Nights, weekends and summer time during high school and college I had a small painting company run out the back of an old Ford Ranger pickup truck.
After college I worked a for a few civil engineering firms compiling an estimate of quantities to verify the general contractors monthly pay application. Estimates where done on road and bridge projects.
I ran a construction company in the early-2000's for an investment group in Phoenix and I always remembered the sub's picking up plan sets at the end of a long day. Complaining how they had to stay up late estimating jobs and missing their kid's soccer game.
I asked if they would pay for a good quality estimating service. They all said yes. And that is the short version of how I got here today - estimating project for paint contractor's
Now, i provide an estimating / quantities take-off service for paint contractor's across the US and Canada. Once in awhile I will estimate jobs for contractor's in England.