Guide

How to get more work as a painter and decorator

Updated 1 October 2026 · 4 minute read

Good decorators rarely struggle for small jobs. Getting the right jobs, booked weeks ahead, takes a bit more. These are the ways that help.

Short answer: Photograph finished rooms and put them on your website and Google profile, build relationships with letting agents, landlords and builders, show that you're tidy and careful, ask every customer for a review, and keep paid leads for when they clearly pay back.

1. Photograph every finished room

Daylight, straight lines, nothing in the way. A set of beautiful finished rooms on your website and Google profile does more selling than anything you can say.

2. Letting agents and landlords

Rental properties need repainting between tenants, often at short notice. Letting agents need decorators who turn up, finish on time and leave the place clean. A couple of good agents can fill gaps in your diary.

3. Builders and other trades

Builders, plasterers and kitchen fitters all finish jobs that need decorating. Get to know a few locally and look after their customers well.

4. Show you look after people's homes

Customers worry about mess. Say how you protect floors and furniture and how you leave each room. In older homes, know your asbestos safety: HSE says asbestos can be present in any building built or refurbished before 2000, including textured coatings like Artex.

5. Your Google profile and reviews

"Painter and decorator near me" gets about 18,100 UK searches a month (Local Ladder's tracker, September 2026). Keep your Google Business Profile complete and full of photos, and send your review link after every job. Google says more reviews and positive ratings can help local ranking. See our SEO for decorators guide and reviews guide.

6. Paid leads, carefully

Local Ladder's UK Trade Lead Cost Tracker (verified 30 September 2026) puts a top-of-page Google Ads click on "painter and decorator near me" at £1.12 to £4.05, MyBuilder shortlists at typically £5 to £35 each, and Checkatrade at £30 a month (Approved) or from £59 a month (Growth), plus VAT. On smaller jobs, keep a close eye on what each lead really costs you.

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Sources

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