One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking they can figure it all out on their own. They buy a machine, head to their first job, and quickly realize they’re in over their head—unsure how to lay out a parking lot, handle stencils, or troubleshoot their machine.
Proper training—whether it’s through in-person coaching or an online course—can shave months off your learning curve. It gives you the skills, confidence, and workflow you need to show up on a job site and deliver professional results.
A contractor who invested in in-person training shared:
“I think if I wouldn’t have done this course and someone had reached out to me to do a job or something, I probably would have shown up confused, not knowing where to start and how to do certain things. Now, I’d feel completely comfortable just doing the job.”
Training may cost you upfront, but it saves you thousands in potential mistakes and missed opportunities. And when you’re prepared, you say “yes” to more jobs and make more money, faster.
Knowing how to stripe a parking lot is just one piece of the puzzle. If you don’t know how to get customers, your business won’t last long.
Many new stripers rely solely on word of mouth, business cards, or cold calls. While those can work in the beginning, they’re not enough to fuel sustainable growth.
To build momentum, you need multiple lead generation channels. This might include:
One striping business owner used a $375 Facebook ad campaign to land a $14,000 striping and sealcoating job—just by using a strategy he learned through training.
The takeaway? When you set up systems that consistently bring leads into your business, you don’t have to hustle for every job. You’ll spend less time chasing work and more time doing the work.
It’s tempting to start your line striping business with the bare minimum—a few stencils and a paint roller. But that will only take you so far.
If you’re serious about building a profitable operation, investing in the right equipment is crucial. Entry-level striping machines are more affordable than most people think, and the time they save pays for themselves in just a few jobs.
One business owner started with a Graco 3400, a popular and reliable striping machine. The difference in productivity and quality was night and day.
“You can use paint rollers, but the time it takes to finish a job compared to using a machine is huge—and time is money.”
The bottom line? The right equipment helps you work smarter—not harder. It also shows potential clients that you’re serious and professional, which helps you land better-paying jobs.
Starting a line striping business is an exciting opportunity. It’s one of the few service industries where you can begin earning quickly, with relatively low startup costs and huge potential for growth. But only if you set yourself up for success from the start.
To recap:
If you take the time to build the right foundation, you’ll not only avoid the frustration and burnout that slows down most beginners—you’ll position yourself to grow fast and start making real money doing work you’re proud of.
If you’re looking for a low-barrier, high-demand service business, launching a parking lot striping business might be the opportunity you’ve been searching for.
From small commercial lots to large
If you’re new to line striping or thinking about launching a parking lot striping business, one of the most common mistakes beginners make is jumping in too fast—firing up the
