Paintzen

Paintzen operates as a technology-enabled platform designed to streamline the process of residential and commercial painting services. The company was founded in 2013 by Mike Russell, Justin Geller, and James Goldman, who drew on their prior experience co-founding MyClean, a marketplace for cleaning services, to address similar inefficiencies in the fragmented painting industry. Their goal was to create a service that managed the entire painting project online, from quote generation and booking to payment and scheduling.

The business model centers on providing a seamless, all-inclusive service package for its clients, which include homeowners, renters, interior designers, and real estate agents. Through its proprietary online platform, customers can receive an instant quote by answering a series of questions about their project, such as room dimensions and desired services. Paintzen's algorithm then calculates the project scope and cost, which includes paint, supplies, labor, insurance, and tax. The business generates revenue by acting as the direct contractor, managing the project from start to finish and taking a percentage of the total job cost. The payment structure requires a 10% deposit upon booking, with the remaining balance due on the first day of the project.

A key part of Paintzen's history is its acquisitions. In January 2018, the global coatings company PPG Industries acquired Paintzen for a reported $75 million, aiming to integrate the digital platform with its products. This move was met with resistance from some independent painting contractors who saw it as a conflict of interest. Subsequently, in January 2025, Paintzen was acquired by Arch Painting, a national painting contractor established in 1997. Under Arch Painting, Paintzen has been rebranded as the firm's exclusive residential division, while Arch focuses on the commercial sector. This new chapter involves enhancing the technology platform, now named Zenify, to include instant pricing for exterior painting and garage floor epoxy jobs.

The platform's service connects customers with a network of vetted, licensed, and insured local painting crews. A dedicated project coordinator is assigned to each job to manage logistics and ensure quality control, aiming to simplify the experience for the end-user. Services offered extend beyond standard interior and exterior painting to include wallpaper removal, drywall repair, and deck and fence staining.

Keywords: on-demand painting, residential painting service, commercial painting platform, online painting quotes, insured painters, home improvement technology, proptech, painting project management, Paintzen, Arch Painting, Zenify, Mike Russell, Justin Geller, digital contractor, painting booking platform, home services marketplace, interior design services, real estate painting, professional paint crews, PPG