Painter Bros: Zach Tanner on Building a Franchise Around Relationships

From 19-Year-Old Painter to National Franchise: Zach Tanner’s Journey with Painter Bros
On this episode of Emerging Franchise Brands, we sit down with Zach Tanner, founder of Painter Bros, who shares how he took a leap of faith at 19 and turned a side hustle into a nationwide commercial painting franchise.

Zach started out with no formal background in painting—just a drive to work for himself and a mindset shaped by entrepreneurial family roots. What began as a local residential painting business in Utah grew into something much more ambitious. After recognizing the inefficiencies in customer acquisition and the limitations of transactional work, Zach made a bold pivot into commercial services, emphasizing long-term relationships and cultural alignment over short-term wins.

But Zach’s story isn’t just about painting. It’s about leadership, humility, and learning through experience. He first franchised in 2017, but quickly realized he wasn’t ready—so he paused, retooled the systems, and returned with a stronger foundation. That decision, he says, made all the difference.

Today, Painter Bros boasts over 130 territories with a focus on Fortune 500 accounts and commercial projects across the country. The brand stands out by offering franchisees a proven system that blends national account support with local ownership, all underpinned by a culture of trust and authenticity.

Ideal franchisees aren’t painters—they’re self-starters, great communicators, and people who know how to build trust. For Zach, it’s all about legacy: creating a platform that future entrepreneurs can build on.

With a strong foundation, national demand, and room for growth, Painter Bros is showing how service brands can scale with heart—and smart strategy.