our history

University First Class Painters is a nationwide franchise system specifically designed for students. Our franchises are devoted to interior and exterior painting. We typically operate during the summer months but in some cases student managers choose to operate year round.

University First Class Painters was formed in 1982 by Michael Benteau. At that time, Michael was a 19 year old university student in his first year of a business degree. Like many students, he needed a summer job to help him pay for the cost of obtaining his education. In the true spirit of entrepreneurship, he recruited his best friend and the two set out to run a small painting business that resulted in tremendous success!

Michael realized that there was a very strong demand for a good quality paint job offered at a reasonable price and he devoted his next two summers to establishing University First Class Painters in the Halifax, Nova Scotia area. Once he graduated with his business degree, his full-time efforts focused on establishing and expanding the University First Class Painters brand and with it, student opportunity, to a national level.