Thinking of Buying a Spray Painting Business in Australia? Here Are 3 Vital Questions to Ask

Australia’s painting and decorating sector, which includes spray painting for residential, commercial, and industrial projects, recorded $9.6 billion in revenue in 2025 across more than 23,000 enterprises, supporting over 55,000 workers.

Spray painting businesses benefit from steady demand through construction, refurbishment, and maintenance work. Although the housing downturn has affected general painters, spray painting remains essential for non-residential projects, industrial coating, asset maintenance, and specialist finishes. Revenue across the industry is projected to grow moderately through 2030, driven by apartment construction, infrastructure maintenance, and commercial upgrades.

1. Does the Business Have Reliable Markets Beyond Residential Work?

Why It Matters:

General painters relying solely on homeowners have recently faced declining work as rising interest rates weakened renovation spending. Spray painting businesses that diversify into commercial and industrial markets achieve far greater stability and higher margins.

What to Check:

• Residential painting demand fell significantly following the drop in new house construction, reducing internal wall painting jobs.

• Multi-unit apartment and townhouse construction is rising again, offering consistent internal coating opportunities.

• Non-residential projects, including hospitals, schools, offices, and retail buildings, are a growing revenue source for painting contractors.

• Industrial spray coating for factories, transmission towers, machinery, and infrastructure provides lucrative, long-term contracts.

• Property managers often repaint buildings when tenants change, offering ongoing maintenance cycles for dependable cash flow.

2. Does the Business Meet Licensing, Safety, and Technical Requirements?

Why It Matters:

Spray painting, particularly in industrial or commercial settings, requires compliance with safety, training, and environmental standards. Failure to meet these regulations limits the contracts a business can accept and raises risks for new owners.

What to Check:

• Licensing rules vary by state, with thresholds for required painter licences starting as low as $1,000 in WA, $3,300 in QLD, and $5,000 in NSW.

• Certified training under the Certificate III in Painting and Decorating includes essential spray-painting competencies.

• Compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 is mandatory, including PPE, safe ventilation practices, and working-at-heights certifications.

• Industrial spray jobs may require elevated work platform training, rope access accreditation, or specialised coating certifications.

• Insurance must cover public liability, overspray risks, and worker safety, particularly when operating in high-risk or confined spaces.

3. Is the Business Equipped to Meet Commercial and Industrial Demand?

Why It Matters:

Spray painting businesses that invest in modern equipment, long-term contractor relationships, and efficient workflows secure higher-value work and remain competitive in a crowded market.

What to Check:

• Spray painting equipment such as airless sprayers, electrostatic units, and powered rollers can significantly increase productivity.

• Specialist coatings, including anti-corrosion, thermal, anti-graffiti, and industrial linings, are in high demand across infrastructure and engineering sectors.

• Many industrial coating contracts come from long-term maintenance agreements, often awarded to contractors with proven performance.

• Businesses that maintain relationships with builders, developers, and facilities managers gain access to recurring commercial work.

• Larger contractors increasingly use digital tools such as scheduling software, drones for inspections, and BIM integration to streamline project efficiency.

Ready to Invest in a Thriving Spray Painting Business?

With growing demand in commercial, industrial, and multi-unit residential markets, spray painting businesses remain well positioned for long-term growth in Australia.

Success will depend on strong compliance, modern equipment, and diversification into maintenance and specialist coating work, which provide resilience even when housing construction slows.

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