1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

House painting: your step-by-step start

Paint rooms, walls, roofs and boundary walls for homes and small businesses, with neat prep and clean-up.

  • 18 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 1 hour
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • Neat, fit, hands-on people who take pride in a clean finish and do not mind ladders.

Think twice if

  • You need money within the next two weeks: first income usually takes about 21 days.
  • You cannot put about R1 000 into getting started.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 21 days.
  • Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.
  • The main risk to plan for: falls from ladders and roofs: use a stable ladder and have someone with you on roofs.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How house painting worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Pricing and getting paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Learn how to measure walls in square metres3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Write a simple quote template3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first customers: who to message5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Take before-and-after photos of every job3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Ask a hardware shop if you can leave your number3 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Offer landlords a rate for painting between tenants3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Train a helper for bigger jobs3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R1 000 to R6 000 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Rollers, brushes and extension pole
  • Drop sheets and masking tape
  • A stable ladder
  • Quote template

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.