience in my career development.

By Nikki Borkhuis, franchise owner

Why Use College Pro as Your Contractor

My perspective, after a year running a College Pro franchise in the Upper Midwest US

  1. Communication: At College Pro we work to ensure that the lines of communication are clear from the estimate through to the completion of the job, starting with detailed proposals and information packets, through to daily progress reports while on site.

Most people don’t realize that a typical project for College Pro starts weeks, even months, before any painting gets done.  The first step is doing an estimate for a potential customer.  For a franchisee, this involves meeting with a potential client, someone who may be interested in having some, or the entirety of their home painted.  This meeting usually takes place on a weekend in March or April and usually takes a couple of hours.  During the estimate the franchisee provides the customer with a clear outline of all the potential work, the paint to be used, the timeframe, the price of the project, even the College Pro Guarantee.  If everything goes as planned, the customer signs off on the proposal and gives the franchisee a deposit.

DIY Painting Tips from College Pro Painters: IRON RAILINGS

 

By: Jeremy Welik – Montreal

 

 

 

If you live in a metropolitan city, such as Montreal, with many homes close together, you will notice a lot of railings. In dense pockets featuring duplexes or triplexes, there is a plethora of railings and staircases accessing each flat. Many of these railings are cast iron and take quite a beating in harsh winter conditions. College Pro has been working with iron railings for over 40 years. Many of our own student painters live in these homes while they attend the nearby Universities. While living in an apartment with cast iron railings doesn’t mean you know how to paint them, spending your summer as a student painter in a city like Montreal does!

By: Matt Xhignesse

 

In today’s economy, money is a big concern to everyone. To create some sort of security, and to help you look forward to a retirement that you’ve always dreamed of, there is the obvious option of turning your attention to your home. How can you increase your home’s value in a short period of time to help your long-term goals?

 

College Pro Q&A - Ashley DamphouseWhat would you do differently if you could do it again?

I would ask my coach for a lot more help. Your coach is such a great resource to use. I did ask for help, but I definitely could have used more.

 

Is there anything you wish you had known before running a College Pro franchise?

They were very clear on what running a franchise would include, so I knew it would be a lot of hard work, and I knew it would be challenging. Maybe just spending a bit more time training on hiring employees, but you really learn how to do everything during the training sessions.

While the best way to determine if College Pro Painters is the right opportunity for you is to interview and get more information, there are some questions to ask yourself to determine if your drive and skills are well suited to make for an awesome College Pro Painters Franchisee.

 

1. What do I want to get out of a summer work experience?

Is College Pro Painters Right For Me

By: Kristy Nieboer – Media & Marketing Intern

 

What To Consider When Summer Job Searching - College ProA good way to determine whether the job you have or are applying for is worth your time is to figure out if you enjoy the work that you are or will be doing. If you dislike the work you are doing, the atmosphere you are working in, or the people you are working with, you will probably not work to your full potential.

 

 

The fall is upon us, students are back in school, many men and women are back to the daily grind…what are you doing?  Why not focus on building skills for your professional career.  College Pro Painters or College Pro Window Cleaning can Advice for student entrepreneurs – Skill Development at College Prohelp.  Becoming an entrepreneur can be a great first step for building your business skills.  Learning the core three fundamentals of College Pro’s Development program—Coaching, Conflict Resolution and Problem Solving—could be the first step you take in building skills that will provide a lifetime of growth in your professional and personal lives.

 

By: Ben Schultz – Rookie Franchisee, South Lyon MI

 

How has College Pro changed my life? That question does not have a short answer. When I started with College Pro I didn’t have any idea what I was doing, I just needed a job, to be honest. The General Manager in my area convinced me that I could run this whole business if I just listened to the training and coaching I was provided, and you know what I did?  I came out the other side of mishaps and sheer, excuse me here, but stupidity, from not only my employees and customers, but even myself on occasion, to talk about it.

Most people don’t realize that a typical project for College Pro starts weeks, even months, before any painting gets done.  The first step is doing an estimate for a potential customer.  For a franchisee, this involves meeting with a potential client, someone who may be interested in having some, or the entirety of their home painted.  This meeting usually takes place on a weekend in March or April and usually takes a couple of hours.  During the estimate the franchisee provides the customer with a clear outline of all the potential work, the paint to be used, the timeframe, the price of the project, even the College Pro Guarantee.  If everything goes as planned, the customer signs off on the proposal and gives the franchisee a deposit.

DIY Painting Tips from College Pro Painters: IRON RAILINGS

 

By: Jeremy Welik – Montreal

 

 

 

If you live in a metropolitan city, such as Montreal, with many homes close together, you will notice a lot of railings. In dense pockets featuring duplexes or triplexes, there is a plethora of railings and staircases accessing each flat. Many of these railings are cast iron and take quite a beating in harsh winter conditions. College Pro has been working with iron railings for over 40 years. Many of our own student painters live in these homes while they attend the nearby Universities. While living in an apartment with cast iron railings doesn’t mean you know how to paint them, spending your summer as a student painter in a city like Montreal does!

By: Matt Xhignesse

 

In today’s economy, money is a big concern to everyone. To create some sort of security, and to help you look forward to a retirement that you’ve always dreamed of, there is the obvious option of turning your attention to your home. How can you increase your home’s value in a short period of time to help your long-term goals?

 

College Pro Q&A - Ashley DamphouseWhat would you do differently if you could do it again?

I would ask my coach for a lot more help. Your coach is such a great resource to use. I did ask for help, but I definitely could have used more.

 

Is there anything you wish you had known before running a College Pro franchise?

They were very clear on what running a franchise would include, so I knew it would be a lot of hard work, and I knew it would be challenging. Maybe just spending a bit more time training on hiring employees, but you really learn how to do everything during the training sessions.