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The Most Overlooked $13K/Day Business Anyone Can Start

| 6 products mentioned
Watch on YouTube parking lot striping seal coating crack filling service business startup cold email marketing pricing strategy equipment recommendations

Chris Koerner interviews Hunter, who started a parking lot striping and seal coating business with minimal upfront investment and reached $46,825 in revenue by his second month. The episode demonstrates how this overlooked service business can generate $13,000+ per day through line striping, seal coating, and crack filling, with detailed pricing strategies, equipment recommendations, and customer acquisition methods via cold email.

Key takeaways
  • Line striping can be started with just a $20 paint roller and bucket, scaling to $2,000+ profit in the first month before upgrading to equipment like the Graco 3400 machine ($2,300 used).
  • Cold email outreach to 50-300 local business owners (particularly churches) yields a 40-50% close rate, making it more effective than door-knocking for customer acquisition.
  • Seal coating generates the highest margins—a single job can bring $9,000+ in revenue with 50%+ net profit after labor and materials costs, making it more lucrative than striping alone.
  • Pricing should start at $4-5 per line for striping, $0.15-0.25 per square foot for seal coating, and $0.30-$1 per linear foot for crack filling, with adjustments for complexity like handicap symbols or relining.
  • Professional presentation and reliability matter more than equipment appearance—Hunter closed a $26,000 job arriving in a beat-up minivan with a raccoon hole in it, demonstrating that service quality and professionalism overcome skepticism.
  • PPG Flint Fast Dry paint costs $100 per 5-gallon bucket versus $150-160 for competing brands like Sherwin Williams, offering significant savings without quality compromise.
  • Essential equipment includes the Graco 3400 striping machine, a Sealite crack filling machine ($1,500), and a used seal coating trailer ($6,000), totaling under $10,000 to offer all three services.

Recommendations (6)

ChatGPT
ChatGPT uses

"So I used ChatGPT. I watched some YouTube videos and it seemed like I was in the range."

Chris Koerner on The Koerner Office Podcast · ▶ 4:00

Upwork
Upwork uses

"So, email I work with a guy overseas just on Upwork. Found him and I pay him five or six bucks for a list that he provides."

Chris Koerner on The Koerner Office Podcast · ▶ 25:05

Quote IQ uses

"So, I'll send them a quote with a software. I use Quote IQ."

Chris Koerner on The Koerner Office Podcast · ▶ 26:18

Graco 3400 uses

"So, if you're doing striping equipment, I like Graco. That's what I use. I have two. That one over there is the 3400. It's the beginner model, I guess. It's the smallest, but it's still super durable."

Chris Koerner on The Koerner Office Podcast · ▶ 30:45

PPG Flint Fast Dry recommends

"So, this right here is from a company called PPG. And it's Flint Fast Dry is the brand name. And it's been great. The yellow and white, it's about a hundred bucks per five gallons, which is great."

Chris Koerner on The Koerner Office Podcast · ▶ 32:04

Sealite uses

"So, I bought the crack filling machine new from a company called Sealite in Missouri. It was 1,500 bucks. No, it's not bad. And it's been great. No issues at all with it."

Chris Koerner on The Koerner Office Podcast · ▶ 33:01