In Conway, Arkansas, KingCare Painting & Construction has quickly become well-known for its interior and exterior coatings, facilities maintenance, wallpaper services, and drywall work.

KingCare Painting & Construction started with Vernice and her father, Johnny King, a painter and foreman with over 40 years of experience. When Johnny needed help with the administrative side of his business, Vernice stepped in.

This allowed Johnny to focus on painting while Vernice handled marketing, contracts, and accounting. Vernice, the CEO, holds an Arkansas Contractor’s license, while Johnny is the project manager. His experience with large, multi-story projects makes him an asset to the company.

However, the rapid growth of KingCare Painting & Construction brought new financial management challenges. Vernice struggled with QuickBooks as their fast growth outpaced her manual methods. Seeking help, she turned to Communities Unlimited (CU) after hearing Area Director Marnell Love speak.

For over a year, Vernice has worked closely with CU’s Entrepreneurship and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Team, including Area Director Brian Wells and Management Consultant Barretta Robinson. “Brian and Barretta understood my needs and helped me with strategies tailored to my business,” Vernice said. She found CU’s approach much better than the general advice from other consultants, which often caused more problems.

Despite the business’s success, Vernice knew she couldn’t secure traditional loans without proper financial records. “My finances were not in order, so I knew I couldn’t get a loan,” she explained. This pushed Vernice to focus on self-funding operations.

Things changed when the business secured its largest contract to date with the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) to paint its residence halls. To support this contract, CU’s Entrepreneurship Team strategically blended with the Lending Team and Small Business Lender Candence Brooks. Brooks helped facilitate a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan for King, which closed on May 28, 2024.

KingCare Painting & Construction has built a strong reputation with successful UCA contracts. “All of the UCA contracts are great,” Vernice said. “We’ve had other big contracts too. It’s about enhancing the state’s landscape and beautifying the campus. I love being part of it.”

Vernice is grateful for the support from CU. “I’m so appreciative of Brian and Barretta for helping me with administrative accounting,” she shared.

With their guidance, she tackled her accounting issues and learned how these financial concepts apply to her business’s growth and success. They are now addressing other important metrics, like hiring additional staff.

The tailored advice and support from Wells and Robinson have been pivotal in navigating the complexities of her expanding business. Their guidance has empowered Vernice to make strategic decisions that fuel her success.

“I enjoy working with Vernice,” Wells said. “She’s always eager to do whatever is needed to move her business forward. When Vernice came to us, she described her books as a “bird nest,” which was a fitting metaphor. Together, we have untangled several years’ worth of transactions, providing her with a clearer perspective of her business through the story that the financial statements tell. Additionally, we’re in the process of implementing job costing to manage project expenses to better understand the profitability of individual contracts. I’m excited to see the next phase of KingCare Painting.”