COLLEGE PRO PAINTERS: Great Opportunity or Franchise Scam?

The College Pro Painters franchise opportunity seems like a brilliant idea:  a program that gives college students and recent graduates the training, systems, branding and guidance they need to build their own successful, profitable seasonal house painting businesses. 

The idea seems to be a win-win for everyone:  Homeowners get a quality, reliable paint job at a reasonable price and students not only earn good money, but gain invaluable business, management and entrepreneurial skills and experience.

According to the College Pro Painters franchise website directed at prospective franchisees:

… no other experience can provide you with the exceptional leadership and management training that helps you stand out now and in life after college. College Pro is the largest and most successful student painting company in North America because it provides a challenging, real-life business experience that inspires excellence. You‘re already working on your education in school, but this summer learn the tools you will need in order to make and manage money, run your own business and gain the self-confidence you will need for any future career…

Each summer we select over 700 driven, enthusiastic young entrepreneurs across North America to run their own business from more than 25,000 who apply. These students employ another 7,000 additional workers. All of them represent a brand recognized throughout North America, so we are particular about who enters the system – and supportive of those we choose. Find out what franchise managers say about how a summer job with College Pro can help you to meet tons of new people, make money to help pay your tuition, and learn new skills that can be applied to your future employment endeavors.

However, there are numerous comments on Internet complaint sites that tell a different story.  On the Pissed Consumer website, a parent whose daughter was in the College Pro Painter franchise program calls it a cultish Ponzi scheme:

…College Pro was cult-ish and is run like a Pyramid Scheme.Think about it. The kids are working their butts off bringing in the CASH while a bunch of slackers at the top are raking in the money. "Bonding Sessions" are common-place. Financially, they took over 30% of the profits. That’s over $25,000 from my kid for her working 4 months.

They charge the Franchisees for EVERYTHING at top prices. They even charge the kids $15.00 for a College Pro T-shirt !!! YOU PAY FOR EVERYTHING! Shame on them. They disgust me. I will NEVER use College Pro. They are NOT good leaders or role models for our youth! It’s a greedy company breeding greed and teaching kids to cheat, not trust their loved ones and to lie about the painting skills they have ( 1 day of training).

If your kid wants to do College Pro, stand by them and know that they will work their butts off. There are a very few that make big bucks, but they are really rare. Help them create books, balances their checkbooks – your kids will need you more than ever. Don’t abandon them. They will not be able to do well unless they get REAL help from those that really care about their personal growth and work ethic.

John Doe writes:

Scammers. I was a franchise manager and I was robbed of all my money. I booked 72k and was on my way to my goal of 80k and my GM told me I was only going to recieve something less then 10k. I was pissed so you mean I worked 12-20 hrs a day and take home less then 10k. Bull ***! I just kept thinking they make 70k and I only make 10k. So I quit and sold my book work to other franchise managers so they can make their goals. I was just lucky not to have to pay anything more back to them for quiting like I read other managers have done. I really didnt have anything to owe them besides not fulfilling my goal. Anyways spread the word to kids that CPP *** and is a scam. Dont do it no matter what they say positive about their company

former CPP franchisee writes:

College pro painters is the worst student scam that is legal… the company lies, misleads, threatens, blackmails and on top of that they steal. True facts: if you sell anything under 75K your going to make nothing. There is NO guarantee of making any money! Example on a 50K business you will make 3000$ for working 70h a week for 6 months (1,78$ per hour). Total SCAM!

It isn’t really 24% royalty its more like 35% with all the hidden cost you pay on each job you book. Think about it 35% CPP charges 35% labour 15% supplies if your lucky you be left with maybe 15% to pay for your car, marketing, equipment. Don’t forget the 6000$ charge for what they call recoverables.

In total on a 50K biz they take 25K. They will take everything you have! If your thinking of becoming a franchisee it will be a mistake of a life time. You have greater chances of making money by starting your own company and make 45-50% of the sale and not 10-15% like with college pro!

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE COLLEGE PRO PAINTERS FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY?  WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.