Fresh Coat Painters East Lexington

Stephen McCreary knows how to cover ground. After more than a decade as a truck driver — and a stint running his own rig as a lease operator — he’s trading highways for hallways as the new owner of Fresh Coat* Painters of East Lexington. Opening in August, the business marks McCreary’s third entrepreneurial venture, but this time, he’s bringing hard-earned lessons, a refined business mindset and a clear mission: to build something that’s profitable and meaningful. With a fresh perspective and a franchise that offers the tools and support he was looking for, McCreary is ready to roll.

“My goal isn’t self-centered,” McCreary said. “I want to make income, sure, but I also want to be in a position to help other people. That’s something I can get behind. Whether it’s sitting with someone in their home and talking about what colors they want or helping them turn a dingy white wall into a bright one, I get excited about that. Helping people get what they want out of their project is what this is all about.”

Stephen McCreary: I was a truck driver for 11 years. I just stopped driving a truck in April of this year. When I decided I was going to come off the road, I said, “Okay, what do I want to do?”

I wanted to make comparable money. That’s when I started thinking about business opportunities. I think I’m an entrepreneur because this is my third business in 10 or 15 years.

I started looking up businesses and saw franchises. I just happened to look into painting. My cousin is a painter, and out of the goodness of my heart, I wanted to give him an opportunity.

But the more I talked to the development team, I realized I didn’t have to be a painter — I didn’t have to rely on my cousin. I could still do this on my own. I could be the business person and hire painters who are experts.

I talked to other franchisees and it looked like a good model as far as a potential way to make income.

McCreary: One of my previous businesses was a franchise — it was a sign business I bought in 2011. That was a bad experience. I had no clue about business, and I was a bad manager. My business closed after a year. I filed for bankruptcy, and after that, I got into truck driving.

I’m single, no wife or kids, so I could stay out on the road and pile money up. My second business was in trucking. I bought my own truck and trailer and became what they call a lease operator — you own your equipment and work for someone else to get the jobs. I was successful at that, and that’s what led me into buying a franchise again.

That first franchise was like touching a hot stove and getting third-degree burns. I said, “I’ll never do that again.” But eventually, I started listening to business coaches and learning how to be a good leader and run a business the right way. By the time I was successful in trucking, I had the confidence that I could be successful at another business — and I knew not to make the same mistakes.

McCreary: I was looking at three painting franchises. One must not have been very good because I quickly limited it to two. Between Fresh Coat and the second one, the other was much smaller. Fresh Coat had the size and experience, and they provided a lot more.

What really stood out was the support. I hadn’t given them a dime yet, and they were already offering help. That told me something about the company.

McCreary: My goal isn’t self-centered. I want to make income, sure, but I also want to be in a position to help other people. That’s something I can get behind. Whether it’s sitting with someone in their home and talking about what colors they want or helping them turn a dingy white wall into a bright one, I get excited about that. Helping people get what they want out of their project is what this is all about.

McCreary: I want to help the community and get to a point where I can donate to charities and things like that. Helping others — that’s what I want to do.

McCreary: If they’re thinking about Fresh Coat, I’d say, “Yes — you’re going to get a huge level of support. It’s a great model.”

Franchises in general — I like them because you get that support and education. You’re buying into practices that already work. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. You’re not designing your own door hanger or business card — it’s all ready for you. That makes a huge difference.

Fresh Coat Painters, the residential and commercial painting franchise under the Strategic Franchising Systems umbrella, offers a low-cost, high-margin business model that gives entrepreneurs from all walks of life the chance to become successful business owners in the communities they serve. Since starting in 2004, Fresh Coat has expanded to over 190 franchise locations nationwide. Thanks to its unparalleled professionalism and affordable business model, it has become one of the leading concepts in the booming residential and commercial painting segment.

With continued year-over-year growth, Fresh Coat is well on its way to achieving its overall goal of becoming a truly iconic painting brand.