A CertaPro Painters franchise costs $171,000 to $246,000 if subcontractors paint your jobs and $203,250 to $320,500 if employees do, according to Item 7 of the Certa ProPainters, Ltd. FDD issued March 23, 2026.
Both totals include $82,500 paid to CertaPro when you sign: the $65,000 Initial Franchise Fee, a $7,500 Business and Technology Setup Fee and a $10,000 Commercial Services Fee (cover page and Item 5).
Key takeaways
- The $74,500 gap between the two high-end Item 7 totals comes from five lines, led by vehicle leases ($30,000 more) and working capital ($22,500 more) under the employee painter model (FDD Item 7).
- Royalty is 6% of the first $2,500,000 of annual Gross Sales, 5% up to $5,000,000 and 4% above, and a minimum royalty applies from the second calendar year (Item 6 and Note 1).
- Advertising spending of 12% of Gross Sales in year 1 and 10% after, plus a 0.35% Technology Fee, puts 18.35% of year 1 Gross Sales into royalty, marketing and technology before per-user software charges (Item 6).
- The territory is exclusive for residential painting only, and keeping it requires Gross Sales of at least $250,000 or $450,000 in year 2, rising to $850,000 in years 7 to 10 (Item 12).
- Item 7 Note 9 tells buyers in 12 states, among them California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington, to budget six to twelve months of start-up expenses because of contractor licensing (Item 7 Note 9).
- Franchised outlets went from 330 on January 1, 2023 to 299 on December 31, 2025, and those 299 franchisees held 425 territories (Item 20).
| Key number | 2026 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $65,000 ($52,000 for qualified VetFran veterans) | Item 5 |
| Total initial investment, subcontractor painters | $171,000 to $246,000 | Item 7 |
| Total initial investment, employee painters | $203,250 to $320,500 | Item 7 |
| Royalty | 6% / 5% / 4% by annual Gross Sales tier, with a yearly minimum | Item 6 |
| Advertising Fees and Expenses | 12% of Gross Sales in year 1, then 10% | Item 6 |
| Term | 10 years | Item 17 |
| Outlets at December 31, 2025 | 299 franchised, 5 company-owned, 304 total | Item 20 |
Subcontracted crews or W-2 painters: which CertaPro budget applies to you?
CertaPro prints two Item 7 tables because the painter model changes five cost lines. With subcontractors the estimate is $171,000 to $246,000; with employee painters it is $203,250 to $320,500. Eight lines are identical in both tables, including the $65,000 fee, $45,000 of launch advertising, $9,000 to $11,500 for the computer system and $9,000 to $24,000 for an office.
| Item 7 line | Subcontractor painters | Employee painters | Extra at the high end | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $65,000 | $65,000 | $0 | Item 7 |
| Advertising and Marketing (first 3 months) | $45,000 | $45,000 | $0 | Item 7 |
| Commercial Services Fee | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 | Item 7, Note 11 |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs (incl. EPA RRP, OSHA 10 training) | $2,000 to $5,000 | $2,000 to $5,000 | $0 | Item 7 |
| Equipment | $1,000 to $3,000 | $5,000 to $15,000 | $12,000 | Item 7, Note 1 |
| Office Equipment | $500 to $5,000 | $500 to $5,000 | $0 | Item 7, Note 2 |
| Vehicle (lease) | $2,500 to $10,000 (1 vehicle) | $10,000 to $40,000 (3 to 4 vehicles) | $30,000 | Item 7, Note 3 |
| Contractor License | $250 to $2,500 | $3,000 to $7,500 | $5,000 | Item 7, Note 4 |
| Computer System and Proprietary Software Solution | $9,000 to $11,500 | $9,000 to $11,500 | $0 | Item 7, Note 5 |
| Travel and Living Expenses While Training | $2,250 to $5,000 | $2,250 to $5,000 | $0 | Item 7, Note 6 |
| Insurance | $5,000 to $7,500 | $7,500 to $12,500 | $5,000 | Item 7, Note 7 |
| Real Estate and Improvements | $9,000 to $24,000 | $9,000 to $24,000 | $0 | Item 7, Note 8 |
| Additional Funds (3 to 6 months) | $19,500 to $52,500 | $35,000 to $75,000 | $22,500 | Item 7, Notes 9 and 10 |
| Total | $171,000 to $246,000 | $203,250 to $320,500 | $74,500 | Item 7 |
Five lines explain the $74,500 gap between the high ends of CertaPro’s two Item 7 totals. Certa ProPainters, Ltd. FDD issued March 23, 2026, Item 7.
The extra column adds up exactly: $30,000 for vehicles, $22,500 for working capital, $12,000 for equipment, $5,000 for licensing and $5,000 for insurance make the $74,500 difference. Every line, both models and the difference sit in certapro-item7-subcontractor-vs-employee-2026.csv.
The model is partly a regional choice. Item 7 Note 1 says most new franchisees in Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico use employee painters, and adds that an employee model could need $5,000 more in equipment. Under Note 3 the subcontractor owner leases one approved, wrapped vehicle, while the employee table prices 3 to 4 leased vehicles including maintenance.
Three costs sit outside both totals. Note 10 asks you to fund your own living expenses for up to fifteen months after opening. Note 8 requires an office outside your home, inside the Territory, within three months of starting; virtual offices, shared workspaces and co-working spaces do not count. Note 7 sets insurance floors of $2,000,000 aggregate general liability and $1,000,000 auto liability, with CertaPro and FS Brands, Inc. as additional insureds.
What leaves your account on the day you sign?
Three payments go to CertaPro at signing and total $82,500 for a new territory. A qualified veteran in the IFA VetFran program pays a $52,000 Initial Franchise Fee instead of $65,000, which lowers the signing total to $74,500. A buyer of an existing CertaPro business owes no Initial Franchise Fee and a reduced $5,000 setup fee (Item 5).
| Payment to CertaPro | New territory | Qualified veteran (VetFran) | Buying an existing business | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $65,000 | $52,000 | Not due | Item 5 |
| Business and Technology Setup Fee | $7,500 | $7,500 | $5,000 | Item 5; Item 7, Note 5 |
| Commercial Services Fee | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 if the seller’s Commercial Services License transfers | Item 5; Item 7, Note 11 |
| Paid to CertaPro at signing | $82,500 | $74,500 | $5,000 to $15,000, plus the price paid to the seller | Arithmetic from Item 5 |
Refunds are narrow. The Initial Franchise Fee is fully refundable only if CertaPro rescinds the agreement before you finish Franchise Foundations 1; if you are not operating within 120 days, CertaPro may terminate and refund $10,000 (Item 5). Veterans comparing fee cuts across brands can use our guide to franchise opportunities for veterans.
CertaPro offers no financing and guarantees no franchisee loans (Item 10). The same item says the system is eligible for faster SBA processing, and the SBA Franchise Directory lists CertaPro Painters under code S0356. SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records as of June 30, 2026 show 87 7(a) loans under that code since fiscal 2020, tabulated in our SBA franchise directory report.
How much of every paint job goes back to CertaPro in fees?
Percentage fees under Item 6 total 18.35% of Gross Sales in the first year and 16.35% after: a 6% royalty, advertising of 12% then 10% (which already includes the 3% General Advertising Fund) and a 0.35% Technology Fee. Gross Sales counts labor, materials and work done by subcontractors, so a subcontracted job carries the full fee load.
| Fee | Amount | When due | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 6% on the first $2,500,000 of annual Gross Sales; 5% on $2,500,000.01 to $5,000,000; 4% above $5,000,000.01; resets to 6% each calendar year | 10th of each month | Item 6 |
| Minimum Royalty | $15,000 to $51,000 a year on total Gross Sales from year 2, by schedule | By December 31 | Item 6, Note 1 |
| Advertising Fees and Expenses | 12% of Gross Sales in year 1, then 10% (includes fund and co-op payments) | As incurred | Item 6 |
| General Advertising Fund | 3% of Gross Sales up to $2,500,000 a year; 2% above | 10th of each month | Item 6 |
| Advertising cooperative | Voted by members, generally 1% to 4% of Gross Sales, credited against local spending | 10th of each month | Item 6 |
| Technology Fee | 0.35% of Gross Sales | 10th of each month | Item 6 |
| CertaOne User Fee | $90 per month per user (Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Office 365 licences included) | Monthly | Item 6, Note 4 |
| CertaPro University | $40 per month | Monthly | Item 6 |
| Annual Conference | $2,500 to $5,500 per person; greater of $549 or the registration fee if you skip it | 2 months before | Item 6 |
| Transfer Fee | $25,000 when you find your own buyer | As arranged | Item 6, Note 3 |
| Renewal | 15% of the then-current Initial Franchisee Fee | As arranged | Item 6; Item 17 |
The royalty tiers are annual, not cumulative. A franchisee who passes $2,500,000 in one calendar year pays 5% only on the dollars above that line, then starts again at 6% on January 1. How CertaPro’s 6% starting rate compares with other coded filings is shown in our franchise royalty rate dataset.
Per-user charges scale with headcount rather than revenue. Every person with CertaOne access costs $90 a month, so an office assistant, a production manager and the owner on the system amount to $270 a month at the current rate, which Item 6 allows CertaPro to raise on 60 days’ notice.
What sales floor keeps the zip codes yours?
The Item 12 territory is exclusive only for Residential Services, defined in Item 1 as painting one to four unit dwellings and the interiors of individual apartments, condominiums and townhouses. CertaPro sets the boundaries before signing, principally by zip codes, from household, income and dwelling counts. Exclusivity lasts only while you meet the Performance Criteria in Article 6 of the Franchise Agreement.
| Calendar year | Gross Sales floor | Residential sales floor | Minimum royalty, total Gross Sales | Minimum royalty, residential | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2, agreement signed January to May | $450,000 | $350,000 | $27,000 | $21,000 | Item 12; Item 6, Note 1 |
| Year 2, agreement signed June to December | $250,000 | $250,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | Item 12; Item 6, Note 1 |
| Year 3 | $500,000 | $400,000 | $30,000 | $24,000 | Item 12; Item 6, Note 1 |
| Year 4 | $600,000 | $450,000 | $36,000 | $27,000 | Item 12; Item 6, Note 1 |
| Years 5 and 6, each | $650,000 | $500,000 | $39,000 | $30,000 | Item 12; Item 6, Note 1 |
| Years 7 and 8, each | $850,000 | $500,000 | $51,000 | $30,000 | Item 12; Item 6, Note 1 |
| Years 9 and 10, each | $850,000 | $600,000 | $51,000 | $36,000 | Item 12; Item 6, Note 1 |
The two schedules are built on the same arithmetic. Each total minimum royalty equals 6% of that year’s Gross Sales floor ($450,000 x 6% = $27,000; $850,000 x 6% = $51,000), and each residential minimum equals 6% of the residential floor. A year in which the minimum royalty adds a top-up payment is therefore also a year in which the floor was missed, which Item 17 lists as cause for termination. The schedule is saved as certapro-minimums-by-year-2026.csv.
Signing month changes the second-year test. An agreement dated January through May faces a $450,000 Gross Sales floor in year 2; one dated June through December faces $250,000. Item 12 also lists what the exclusivity does not cover:
- Commercial painting: other CertaPro franchisees with a Commercial Services license may sell in your Territory.
- National Accounts: CertaPro may give multi-location clients’ jobs in your Territory to another franchisee, a third party or itself, without compensation to you.
- Program Services: franchisees certified for a CertaPro Business Program may work in your Territory if you are not a participant.
- Other channels: internet, catalog and telemarketing sales under the CertaPro marks, with no compensation to you.
- Relocation and expansion: you have no right to move the Territory or to acquire contiguous ones.
Painting contractor licenses and lead-safe certification in four states
CertaPro flags licensing as a timing risk in its own Item 7. Note 9 names 12 states where buyers should budget six to twelve months of start-up expenses, and Exhibit P lists a regulator for each state. Separately, 40 CFR 745.81 has barred uncertified firms from paid renovation in pre-1978 housing since April 22, 2010.
| State (all named in Note 9) | Contractor license or registration | Small-job exemption | Lead-safe (RRP) firm certification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | CSLB license; painting falls under the C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor class | Under $1,000 total, no workers hired and no building permit (AB 2622, from January 1, 2025); unlicensed work can draw fines up to $15,000 | EPA program: $300 firm fee, valid five years | CSLB C-33; CSLB release 24-21; EPA |
| Arizona | Registrar of Contractors license; contracting without one is unlawful under A.R.S. 32-1151 | Aggregate price under $1,000 incl. labor and materials, casual or minor work, no permit (A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(14)) | EPA program: $300 firm fee, valid five years | A.R.S. 32-1151; A.R.S. 32-1121; EPA fees |
| Oregon | Construction Contractors Board license (Exhibit P: state license required) | Not reviewed for this page | State-run: Lead-Based Paint Renovation license tied to the CCB license; one owner or employee takes the eight-hour RRP course; four-hour refresher before the five-year expiry; $50 annual renewal | Oregon CCB |
| Washington | Labor and Industries registration (RCW 18.27.020); surety bond $30,000 general or $15,000 specialty (RCW 18.27.040) | None stated in RCW 18.27.020 | State-run: Department of Commerce firm certification, $25 per application | RCW 18.27.020; RCW 18.27.040; WA Commerce |
Washington matters most for the subcontractor model. RCW 18.27.020(2)(e) makes it a gross misdemeanor for a contractor to subcontract to or use an unregistered contractor, so each crew a CertaPro owner hires there needs its own active registration. In California the CSLB says any project priced at $1,000 or more, or any job using hired workers, needs a contractor’s license in the appropriate classification, so the franchise needs that license before its first job of that size.
Three federal lead rules set the timing for a painting franchise that works on older homes:
- Scope: housing built before 1978 is target housing (40 CFR 745.103).
- Size: work disturbing more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room inside, or 20 square feet outside, falls outside the minor repair exception (40 CFR 745.83).
- Timing: EPA has up to 90 days to act on a firm application, and certification must be renewed every 5 years (40 CFR 745.89).
Oregon and Washington are on EPA’s list of 15 states that run their own programs, which is why their fees differ from EPA’s $300.
The license line in Item 7 reflects this spread: $250 to $2,500 under the subcontractor model and $3,000 to $7,500 under the employee model. Our home services franchise comparison of license loads across eight trades puts painting next to plumbing, HVAC and other licensed work.
Who stands behind Certa ProPainters, Ltd.?
Item 1 names FS Brands, Inc., formerly TFC Brands, Inc., as CertaPro’s parent and says it absolutely and unconditionally guarantees CertaPro’s Franchise Agreement obligations. The notes to FS Brands’ audited statements in Exhibit B add that FS Brands is 97.18% owned by FS Property Services (U.S.) Inc., which is indirectly 100% owned by FirstService Corporation. The filing does not mention BELFOR.
| Entity | Role in the 2026 FDD | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FirstService Corporation | Ultimate parent, described as a publicly owned real estate services company | Exhibit B, Note 1 |
| FS Property Services (U.S.) Inc. | Owns 97.18% of FS Brands, Inc.; itself indirectly 100% owned by FirstService | Exhibit B, Note 1 |
| FS Brands, Inc. (formerly TFC Brands, Inc.) | Parent and guarantor of CertaPro; named as additional insured on franchisee policies | Item 1; Item 7, Note 7 |
| Certa ProPainters, Ltd. | Franchisor; incorporated in Massachusetts on December 18, 1991; US franchising since fall 1992; based in Audubon, PA | Item 1 |
| Certa Pro Painters Ltd. (Canada) | Canadian affiliate franchising since 1990; 26 franchises at December 31, 2025 | Item 1 |
| Sister systems | California Closets 38 US franchises; Floorcoverings International 309 US; Paul Davis Restoration 277 US; Pillar To Post 381 US (counts as of December 31, 2023) | Item 1 |
The brand traces to Stewart and Clark Painting, founded in 1971 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, which became College Pro Painters, a student-run seasonal exterior business. College Pro formed CertaPro in 1991 to offer year-round interior and exterior work (Item 1). Item 12 notes that Paul Davis Restoration and Floorcoverings International franchisees may sell similar services under their own marks.
Is the CertaPro system adding or losing franchisees?
Item 20 shows a smaller franchised base with a rebound in openings. Franchised outlets fell from 330 to 324 in 2023, to 303 in 2024 and to 299 in 2025, while company-owned outlets rose from 1 to 5. In 2025, 15 outlets opened and 19 left the system: 6 terminations, 5 non-renewals, 1 reacquisition and 7 that ceased operations.
Openings rose to 15 in 2025 while 19 franchised outlets left, taking the count from 303 to 299. Certa ProPainters, Ltd. FDD issued March 23, 2026, Item 20, Table 3.
| Year | Franchised at start | Opened | Terminated | Not renewed | Reacquired | Ceased, other | Franchised at end | Transfers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 330 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 324 | 23 | Item 20, Tables 2 and 3 |
| 2024 | 324 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 303 | 19 | Item 20, Tables 2 and 3 |
| 2025 | 303 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 299 | 21 | Item 20, Tables 2 and 3 |
An outlet in Item 20 is a franchisee, not a territory. At December 31, 2025, 299 franchisees owned 425 territories; the filing says 198 owned one territory and 93 owned more than one, a split that adds to 291 rather than 299, so ask CertaPro to reconcile it. Table 5 projects 19 franchised openings and 1 company-owned opening in 2026. The yearly counts are in certapro-item20-outlets-2023-2025.csv.
Item 19 does contain financial performance data: 2025 Gross Sales tables, with average and median, for franchisees in business at least 12 months. We do not reproduce Item 19 figures; read them in the filing itself, and use our guide to reading a franchise disclosure document to check which franchisees each table includes.
Buying an existing CertaPro territory: what the resale route changes
A resale skips the $65,000 Initial Franchise Fee but brings its own charges. The buyer pays CertaPro a $5,000 setup fee and signs the current Franchise Agreement. If CertaPro finds the buyer, the seller owes a Listing and Referral Fee of the greater of $50,000 or 9% of the price, which Item 6 Note 3 says the buyer may end up paying by negotiation.
- Seller finds the buyer: a $25,000 Transfer Fee, which covers processing and the buyer’s training (Item 6).
- Advertising: the 12% first-year rate applies to existing CertaPro businesses as well as start-up territories (Item 6).
- Legacy terms: some current franchisees pay non-uniform royalty and fund rates that may pass to a buyer (Item 6 introduction); ask which rate the seller’s agreement carries.
- Commercial rights: a seller’s Commercial Services License can transfer with no $10,000 fee, but the buyer still attends Commercial Services Training (Item 7, Note 11).
Resales are a large share of CertaPro deal flow. Item 20 counts 63 transfers from 2023 to 2025, and in SBA 7(a) FOIA data 34 of CertaPro’s 87 franchise loans since fiscal 2020 financed a change of ownership, a 39.1% share in our franchise resale index. Fee benchmarks for the $25,000 transfer charge are in our transfer fee research, and listings for sale are covered in our guide to buying a franchise for sale.
CertaPro numbers on other sites, checked against the 2026 filing
Listing pages that rank for CertaPro searches in November 2026 quote figures that the March 23, 2026 FDD replaces or never states. The table pairs each claim, described without naming the site, with the filing’s figure and item number, so a reader can check it in the CARDS copy of the disclosure document.
| Claim in circulation | What the 2026 FDD says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total investment $171,000 to $302,500 (consultant network listing, 2026) | Two totals: $171,000 to $246,000 and $203,250 to $320,500 | Item 7 |
| 460 total units (same listing) | 304 outlets (299 franchised, 5 company-owned); 425 territories | Item 20 |
| Royalty of 6% of gross revenue (franchise marketplace, 2026) | 6% / 5% / 4% by annual tier, plus a minimum royalty of $15,000 to $51,000 a year | Item 6 |
| Footprint down 8% year over year (same marketplace) | Total outlets 307 to 304 in 2025; franchised 303 to 299 | Item 20 |
| $147,750 to $175,500 total, fee up to $57,500 (scorecard citing the 2021 FDD) | $65,000 fee; totals as above | Items 5 and 7 |
| $85,000 liquid capital and $250,000 net worth (several listings) | No liquid capital or net worth figure appears in the FDD; ask CertaPro for its written criteria | Items 1 to 23 searched |
Which CertaPro route matches your license, crew and cash?
Four facts decide most of the budget: the state you will open in, whether crews are subcontractors or employees, whether your market has many pre-1978 homes and which month you sign. The table turns the 2026 FDD and state rules into conditions with thresholds and the item behind each.
| If | Then | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| You will open in Arizona, California, Nevada or New Mexico | Plan on the employee model, $203,250 to $320,500 | Item 7, Note 1 |
| Your Territory is in one of the 12 Note 9 states | Budget six to twelve months of start-up expenses and start the license before signing, since operations must begin within 120 days | Item 7, Note 9; Item 11 |
| You will sell California jobs of $1,000 or more | Hold a CSLB license in the appropriate classification, such as C-33, before the first such contract | CSLB release 24-21 |
| You will use subcontracted crews in Washington | Confirm each crew’s L&I registration before every job | RCW 18.27.020(2)(e) |
| Your Territory has homes built before 1978 | Get RRP firm certification ($300 EPA, $25 Washington, Oregon LBPR) and a certified renovator; allow up to 90 days for EPA | 40 CFR 745.81, 745.89 |
| You can sign in June rather than May | Your year 2 floor is $250,000 instead of $450,000 | Item 12 |
| You are a qualified veteran | Initial Franchise Fee of $52,000 | Item 5 |
| You want an operating business | Resale: no $65,000 fee, $5,000 setup fee, possible legacy royalty terms | Items 5 and 6 |
This page is general information, not legal, financial or investment advice. Before signing, ask a franchise attorney to read Article 6 of the Franchise Agreement against the zip codes in Schedule A and to confirm which Exhibit P licenses your state requires today.
How we compiled this
We read the Certa ProPainters, Ltd. FDD issued March 23, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Department of Commerce (CARDS document 36270-202604-08), including Items 1 to 23 and Exhibits B and P, and quoted each figure with its item. We opened 40 CFR Part 745 on eCFR, two EPA lead program pages, two CSLB pages, Arizona and Washington statutes, the Oregon CCB and Washington Commerce lead pages; Arizona’s ROC site returned HTTP 403 and Oregon’s statute site refused connections, so neither is cited. SBA loan counts come from our tabulation of SBA FOIA files. Item 19 figures were excluded under our editorial rule. Sources were accessed in November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a CertaPro Painters franchise cost?
The 2026 CertaPro FDD gives two Item 7 totals: $171,000 to $246,000 if subcontractors do the painting and $203,250 to $320,500 if you employ painters. Both include $82,500 paid to CertaPro at signing and $45,000 of launch advertising. Living expenses for up to fifteen months after opening are excluded under Item 7 Note 10.
What is the CertaPro royalty fee?
Item 6 sets the royalty at 6% of the first $2,500,000 of annual Gross Sales, 5% from $2,500,000.01 to $5,000,000 and 4% above that, resetting to 6% each January. From year 2 a minimum royalty applies, starting at $15,000 or $27,000 on total Gross Sales depending on signing month and reaching $51,000 in years 7 to 10.
Does CertaPro offer financing?
No. Item 10 of the 2026 FDD says CertaPro offers no financing and guarantees no franchisee notes or leases. It says franchisees are eligible for expedited SBA processing, and SBA FOIA data as of June 30, 2026 show 87 SBA 7(a) loans under CertaPro’s franchise code S0356 since fiscal 2020.
Is there a veteran discount on a CertaPro franchise?
Yes. Item 5 says CertaPro takes part in the IFA VetFran program and cuts the Initial Franchise Fee by 20%, from $65,000 to $52,000, for qualified veterans. The $7,500 Business and Technology Setup Fee and the $10,000 Commercial Services Fee are not discounted, so a veteran pays $74,500 at signing.
Do I need a painting contractor license to own a CertaPro franchise?
In many states, yes. Item 7 Note 4 says many states and localities require a painting or home improvement license or registration, and Exhibit P lists each state’s regulator. California requires a CSLB license for jobs of $1,000 or more, and pre-1978 homes need lead-safe RRP firm certification under 40 CFR 745.81.
Who owns CertaPro Painters?
The franchisor, Certa ProPainters, Ltd., is owned by FS Brands, Inc., which guarantees its obligations (Item 1). Exhibit B states FS Brands is 97.18% owned by FS Property Services (U.S.) Inc., itself indirectly 100% owned by FirstService Corporation. The 2026 FDD names no other owner in that chain.
Can I run a CertaPro franchise from home?
Only at the start. Item 7 Note 8 lets franchisees begin from home but requires an office outside the home, inside the Territory, within three months of starting operation. Virtual offices, shared workspaces and co-working spaces do not count, and the office line in Item 7 is $9,000 to $24,000.
How many CertaPro Painters locations are there?
Item 20 of the 2026 FDD reports 304 US outlets at December 31, 2025: 299 franchised and 5 company-owned. The 299 franchisees held 425 territories. A separate Canadian affiliate had 26 franchises on the same date, according to Item 1.
Sources
- Certa ProPainters, Ltd. Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 23, 2026 (Minnesota Department of Commerce CARDS, document 36270-202604-08; accessed November 10, 2026)
- 40 CFR 745.81, Effective dates (eCFR, National Archives; accessed November 10, 2026)
- 40 CFR 745.83, Definitions (minor repair and maintenance) (eCFR, National Archives; accessed November 10, 2026)
- 40 CFR 745.89, Firm certification (eCFR, National Archives; accessed November 10, 2026)
- 40 CFR 745.103, Definitions (target housing) (eCFR, National Archives; accessed November 10, 2026)
- Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Firm Certification (last updated May 27, 2026) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; accessed November 10, 2026)
- EPA Certification Program: Fees for Renovation Firms and Abatement Firms (last updated November 18, 2025) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; accessed November 10, 2026)
- C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor classification (California Contractors State License Board; accessed November 10, 2026)
- Handyperson Exemption to Increase to $1,000 in 2025 (CSLB #24-21, December 30, 2024) (California Contractors State License Board; accessed November 10, 2026)
- A.R.S. 32-1151, Engaging in contracting without license prohibited (Arizona State Legislature; accessed November 10, 2026)
- A.R.S. 32-1121, Persons not required to be licensed (Arizona State Legislature; accessed November 10, 2026)
- Specialty Licenses: Lead-Based Paint Renovation (Oregon Construction Contractors Board; accessed November 10, 2026)
- RCW 18.27.020, Registration required (Washington State Legislature; accessed November 10, 2026)
- RCW 18.27.040, Bond or other security required (Washington State Legislature; accessed November 10, 2026)
- Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) certification (last updated June 15, 2026) (Washington State Department of Commerce; accessed November 10, 2026)
- SBA franchise directory and loan counts (Franchise Consultants and Brokers tabulation of SBA 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files as of June 30, 2026)