Powder coating: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering powder coating
Clients bring parts that need durable, even finishes. Your prep process, your masking plan and your cure record are what win repeat work and referrals.
What customers ask
- Can you coat this part in the color I want?
- How durable is the finish?
- Will you strip the old paint first?
- Can you protect the threads and bearing surfaces?
- How long will the job take?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask for the part type, its size, the color, the use and the date needed.
- Show photos of coated parts from several angles, with the client's permission, including the edges and welds.
- Inspect the part before quoting, and explain any repair or prep needed before coating.
- Show the client the masking plan for threads, holes and bearing surfaces.
- Put the color, the powder type, the prep steps and the pick-up date in the quote.
- Record the cure temperature and time for each job, and share it when asked.
What to put on your profile
- Photos of coated parts from several angles, shown with consent
- A list of your services, such as stripping, blasting, powder coating and masking
- The powder types and colors you stock or can source
- Your cure process and the equipment you use
- Your business registration and any local environmental or business permit that applies to your shop
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a touch-up kit for chipped areas on coated parts
- Suggest a re-coat for parts that have been worn or exposed to road salt or weather
- Offer a pick-up and delivery service for customers with large parts
Licenses and permits
A license is often not required for powder coating, but rules differ by state and city. Keep your business registration, any local business license and any environmental or air permit that your city or state requires for coating work, and list your permits on your profile.
Questions
Do I need a license to powder coat for pay?
A license is often not required for powder coating, but rules differ by state and city. Check your local city or county rules for business licensing, and check with your state environmental agency about any air permit that applies to your shop.
How do I handle a part that has cracks or welds that will not hold coating?
Stop before coating, tell the client about the crack or weld, and explain the repair needed. Do not coat over a crack or weak weld, and record the decision on the ticket.
Should I offer a warranty on the finish?
A warranty tells the client what you will do if the finish chips or fails. Write the terms into the quote, including what the warranty does not cover, such as impact damage.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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