About This Job

Student Business Operator, Summer Painting Business

Scholars Edge Painting Western Canada

  • Seasonal
  • Students only
  • Canadian citizens & PRs
  • No experience needed
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What you can earn $23,400 to $133,500 in net profit over the season

Who can apply

  • Students only. You must be enrolled in college or university.
  • Canadian students only. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. International students cannot apply.

What the job is

You run your own house painting business for one summer. We give you the training, the brand, the tools to find customers, and a mentor. You do these things:

  • Find customers. Use our marketing system to get leads in your area.
  • Give quotes. Visit homeowners and tell them the price. Our estimating system works out what to charge.
  • Hire a crew. Build and lead your own team of painters.
  • Get the work done. Plan the jobs, order the paint, and make sure customers are happy.
  • Keep the profit. It’s your business, so the results belong to you.

You don’t need any painting or business experience. We train you before the season starts.

What you can earn

$23,400 to $133,500 in net profit over the season.

Most operators make at least $20,000. The top operators in 2024 made $75,000, $100,000 and $130,000. Income is not guaranteed. It depends on your effort, your market and the weather, and some operators earn less.

What we handle for you

Your business licence, $5M liability insurance, WCB coverage, a paint store account, a line of credit, bookkeeping, payroll and one-on-one coaching. You bring a vehicle, a phone and basic equipment.

Time commitment

  • January to AprilAbout 20 hours a week, alongside your classes. You won’t miss school.
  • May to AugustFull time, 70+ hours a week at the busiest point.

Spots are limited. Each area goes to the first student who secures it, so apply early.

Apply Now

See if you are a good fit before applying.

Not a good fit
  • You are an international student and do not have a full-time work permit
  • Not interested in sales, marketing, or business ops
  • Prefers a safe 9-to-5 over high-effort, high-reward work
  • Doesn’t have time to run a business
Good fit
  • You are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
  • Willing to work hard to earn extra money or gain fundamental skills needed to run a business
  • Has 15-25+ hours a week to commit
  • Wants to escape the “safe 9-to-5” and aim for high-effort, high-reward work
The process

How it works.

  1. 1Apply with your info and a 3-min essay on why you should be selected (AI-written essays are automatically disqualified)
  2. 2We pick top candidates for in-person interviews
  3. 3Best essay wins a $2,500 bonus toward starting their own business
  4. 4We train you to run a Scholars Edge Painting location in your city (hiring, sales, marketing, project management)
  5. 5Season starts — student-operators run their franchise, earning $25K to $130K+ in profit per season
Scholars Edge student-operators at a training session

Only 1 in 50 applicants qualifies.

Apply Today
  • Earn over $25K in 5 months as a student
  • 260+ student-operators hired from 20+ Universities
  • Beats any internship, in pay and on your resume
Meet the mentors

Learn From People Who’ve Done It

Every mentor in the program ran a Scholars Edge business themselves. They’ve made the calls, hired the crews, and hit the walls — and now they coach you through all of it.

  • Galen Malthouse, Scholars Edge Vice President

    Galen Malthouse

    Vice President

    Ran his Victoria painting business for four summers while studying Economics at UVic, became a District Manager in 2022, and has since coached over 50 student operators.

  • Keelan Campbell, Scholars Edge Vice President

    Keelan Campbell

    Vice President

    Operated his own Cowichan Valley business in 2017–18 while earning his BCom at UVic, then mentored 50+ operators across BC and Alberta as a District Manager.

  • Curren Ward, Scholars Edge District Manager

    Curren Ward

    District Manager — Calgary & Southern AB

    Ran one of the company’s most successful student businesses in SE Calgary — $710,000 in painting work and a team of 20+ — before moving into district management.

  • Jack Boan, Scholars Edge District Manager

    Jack Boan

    District Manager — Vancouver Island

    Operated his own business in the Comox Valley for two successful seasons before joining the management team, all while completing his BCom at UVic.

  • Matthew Wood, Scholars Edge District Manager

    Matthew Wood

    District Manager

    One of this season’s District Managers — full bio coming soon.

  • Ying Zhong, Scholars Edge District Manager

    Ying Zhong

    District Manager — British Columbia

    Built his business past $700,000 in revenue over three seasons — 2024 Dean’s List champion and Rookie of the Year — before stepping up to coach BC’s operators.

  • Blake Wotton, Scholars Edge District Manager

    Blake Wotton

    District Manager — Southern Alberta

    Four seasons as a Calgary operator and $700,000 in revenue — now leading Southern Alberta’s next class of operators.

  • Kelden Lysak, Scholars Edge District Manager

    Kelden Lysak

    District Manager — Manitoba & Southern Saskatchewan

    Two seasons running his Winnipeg business before stepping up to lead operators across Manitoba and Southern Saskatchewan.

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