Painting Contractors Association (PCA)

What Painting Contractors Association (PCA) does

Painting Contractors Association (PCA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 1884 as the Master House Painters' Association of the United States and Canada and rebranded to its current name in 2019 (previously Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, or PDCA). Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with an operational office in St. Louis, Missouri, PCA serves painting contractors across residential, commercial, and industrial segments in the United States and Canada, with a stated focus on residential and commercial contractors as its primary customer segments.

PCA's core product surface is a bundled membership priced at $499/year (or $49.99/month) that includes access to PCA Overdrive — a proprietary video-on-demand platform hosting over 600 hours of educational and entertainment content available on web, mobile, Apple AirPlay, and Google Chromecast — and the Painter Training portal, which delivers sequential video courses (Introduction to the Painting Trade, Interior Levels 1–3, Exterior Levels 1–3) with knowledge-check quizzes and digital certificates. Members also receive access to Business Training (Foundation, Accelerator, Legacy tiers, exclusively funded by Sherwin-Williams), Industry Standards documents (P1–P25) produced by the PCA Education Foundation, health insurance quoting tools, marketplace discounts, the APC Magazine subscription, and a recruitment/job board platform. Non-members can purchase Painter Training courses at $99 per trainee per course.

The organization generates revenue through four primary streams: membership subscriptions (recurring), event registration fees (EXPO, Craftsmanship, Residential, Commercial, Women in Paint, and en Español conferences with tiered pricing), non-member training fees and store product sales (manuals, merchandise, estimating guides), and industry partner sponsorships. National Champion partners include Sherwin-Williams (which exclusively funds the Business Training curriculum) and Benjamin Moore; Premier partners include Behr; additional tiered partners include PPG, 3M, Federated Insurance (exclusive endorsed insurance carrier since 1904), and a long tail of technology and service partners offering member discounts. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the PCA website with self-serve signup, augmented by a national network of regional Gathering Groups, the PaintED Facebook community, Women in Paint, and El Pintor Hispano communities, plus an active webinar and event marketing cadence.

Name

Painting Contractors Association (PCA)

Legal name

Painting Contractors Association

Website

https://pcapainted.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1884

Operating status

Operating

Short description

PCA is a 140+ year-old nonprofit trade association serving residential, commercial, and industrial painting contractors across North America through a $499/year membership bundling video training (Painter Training, PCA Overdrive), business education, industry standards, annual events, health insurance, and partner discounts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Membership, Accreditation & Credentialing Registration Systems (THAHAFAG)

Keywords

• Trade association membership
• Painting contractor training
• Industry standards development
• Professional painter certification
• Painting industry events

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual and monthly membership fees providing access to all PCA resources including training, Overdrive, events discounts, industry partner discounts, healthcare options, safety templates, and APC Magazine subscription
2. PCA Store Products: Sale of PCA merchandise, Craftsmanship Operating Procedures manuals, and Cost and Estimating guides. Members receive exclusive discounts on store products.
3. Painter Training (Non-members): Non-members pay $99 per trainee per course for access to the training portal with certificates of completion
4. Event Registration: Revenue from event registration fees including EXPO, Craftsmanship Conference, Residential Conference, Commercial Conference, Women in Paint, and PCA en Español events. Includes early bird, pre-event, and on-site pricing tiers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

PCA is a nonprofit trade association that delivers membership services to painting contractors, including training programs (Painter Training and PCA Overdrive video library), business development courses, industry standards documentation, an annual EXPO conference, regional gathering groups, health insurance access, marketplace discounts, and networking communities. Members pay annual or monthly dues that unlock a bundled portfolio of benefits, while non-members can purchase individual training courses, event registrations, and store products.

Product overview

The Painting Contractors Association (PCA) operates as a membership-based professional association, not a unified SaaS platform. The organization offers a portfolio of distinct programs and services centered around painter training (Painter Training video-on-demand platform and PCA Overdrive with 600+ hours of content), business development (Business Training with Foundation, Accelerator, and Legacy courses), industry standards (25 published standards documents), annual conferences (EXPO, Craftsmanship, Residential, Commercial, Women in Paint, en Español), marketplace discounts, healthcare benefits, and community networking. These services are delivered through a combination of web platforms, in-person events, and member resources. PCA membership ($499/year) bundles access to most services, with individual events and store products available separately.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PCA Overdrive: Online streaming platform offering over 600 hours of educational and entertaining content for painting professionals.
• Painter Training
• PCA Business Training
• PCA & Behr Veterans Scholarship Program
• Paint-It-Forward

Products and services

• PCA Contractor Membership Annual subscription at $499/year or $49.99/month providing painting contractors access to PCA's bundled portfolio of training, events, discounts, and member resources.
• PCA Affiliate Membership Annual membership at $499 for institutions, resellers, and non-profits providing unlimited access to business and technical courses, industry standards, networking opportunities, and full website access.
• Painter Training Self-paced online training platform offering Introduction to the Painting Trade, Interior Levels 1-3, and Exterior Levels 1-3 with quizzes and digital certificates of completion; free for members, $99 per person per course for non-members.
• PCA Overdrive Exclusive video-on-demand platform offering over 600 hours of educational and entertaining content for painting professionals, free for PCA members.
• Business Training Three instructor-led programs — Business Foundation (startups to $500K), Business Accelerator ($500K-$2M+), and Business Legacy — delivered by industry professionals with cohort meetings and peer engagement.
• PCA Industry Standards Published set of industry standards (P1-P25) establishing quality measures for wall coating work, protecting contractors and consumers from misunderstandings and contract disputes.
• PCA EXPO Annual national convention with networking, educational sessions, an industry trade show, and the Paint-It-Forward charity event; tiered registration pricing from $1,099 to $1,750.
• PCA Store Online retail storefront for PCA merchandise, Craftsmanship Operating Procedures manuals, and Cost & Estimating guides, with member-exclusive discounts.
• Health Insurance Program Member access to health insurance plans (MEC/MVP, Level-Funded, and Expected Benefit Plans) with real-time quoting technology, free licensed consultants, and free enrollment platform.
• Marketplace Discounts Curated discount program offering PCA members exclusive savings on tools, marketing services, software, and business services from partner companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 140+ years of industry standards development
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered national champion, premier partner, business, national partner, exclusive, core, strategic and friend.

• Benjamin Moorenational championGTM or Marketing PartnerNational Champion partner since 1883. Committed to producing superior paints and coatings for both consumers and professionals. At the forefront of technological innovation, product leadership, and unrivaled color selection in the paint industry. Forges strong partnership with design professionals.
• Sherwin-Williamsnational championGTM or Marketing PartnerNation's largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies with over 150 years of experience. Supports painting professionals and contractors with exceptional products, high-performance solutions, comprehensive line of coatings, and online resources. 3,300+ representatives and 4,500+ stores across North America.
• Behr (BEHR PRO)premier partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier Partner serving the needs of professional painters, contractors, remodelers, and property owners/managers through the BEHR PRO Professional Products & Services Program. Delivers high-quality products and personalized services nationwide.
• Pittsburgh Paints Company (PPG)businessGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading producer of interior and exterior paints, stains, caulks, repair products, adhesives, and sealants with 150 years of product innovation. Portfolio includes PITTSBURGH PAINTS and GLIDDEN brands. Products available at national and independent retailers.
• 3Mnational partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerDiversified technology company serving customers with innovative products and services. Captures spark of new ideas and transforms them into ingenious products. Dedicated to creative collaboration and never-ending invention.
• Federated Insurancenational partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive endorsed insurance carrier of PCA since 1904. Protects businesses and business owners through valuable insurance and risk management services. Provides members with complimentary review of business and life insurance policy.
• Painter Marketing Prosnational partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerHelps residential and commercial painting companies get more quality customers through internet marketing. Services include custom website development, SEO, Google ads, Facebook ads, reputation management, social media marketing, and email marketing.
• Angi LeadsbusinessGTM or Marketing PartnerLead management, customer service, and marketing tools to connect with customers and win more jobs with special PCA discount. 25% off leads for first 30 days and 6% quarterly rebate on total spend.
• Sherwin-Williams (Business Training)exclusiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive supporter of PCA Business Training programs. Provides business training for startups to $2M+ companies including Business Foundation, Business Accelerator, and Business Legacy courses delivered by industry professionals.
• Behr Paint Company (Veterans Scholarship)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with PCA for the U.S. Veterans Scholarship Program. Behr provides support for 100 scholarships offering FREE first-year PCA membership to U.S. veterans and transitioning service members including customized onboarding, mentorship, and access to Behr's Veterans Network.
• Sherwin Williams, PPG, Benjamin Moore (Painter Training)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerous support of PCA Painter Training video-on-demand platform providing comprehensive training for the painting industry. Courses include Introduction to the Trade, Interior Levels 1-3, and Exterior Levels 1-3.
• Health Benefits AlliancestrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerUnique health insurance offerings available to PCA members including MEC/MVP Plans, Level-Funded Plans, and Expected Benefit Plans.
• Breakthrough AcademyfriendGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides 10 free ready-made tools including directives, reference files, and editable templates for PCA members.
• CompanyCamfriendTechnology or IntegrationFree 14-day trial of CompanyCam Pro and 25% off first two months for PCA members.
• busybusyfriendTechnology or Integration3 extra months free with first annual purchase for PCA members.
• Estimate RocketfriendTechnology or Integration30 days free plus 50% off first two months for PCA members. Webinar partnership with Jason Paris from PCA.
• NiceJobfriendTechnology or Integration50% off first 2 months for PCA members.
• Farrow & BallfriendGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium paint manufacturer providing tips for the trade through PCA blog content.
• PaintCarefriendStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization operating paint stewardship programs in states with paint recycling legislation. Currently serves 13 states and DC with 100+ drop-off sites per state. Provides large volume pickup service for 100+ gallons.
• Base Coat MarketingfriendGTM or Marketing PartnerFREE Facebook Group Monitoring with any Digital Marketing Program for PCA members.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): ABC is a national trade association representing the commercial construction industry, including merit-shop contractors. Comparable to PCA as a U.S. construction trade association offering training, advocacy, and standards, but operating at a much broader industry scope.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): NAHB is a large U.S. trade association for residential builders, remodelers, and suppliers. Comparable to PCA in member-based training and advocacy model, though it serves the broader homebuilding ecosystem rather than painting specifically.
• Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): AGC is one of the leading U.S. construction trade associations, providing training, education, and advocacy for general contractors. Similar association structure to PCA, with member dues, training programs, and industry standards.

Direct peers

• American Subcontractors Association (ASA): ASA represents subcontractors in the construction industry, including specialty trade contractors. Highly comparable to PCA as a smaller trade association focused on a specific contractor niche, with similar advocacy, education, and standards offerings.
• National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA): NRCA is a U.S. trade association for roofing contractors, providing training, certifications, and advocacy. Directly comparable to PCA in operating model — a focused trade association serving specialty contractors with member dues, certification programs, and annual conventions.
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC): IEC is a trade association for merit-shop electrical contractors, providing apprenticeship training and education. Comparable to PCA in structure — focused on a single skilled trade with training, certification, and member benefits.
• Construction Specifications Institute (CSI): CSI is a U.S. association for building construction professionals focused on standards, certification, and education. Comparable to PCA as a construction-focused membership organization offering credentials, training, and industry standards.

Regional players

• National Painting & Decorating Association (UK) - historical reference: The historical UK National Painting & Decorating Association served British painting contractors with a similar training and advocacy model. Comparable in mission and membership structure to PCA, though operating in a different geography.

Others

• Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) historical entity: PDCA was the prior name of PCA (renamed in 2019). Not a separate peer but referenced here for context — the same organization continues under the PCA brand with the same 1884 lineage and mission.

Emerging players

• Master Painters Institute (MPI): MPI develops paint and coating standards used by specifiers and contractors across North America. Comparable to PCA's Industry Standards function (P1–P25), though MPI focuses more on technical paint specifications and accredited product listings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PCAsocial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBTMBYTowqtaZJvPCRL4TtA
• Facebookfacebook.com/PCAsocial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pcasocial
• Instagraminstagram.com/pcasocial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Painting Contractors Association (PCA)