Pat Boyle, owner of the Cranberry Township Fresh Coat painting services, buys about 5,000 gallons of paint a year. Boyle says “griege” — the mix of grays and beige and white-white trim at this home in Treesdale — is a hot trend.

CRANBERRY TWP — At one point, Pat Boyle sold paint.

Now he buys about 5,000 gallons a year.

Owner of Fresh Coat painting services, Boyle’s company was selected as franchise of the year.

“Paint can make an easy, quick and dramatic change,” said Boyle, who provides residential and commercial office, indoor and exterior painting services.

Prior to opening the Fresh Coat franchise in 2013, Boyle earned a degree in business administration from Westminster College and worked in the management program with Sherwin Williams for more than eight years. His most recent employment with that company was in Cranberry, where all the new construction enticed him to branch out on his own.

Boyle said while working in the sales field, he came to believe there was a need for more contractors who are responsive.

“This was a natural fit with my experience with both the products and contractors,” he said. “I came to believe that if I opened my own business and just answered the phone, I might be ahead of the game.”

His franchise grew: He now employs 11 painters, and revenue in 2018 topped $1 million.

It completed more than 300 projects in 2018, and it already is on pace to break that record in 2019.

Boyle doesn’t do the painting anymore.

“My business runs better without me painting,” he said, noting that his forte is responding to customers and doing estimates.

Still, customers not only rely on his experience for advice on product choices, but also occasionally colors.

“If someone is selling their house, for example, they might ask what the popular colors are, and I try to help them. But don’t like to make the final decision,” he said.

In case you’re wondering, Boyle said the present hot look is neutral grays and beige — sometimes colloquially called “griege” by the decorating experts. Match that up with a white-white trim and you are on trend.

Still, colors can be subjective.

“I’ve seen some crazy color combination choices and they ended up looking so unexpectedly good that I actually used them in my own home,” he said.

Boyle credits his team and community for his success.

“We are building relationships. I’m able to grow this business because I can rely on my guys to take things off my back,” he said. “I know that if I call people back, I do what I say I am going to do, and have integrity the business will continue to grow.”

To read more articles from the May edition of Butler County Business Matters, which focuses on “Bringing Innovation to Life,” call 724-282-8000.