Due to the changing nature of technology, you will need to contact CertaPro for current technology specifications. You must purchase the systems specified by CertaPro directly from CertaPro or a designated supplier. Currently, the cost of computer hardware will vary from approximately $1,500 to $4,000. You are also required to use CertaOne, our proprietary software solution, which is based on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform that has been customized for CertaPro’s processes to enable CertaPro Painters franchisees to manage their residential and commercial painting business. CertaOne includes features and functions for CRM, marketing, sales, estimating, job scheduling and crew management for both residential and commercial work. CertaOne combines cloud and mobile technology to enable franchisees to create and deliver proposals in the customer’s home. To use CertaOne, you are required to pay a monthly User fee that includes the license fees due to Microsoft for Dynamic 365 and Office 365. This fee is paid to CertaPro who handles the billing and payment in order to secure favorable pricing for franchisees. Also, see Item 6, Note 5 and Item 7, Note 5. You will also need an operating system, virus 23 M/S 3-26 protection software, and internet connectivity. The CertaOne mobile estimating application is not currently supported by MacOS; therefore, Apple laptops are not recommended. You must maintain and upgrade your hardware and software systems as needed and according to CertaPro’s specifications. There is no limit to how often you may be required to upgrade your computer or software system. You are also required to pay a monthly technology fee of 0.35% of your Gross Sales; also see Item 7.
From the filings
CertaPro Painters
Home servicesCertaPro Painters operates 304 units — 299 franchised, 5 company-owned — and the 2026 FDD names a Chief Information Officer, Dean Riviera, alongside a hard mandate for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and CertaPro's own proprietary CertaOne software. Franchised outlets fell 1.32% year over year on a base whose Item 19 figure runs to $2,102,015 for full-year 2025 operators.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ordinary royalty terms
6% component; full terms unconfirmed
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing.
Recorded percentage components
These are recorded percentage components. Each has its own base and conditions; the chart does not state the total payment or confirm ad-fund completeness.
1recorded components (FY2026)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
1 technology requirement is recorded in this filing. A required choice lists alternatives for one obligation. Read each cited clause for its conditions.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
20 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 5 explicit no's; 9 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee agrees to establish a bookkeeping and accounting system conforming to such requirements as are prescribed by CertaPro in its Operations Manual from time to time, including use of software applications, programs, or backup/storage systems.
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
CertaPro will not have independent access to information stored in your computer, other than the data that you send to us.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee shall provide profit and loss statements and balance sheets prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
CertaPro’s affiliates did derive revenue from the sale of goods or services directly to CertaPro franchisees during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?
YesItem 20
The CertaPro Franchise Owners Association (CPFOA) is a group of franchisees selected by franchisees who meets regularly with CertaPro.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 8
We have the right, under the Franchise Agreement, to change the standards and specifications applicable to operation of the franchise, including standards and specifications for Approved Services and Products, equipment, signs, furnishings, supplies, fixtures, inventory, computer systems (hardware, software…
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
Certain of our approved paint suppliers pay CertaPro varying amounts on certain franchisee purchases, ranging from a flat start-up fee to a 5.5% commission.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
44Item 8
We estimate that approximately 34% of your total purchases to establish your business will be made from our approved suppliers, and approximately 44% to operate your business.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
In addition to our approved suppliers, we will approve a supplier if, in our business judgment, the supplier is able to provide goods or services that conform to our specifications, with appropriate fulfillment systems and pricing.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee acknowledges and agrees that such telephone number(s) are the sole property of CertaPro
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee must take all steps, including but not limited to those related to visibility and management of the business network, that are necessary to ensure that the CertaPro Business is compliant with all data privacy and security laws and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) requirements, as…
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 17
During the Term of this Agreement and for two (2) years thereafter, upon reasonable prior notice, CertaPro or its designee may conduct an audit of Franchisee’s compliance with this Agreement.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 11
CertaPro may modify the Operations Manual, but the modifications will not alter your status or rights under the Franchise Agreement.
Marketing
Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?
YesItem 11
You are required to spend 12% of your Gross Sales on your local advertising and marketing campaigns during your first year of operation, which is required whether you purchase a startup or existing franchised business. After your first year of operation, you are required to spend 8% of Gross Sales on your local…
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesItem 11
If a cooperative has been established for the area in which your CertaPro franchise is located, you must agree to participate in the cooperative by signing the program participation amendment or addendum.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 11
You must purchase the systems specified by CertaPro directly from CertaPro or a designated supplier.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesFranchise agreement
Business only those brands or types of machinery, equipment, and signs that are in compliance with industry and/or CertaPro’s specifications and standards for design, appearance, function, performance and serviceability and to purchase all such items only from suppliers that have been approved by CertaPro.
Sales and CRM
Must the franchisee use a CRM system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
You are also required to use CertaOne, our proprietary software solution, which is based on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform that has been customized for CertaPro’s processes to enable CertaPro Painters franchisees to manage their residential and commercial painting business.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesFranchise agreement
From time to time, CertaPro may provide additional training courses which Franchisee or Franchisee’s designated representative will be required to attend and satisfactorily and timely complete, and for which Franchisee will be charged a reasonable fee.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesItem 11
You must attend all segments of the initial training program, must participate in the Forum Group, and must attend the national conference and regional and sales/production/marketing meetings each year.
The filing answers no to 5 questions
- Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?Item 8
- Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?Item 11
- Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?Item 17
- Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?Item 11
- Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?Item 11
The vendor opportunity at CertaPro Painters CertaPro Painters operates 304 units under the 2026 FDD — 299 franchised, 5 company-owned. Franchised outlets fell 1.32% year over year. Florida (27), Texas (25), New Jersey (22), Virginia (19) and Georgia (18) lead the footprint.
Who controls software purchasing Michael Stone is President and CEO; Josh Painter is CFO; Bill Palliser is EVP of Operations; Adam Biedenbender runs franchise business development. Dean Riviera holds the title of Chief Information Officer — the clearest named seat for the Microsoft Dynamics 365 and CertaOne mandates below. Because CertaOne and the platform it runs on are specified centrally and billed through CertaPro, purchasing authority sits at HQ.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required Every franchisee must use CertaOne, CertaPro's proprietary software solution, along with periodic upgrades. CertaOne runs on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform, and the monthly CertaOne User fee covers the license fees due to Microsoft for Dynamics 365 and Office 365. Franchisees must and must maintain and upgrade computer hardware and software according to CertaPro's specifications — there is no stated limit on how often an upgrade can be required. Computer systems must be purchased from CertaPro or a designated supplier, franchisees pay a monthly technology fee of 0.35% of Gross Sales, and databases must be transferred to CertaPro's servers at least once a day.
Procurement, renewals, and timing Item 8 runs an approved-supplier list. CertaOne and its periodic upgrades, must be obtained from CertaPro, and franchisees typically must use CertaPro's designated toll-free answering service, Tele-Link Services, an affiliate; other goods and services come from an approved-vendor list, and CertaPro will approve additional suppliers that meet its specifications. CertaPro estimates that roughly 34% of a franchisee's startup purchases and 44% of operating purchases come from approved suppliers, some of whom pay CertaPro a license fee of up to 5.5% of franchisee sales made through them — CertaPro's revenue from these arrangements ran $3,291,134 in fiscal 2025, 8.3% of total gross revenue. Item 17 sets a 10-year initial term with a right to renew on CertaPro's then-current terms; with franchised outlets down 1.32% year over year, expect steady, turnover-driven contract activity rather than a single wave.
How to read the CertaPro Painters FDD The embedded viewer below carries CertaPro Painters' 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, including the Microsoft Dynamics 365 and CertaOne language above. Talk to FranCloud for a ranked list of home-services franchise systems to pitch next.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
CertaPro Painters, answered from the filing
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Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
388 operators run 389 mapped locations. 1 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| FL | 27 |
|---|---|
| TX | 25 |
| NJ | 22 |
| VA | 19 |
| GA | 18 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind CertaPro Painters
Ownership: FirstService Brands.
Sibling brands
Related Home services brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.