“Always work from a position of high integrity.” Those are Larry Rudisill’s words to budding entrepreneurs and it’s how he runs his business, Excelsior Professional Painting. 

Larry has been in this line of work since 1986 and started his own business in 2015. Excelsior Professional Painting removes textured (popcorn) ceilings, finishes, and paints. The company also stains decks and fences, and paints interior and exterior residential homes.

Larry got into the painting business after working as a waiter in Greensboro for several years. “The owner of a local painting and decorating company tended the bar [of the restaurant he worked at] on Thursday nights. We became friends and one Thursday he asked me if I'd like to come work for him. I'd been a waiter for over 6 years and was ready for a change.” That was the beginning of Larry’s training as a journeyman painter. He worked for that company for a number of years before going off on his own.

Larry did take a few detours in his painting journey. Along the way, he earned a degree in computer networking, while still painting on the side. After about a year of rotating from contract to contract, Larry decided in 2015 to go back to painting full-time and started Excelsior Professional Painting.

Where did the name come from? “A friend of mine used to sign his letters and emails with the salutation, Excelsior, and his name. My understanding of the definition at the time was that it meant 'Onward and Upward’ or was a reference to excellence. It is also the New York State motto meaning ‘ever upward.’ I wanted my company to reflect excellence and stand for quality,” he says.

Larry says his business’ most popular service in the warm months is deck and fence staining. People find his business on Google. “I think because of the way we prepare the decks or fences for stain, people are impressed and often choose us over other contractors. Our goal is to make the stain last as long as it is supposed to last before needing a maintenance coat.”

Larry has been working with Zibster for several years. Larry tells us, "The ease of use was what hooked me as well as the very low price to host the platform." He also says our SEO GO service helped get him found on Google. "I now receive well over 60 percent of my business from people searching Google and finding my company. I attribute Zibster to this," he says.

Zibster has provided an “excellent platform to build our website,” he says. “I often get compliments about our website which help[s] people make a decision to use us. Plus, with the way we have our website set up, people can schedule an appointment with us without even having to call.” 

Larry concludes, "Zibster provides excellent customer service and is very accessible when I have questions or want to make changes."

What’s next for Larry and Excelsior Professional Painting? “Mostly refinement of what we are already doing, possibly adding commercial work when it makes sense to do so. We are not interested in growing too fast, but we would like to grow the business so that we can serve more people. Finding quality help can be challenging and we only want to hire quality people. We have that now and would like to keep it that way.”

What advice would Larry give to budding entrepreneurs? He says referrals/word-of-mouth is the best way to grow your business, as long as you do quality work and give excellent customer service. “Join a networking group, such as BNI (Business Networking International) ... and stick with the group to build relationships. Don't give up. Build relationships. Those relationships may or may not provide direct business but someone always knows someone else that may become your best customer or lead you to your best customer.”

Larry says “the longer you stay with a group, the more people will get to know you. The more they know you, the more they will learn to trust you. When that happens, they will refer business to you. And most importantly, refer other people in your group business and they will refer business to you.” Larry takes that to heart. Thank you, Larry, for referring other businesses to Zibster!