Mike’s Solo – Ditch Hourly Pay! How to 2X Productivity with Piece Rate

Replace hourly pay with a piece-rate or bonus system to incentivize painters to increase productivity and efficiency.

For W2 employees, estimate projects in hours and pay for the estimated hours, allowing them to earn a higher effective hourly rate by finishing early.

Develop detailed job plans with hour breakdowns per task/room to guide painters, set daily goals, and track progress effectively.

Implement a tiered bonus structure for employees based on project completion speed and quality, rewarding them for beating budget and achieving high satisfaction.

When using subcontractors, pay a fixed percentage of the job (e.g., 40-45% for labor) and ensure they take on more responsibility like tool provision and site management.

Always verify new subcontractors' skills and processes on their first project to ensure they meet your company's quality standards and expectations.

Empower painters to conduct homeowner walk-throughs and be responsible for touch-ups (unpaid time) to foster ownership and direct accountability for project quality.