An FBA broker helped place a candidate into a Five Star Painting franchise in Fort Myers, Florida. Here’s what happened, why the painting franchise fit, and what buyers should check in Item 19.

Congratulations to FBA Broker Matt Lucas on successfully placing a Five Star Painting candidate in Florida—an exciting example of franchise growth through the right match and a well-run process.

If you’re exploring a painting franchise opportunity and want to compare options as you read, start here: Find Franchises.

The Five Star Painting Franchise Placement: Fort Myers, FL

Rich Kocinski spent the last 35 years in the medical sales industry. With a teenager in the house, he began looking for ways to supplement—and eventually replace—his income from consulting for medical device manufacturers.

Living in Southwest Florida in an affluent community with many retirees, Rich was keenly aware of the ongoing demand for premium home services—and that demand often translates into consistent opportunity for the right owner in a painting-focused service model.

That’s when Matt reached out to Justin Penard of Five Star Painting. Rich had managed budgets of $250M in the past, so he really dove into Item 19 and liked what he read. Matt sat in on the initial call with Justin but let Rich lead the way from there—because understanding the candidate’s personality is so important.

About 7 weeks later, this motivated driver was awarded the Five Star Painting franchise in Fort Myers, FL.

“Matt did a great job,” Penard said. “He told me early on, ‘Rich is really digging you guys,’ and he stayed out of the way, let Rich come to the conclusion on his own. Matt read the tea leaves and handled his personality perfectly.”

Want a deeper breakdown of the brand? Read our full Five Star Painting franchise article.

Why Five Star Painting Fit This Candidate (And Why It Often Works for Sales Leaders)

This placement is a useful example of how a painting franchise can match a candidate’s background—especially when they have strong sales discipline and relationship skills.

In Rich’s case, several fit factors stand out:

• High-value market demand: Affluent communities and retiree-heavy areas often need painting for refresh cycles, second homes, and property upkeep.
• Sales-to-service translation: Owners who are comfortable following up leads, building trust, and managing expectations tend to do well in home services.
• Operational focus over “food complexity”: A paint franchise can be attractive for candidates who want a service model without the staffing intensity and inventory complexity of restaurant operations.

If you’re still narrowing down which industries fit your lifestyle and strengths, take the Zorakle Assessment for a fast starting point.

What to Look for in Item 19.

Rich “really dove into Item 19,” which is an important clue for other buyers. Item 19 in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is where a franchisor may provide financial performance representations (commonly called an “earnings claim”).

A few quick best practices:

• Compare Item 19 across similar brands (apples-to-apples)
• Validate the story through franchisee calls (not just the document)
• Ask what drives performance differences: marketing, close rate, average ticket, labor model, seasonality, and local competition

Results vary by market and operator. Neither a broker nor a franchisor replaces qualified legal and financial advisors. Always review the FDD and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and CPA.

To pressure-test your budget and cash needs before you commit, use the Franchise Financial Calculator.

Five Star Painting at a Glance (Neighborly Brand).

Five Star Painting, a Neighborly company, is a national leader in the residential and commercial painting industry with 200+ outlets in the United States.

The article notes:

• Initial investment range: $74,700 – $184,250
• Franchise fee: $45,000

(As always, verify current numbers in the most recent FDD.)

If you want to understand the discovery process end-to-end before taking calls, start with the Franchise Webinar.

How an FBA Broker Helps Close the Right Deal (Not Just Any Deal).

This story also highlights what a strong FBA broker deal looks like in practice:

• Start with the candidate’s goals and strengths
• Introduce a short list of brands that match the profile
• Help structure the process, but let the candidate own the decision
• Support validation and discovery without forcing outcomes

If you want guided, one-on-one support through that process, book Franchise Consulting.

For live support, peer learning, and real-time Q&A while you evaluate options, join Franpath Live.

Next Steps: Explore Painting Franchise Opportunities (And Other Home Services).

If Five Star Painting is on your shortlist—or you’re exploring a broader painting franchise opportunity—the smartest step is comparison. Home services can be a strong category, but the best model depends on your market, capital, and the role you want to play as an owner.

Five Star Painting, a Neighborly company, is a national leader in the residential and commercial painting industry with over 200 outlets in the United States. The initial investment range of $74,700 – $184,250 includes the $45,000 franchise fee.

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For more information on Five Star Painting, contact us today.
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Note: We use the term “Franchise Broker” because it is the legal term for our profession. Others in the industry use “Franchise Consultants” which they self-define. We choose to use the legal term as we feel it’s more appropriate and clear. Consultants typically charge for services. Franchise Brokers are paid by the Seller, not the Buyer. There is no charge to the Buyer for our Franchise Broker services.