Calgary man paints his way to Dragons' Den

A Calgary parking lot line painter made it to the season finale of the Dragons' Den and says regardless of the outcome, it was worth the experience.

John Evans started a small house painting business at the age of 21. More than a decade later, he's making his case for funding to expand his franchise business, EverLine Coatings and Services.

"Nothing could ever prepare you for that dream moment of walking down those Dragons' Den stairs," Evans told CBC Calgary News at 11 on Wednesday.

"I was looking down to make sure I didn't miss my step. I looked up and saw them all looking at me and basically saying, 'What do you got?' That was intense."

Looking for $250K

Going from a viewer to a player came with benefits.

"Getting actual business advice in real time while defending your business plan was remarkable," he said.

The parking lot line painting and asphalt maintenance business already has a few franchisees, but Evans wants to expand that, with $250,000 from the Dragons' Den investors for 10 per cent of the business.

The show airs Thursday, and while Evans knows the outcome but can't share it, he says the experience was worth it.

"I was asked, 'What would you have done differently?' At the end of the day, nothing."