14/05/2026
Why Driving a Taxi is a better business model than decorating
Being self-employed as a decorator can sometimes be a poor business model — and here’s one reason why.
Imagine getting into a taxi for 20 minutes. You’d think nothing of paying £25–£35 for the journey, because you understand you’re paying for someone’s time, fuel, vehicle costs, insurance, experience, and the fact they’ve stopped earning elsewhere to take you where you need to go.
Now think about a decorator.
A decorator might travel the same 20–30 minutes to visit a customer, spend 30–60 minutes discussing the work, measuring up, sharing advice, helping choose the best approach, and putting together a professional quote… only to leave earning absolutely nothing.
No travel payment. No consultation fee. No guarantee of work.
And often, after several unpaid quotes in a week, people wonder why good tradesmen are hard to find, prices have gone up, or why some stop travelling outside their area.
The reality is, for many sole trader decorators, the business model is broken.
We absorb fuel, van costs, insurance, tools, wear and tear, admin time, and unpaid quoting hours — all before we even pick up a paintbrush.
Most customers are genuine, and quotes are part of the job. But there also has to be value placed on a tradesperson’s time and experience. A good decorator isn’t just giving a price — they’re giving years of knowledge, advice, and often helping customers avoid expensive mistakes.
Maybe the trade needs to rethink how quoting works, especially for longer distances or detailed consultations.
After all, time is valuable — whether you’re in a taxi or standing in someone’s hallway giving professional advice.