In many areas, painters are a dime a dozen.
Some painters compete on the basis of price.

You can charge more...if you know how.

You must get work to make it.
The best way to get work is to make sure your name is visible to the public.
Generally, people have to see your name six to eight times before they remember it, so it's important to get your name in front of the public.

Some of the least expensive ways to advertise:

• Magnetic signs on your vehicles.
• Professional-looking business cards.
• Professional-looking website (free from Weebly).
  The Yellow Pages are becoming extinct -- the web is where it's at.
• Direct mailings: Send professional-looking letters or postcards to a
  targeted audience. Obtain a mailing list, sorted for the best zip codes,
  age group, income level, in your area. Include your phone number and
  a "special offer" (example: "Free pressure washing").

Marketing Ideas - How To Get Work

Subcontracting: could be low pay.
CertaPro Subcontractor explains
 

There's often work for subcontractors.
That's can be because many painting companies pay less to subcontractors and can make a bigger profit on a job.

The downside: You may be expected to provide everything (truck, tools, paint, primer, caulk and all supplies) and do all the work. Yet you probably won't be able to use the customer as a reference. Also, a subcontractor doesn't get any benefits and the employer makes no contribution to your social security or medicare.

CertaPro Subcontractor explains
 

Most people think painting doesn't involve much, but it does. You have to be able to recognize problems (why paint is bubbling, why the surface of paint is chalking, what type of primer to use on wood, what type of primer to use on metal, why you shouldn't apply latex (acrylic) paint over oil-based (alkyd) paint.

Just about everybody thinks they can be a painter, and a lot of people try to be one. That means there's often a lot of low-priced competition out there.

You can compete with low prices and earn next to nothing, or you can offer superior customer service and quality and charge more. But if you're going to be able to justify charging more, it will take time and/or lots of marketing to establish your painting business.

Good painters don't have to do a lot of advertising because they get repeat customers and customer referrals. If you're just getting started, it might take three to five years to establish a solid customer base which will keep work coming in. Until then, you'll have to do more marketing.

Treat customers like you'd like to be treated, do good work, be a good communicator, keep in touch with your customers, and you can establish a viable painting company. 

Experienced (retired) painting contractor available for personal consultation about starting your own painting business: $25 per hour ($25 minimum).

Contact me

Here are links to some resources.