FLYING COLORS
Flying Colors is a San Francisco-based licensed general contractor founded in 1984, providing interior/exterior renovation, painting, seismic retrofitting, ADA compliance, and lead abatement services to residential property owners and select commercial/institutional clients across the city.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What FLYING COLORS does
Flying Colors is a San Francisco-based licensed general contractor founded in 1984 by Steven Mongan, specializing in interior and exterior renovation and painting services for both residential and commercial/institutional property owners. The company's core offerings span two integrated lines: painting services (including power washing, deck refinishing, elastomeric waterproofing, lead abatement, Victorian exteriors, and decorative finishes such as gold/silver/copper leafing and faux finishes) and renovation services (dry rot repair, carpentry, home additions, decks/stairs/fences, door/window installation, seismic retrofitting, ADA compliance, and green building measures). Underlying technical capability rests on trade expertise rather than proprietary technology: the company holds California Contractor License B & C33 #594249 and maintains EPA Lead, RRP, and Building Analysis certifications, combined with deep knowledge of San Francisco's distinctive building stock (Victorian mansions, Craftsman homes, hillside properties, apartment complexes, office towers).
The business operates a direct-to-consumer and direct-to-commercial model, serving a primary mix of SF residential property owners alongside institutional clients such as the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and Bank of America. Customer acquisition flows through the company website (flyingcolors.com), phone (415-564-4500), email, and word-of-mouth referrals in the local market. Pricing is project-based with free, no-obligation quotes, generating one-time project revenue per engagement rather than recurring contracts. The team consists of approximately 25 building professionals with 8-10 year average tenure, supported by managed subcontractors and vendor relationships cultivated over decades. No external investment, M&A activity, or ownership transitions are documented; the company remains founder-owned and privately held.
FLYING COLORS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FLYING COLORS
- Legal name
- Flying Colors
- Website
- https://flyingcolors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Flying Colors is a San Francisco-based licensed general contractor founded in 1984, providing interior/exterior renovation, painting, seismic retrofitting, ADA compliance, and lead abatement services to residential property owners and select commercial/institutional clients across the city.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FLYING COLORS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential and Commercial Renovation & Painting Services
- NAICS
- Glass and Glazing Contractors (23815)
- SIC
- Electrical Work (1731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Paint & Refinishing Services (Spray, Color-Match, Clearcoat) (TLAKAEAC)
Keywords
Where FLYING COLORS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FLYING COLORS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- General Contracting and Renovation Services: Project-based revenue from renovation, repair, and painting services for both interior and exterior projects. Services range from simple repairs to full renovations, home additions, and specialized work including dry rot repair, door/window installations, seismic retrofitting, and ADA compliance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
FLYING COLORS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Flying Colors is a licensed, bonded, and insured San Francisco general contractor providing interior and exterior renovation and painting services since 1984. The company serves both residential and commercial/institutional property owners with capabilities spanning simple repairs, full renovations, home additions, seismic retrofitting, ADA compliance, lead abatement, and specialty decorative finishes for San Francisco's Victorian and historic building stock. Projects are delivered by trained in-house crews with EPA Lead and RRP certification, supported by an established network of subcontractors and vendors.
Product overview
Flying Colors is a licensed, bonded, and insured general contractor serving San Francisco since 1984. The company offers two integrated service lines: Painting Services (power washing, deck refinishing, waterproofing, enamel finishes, lead abatement, Victorian exteriors, decorative finishes) and Renovation Services (dry rot repair, carpentry, home additions, door/window installation, seismic retrofitting, ADA compliance). The company specializes in San Francisco's diverse architecture, from Victorian mansions to commercial buildings, and holds EPA Lead Certification and RRP certification for safe renovation practices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Painting Services Comprehensive interior and exterior painting services for residential and commercial property owners in San Francisco, including power washing, deck refinishing, elastomeric waterproofing, expert enamel finish, lead abatement, Victorian exteriors, gold/silver/copper leafing, faux finishes, and wood graining.
- Renovation Services General renovation and construction services for residential and commercial property owners in San Francisco, including dry rot repair, minor carpentry, home additions, decks and stairs, fences and gates, door and window installations, seismic retrofitting, ADA compliance, and green building/energy-saving measures.
- Lead Abatement and Environmental Assessment Certified lead abatement services with environmental assessment for safe renovation of older buildings, compliant with EPA RRP requirements and performed by EPA Lead Certified personnel.
- Seismic Retrofitting Earthquake retrofitting services to improve structural stability and safety of San Francisco buildings.
- ADA Compliance Services Accessibility compliance services ensuring buildings meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and codes.
- Green Building and Energy-Saving Measures Environmentally sustainable renovation and energy-efficient building upgrades for residential and commercial properties in San Francisco.
Companies that use FLYING COLORS
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
FLYING COLORS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
FLYING COLORS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
FLYING COLORS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Swinerton: Large California-headquartered general contractor with a significant Bay Area presence across commercial, residential, and tenant improvement work. Comparable as a competing GC for institutional and commercial renovation projects in SF, though far larger and broader in scope than Flying Colors.
- Webcor: Established Bay Area general contractor offering construction, renovation, and self-perform services across commercial and residential projects. Comparable to Flying Colors for SF renovation and tenant improvement work, but operates at much greater scale and with a broader geographic footprint.
Direct peers
- CertaPro Painters: Franchise-based residential and commercial painting contractor serving the Bay Area. Closest direct peer in terms of service offering (interior/exterior painting, residential and light commercial), with comparable project-based pricing and free-estimate motion, though Flying Colors adds broader general contracting capabilities.
- Five Star Painting: National residential and commercial painting franchise with Bay Area locations. Comparable to Flying Colors for residential and commercial repaint work, though without the deeper general contracting and historical restoration specialization.
Emerging players
- Mr. Handyman: Franchise-based home repair and maintenance service provider with Bay Area locations. Comparable to Flying Colors for residential repair and light renovation services, but limited in scope of full general contracting and historical restoration.
Regional players
- Cahill Contractors: San Francisco general contractor focused on commercial, residential, and historic renovation projects. Comparable for SF mid-market institutional and residential renovation work, including work on older and historically significant buildings.
- Mark III Construction: Sacramento/Northern California general contractor with residential, commercial, and tenant improvement capabilities. Comparable to Flying Colors for regional renovation and improvement services, though serving a broader Northern California footprint.
- James R. Griffin Co. San Francisco-area painting and coatings contractor serving commercial, institutional, and residential clients. Directly comparable to Flying Colors for interior and exterior painting services in the Bay Area.
- Nibbi Brothers Associates: San Francisco-based general contractor specializing in commercial, residential, and tenant improvement projects. Direct geographic and service-line overlap with Flying Colors for SF renovation and historical building work.
Others
- Sherwin-Williams: Largest U.S. paint manufacturer and coatings retailer. Comparable to Flying Colors only indirectly as a supplier/ecosystem participant; not a direct competitor but its commercial painting division occasionally competes for large-scale repaint contracts.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FLYING COLORS social profiles
Digital presenceFLYING COLORS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
FLYING COLORS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FLYING COLORS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
FLYING COLORS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FLYING COLORS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FLYING COLORS
What does FLYING COLORS do?
Flying Colors is a licensed, bonded, and insured San Francisco general contractor providing interior and exterior renovation and painting services since 1984. The company serves both residential and commercial/institutional property owners with capabilities spanning simple repairs, full renovations, home additions, seismic retrofitting, ADA compliance, lead abatement, and specialty decorative finishes for San Francisco's Victorian and historic building stock. Projects are delivered by trained in-house crews with EPA Lead and RRP certification, supported by an established network of subcontractors and vendors.
Is FLYING COLORS a public or private company?
FLYING COLORS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was FLYING COLORS founded?
FLYING COLORS was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FLYING COLORS based?
FLYING COLORS is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does FLYING COLORS make money?
One revenue line is on record: general Contracting and Renovation Services.
Who are FLYING COLORS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Swinerton and Webcor. Direct peers are CertaPro Painters and Five Star Painting. Mr. Handyman is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Cahill Contractors, Mark III Construction, James R. Griffin Co. and Nibbi Brothers Associates. Sherwin-Williams is listed as an others.
Does FLYING COLORS have an API?
No public API is recorded for FLYING COLORS.
What industry is FLYING COLORS in?
FLYING COLORS's product category is Residential and Commercial Renovation & Painting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAEAC, Paint & Refinishing Services (Spray, Color-Match, Clearcoat). Its NAICS code is 23815 and its SIC code is 1731.