CertaPro Painters® Targets Canton, Ohio Market in Next Stage of Buckeye State Expansion

CertaPro Painters® has had a strong presence throughout the state of Ohio over the past 20 years, and now the best painting franchise is specifically targeting the city of Canton – in northeast Ohio – to round out its domination in the Buckeye State.

Certa ProPainters, Ltd. Vice President of Franchise Development Jeff Bien noted that the Ohio markets of Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton are already sold out, but that the brand is excited to expand into Canton.

“For us, Canton logically is a territory we should have a strong owner in—someone passionate about owning a painting franchise,” Bien said. “Two of our paint suppliers, Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore have a strong presence there for sales, so we know there’s a lot of painting happening in those locations.”

CertaPro Painters® franchisee Matt Siebert has been with the brand since 2014 and currently owns two territories in the Cleveland market. CertaPro Painters® is extremely well-known throughout Ohio, and the state is an excellent one for the brand, he said.

“If you look at the cities across Ohio, CertaPro Painters® is really strong in each of them. There are really great players in Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton,” Siebert said. “Cleveland’s got a lot going on, as does Ohio in general. There is a lot of business throughout the state and lots of growth.”

In markets throughout Ohio, franchisees also band together to make sure they promote the brand as much as possible. The Canton franchisee would have easy access to fellow franchisees within the state. Bien spoke to a “huge camaraderie” among franchisees, which is aided by the brand’s territory-based model. Plus, such camaraderie and support is in line with the brand’s values.

“We have something called a marketing co-op,” Siebert said. “Some of us in a region came together to form a team and promote the brand. We’ve done a nice job in the last two to three years, especially in Cleveland, to the point where we are very well-known and our name is very well-recognized. We’re able to do radio spots and home shows together. We pool our resources which makes us top-of-mind when it comes to painting.”

Since the CertaPro Painters® brand is so well-known throughout the Buckeye State, an incoming franchisee looking to own or start a painting franchise would benefit from an established presence.

“The brand is extremely strong,” Siebert said. “The instant you sign up and create your company there are people coming to you. You get into the system and you start to execute on a basic marketing plan and you’ve already got business right outside of your door. It’s not like you have to go out there and pound the pavement.”

One of the major benefits of owning a painting business with CertaPro Painters® is the relatively low cost of entry. The brand does not require its franchisees to have a retail storefront or inventory. CertaPro Painters® franchisees also receive a great deal of corporate training and support.

Of course, franchisees can also continue to leverage the knowledge of their fellow franchisees.

“The ability for the Canton owner to talk to the owner guy in Columbus who has 20-plus years of experience is a big deal,” Bien said. “Or they can pick the brain of the owner guy in Cincinnati that’s been there for 18 years. Or talk to someone who has been in business for just two years. Some franchisees are experiencing different challenges than they were 20 years ago and so they can grow from each other’s experiences.”

With strong market potential and franchisee support, not to mention established brand name recognition throughout the state of Ohio, Certa ProPainters, Ltd. is ready to take the Canton market by storm.