Another helpful tip is to charge prep labor separate from the painting job itself. Customers don't always mean to not move furniture, or clean up pet hair, hidden holes or cracks, and do do behind the couch, but you can cover yourself a little better by billing time and have them initial it daily if it is a long job, or keep the communication line open. Pics help as well. Don't forget those huge bushes outside the house with bees nests in them. I can't tell you how many times I double as an exterminator. "More Money".
Bit late to comment but I've been there, I just bake it in to my price when I'm bidding. I actually vacuum and mop all of my jobs when I'm finished because I often make a bit of mess myself from touch-up dust. I also do mostly interiors, I live in a climate that is fairly unpredictable and I'm not a fan of heights. By cleaning up after I'm finished I put myself ahead of most of my competition.
I walk in to a house and just literally look around and i just guess my price lol. I gave up measuring or writing any numbers down except typing up the estimate with the final number. I think your general template is pretty spot on and i kinda use that technique. When you been in the game for a while you just get used to it and you can kinda just know. sometimes my prices are a little high or low probably, but it evens out. I get a feel from the client on how much they want to spend and what their needs are. Also, I've found that dropping a giant number for a full house can sticker shock people. Its always best to try to break them up if you can, such as starting with a floor or a few rooms or even just breaking up interior and then exterior in a seperate number once you finish their interior. I dunno.. That's what works for me. I've saved countless hours of my valuable time not fucking with numbers and detailed estimates. If they say no just just move on. There's enough paint work out there if you just paint good and keep trying.
Your correct, just throw out a number that pays your expenses, and you can make a living off. Not every customer is going go for your bid, the low ball painters are the guys that don't last long in the biz.. When I throw out a number that shocks the customer, oh well, I move on to the next one.
I'm impressed. Your common sense approach makes sense, it's practical and easy to apply. I'm don't have a painting business, I'm simply helping my son bid on a weekend job. This was VERY helpful. One more thing, you're willingness to share your knowledge is remarkable, you will reap the benefits for years to come.
If I ever saw you in a bar/club, or any other social establishment, I'd tell the bartender to leave ALL of your drinks on my tab!! You definitely did me a solid by teaching me these tips brotha!!! Good Work!!
Yea this would be at very least double in 2022. Prices in 2022 are between 3-6 dollars per square foot of WALL SPACE. Not square foot of the house. A lot of people and even published websites confuse the two square footages. I’ve read webpages calculating an estimate for an entire house paint job based on square footage of the house and beleive me it’s wayyy below what it should cost. So it’s not great news for us painters who bid a job properly and then people google “how much does it cost to paint a house” and they’re fed misinformation making the contractor seem unreasonable. His 12X12 room in 2022 would be 12X8X4= 384 sq ft X 4$ per sq ft = $1536. Now typically for me the sq ft price includes walls ceiling and trim and material, and as far as coats of paint are concerned that includes however many coats of paint is required to cover it and make it look good. Could be 1 coat, could be 3. Doors are 75-100 each in 2022.
@@dandunk4061 Dan thanks for the factuals rather than the guess?timate as you've well defined being online "resources" telling homeowners it's this price which is usually CHEAP. (not including you Eric and PBP in that comment) Sooo frustrating, Dan your prices are closer to reality (here in utah county Utah) and a painter being able to do the job 1 provide Great quality 2 and 3-still feed His family, Thanks!!
@@pamelapainter3195 I’ll tell you the truth, I trust the products I use because I’ve worked with them so many times. There’s other aspects to a brand of paint to a “painter” than just the final product, and that’s “workability” . A lot of your box store paints , even some big names, are flingy. They are so super watery to use on a daily basis and slow down a professional pace. Not to mention throw paint dots literally everywhere, on your wood floor, countertops, desks and dressers , lamps , door handles , etc . Therefore I stick to the brands I know best , all that to say I actually charge more to do the job with a customers own paint, rather than letting me get it. They won’t know it, but I do. With that being said no ceiling and no trim would probably cut the price somewhere in half. Just walls is easy. In my experience tho trim is usually filthy whether you can realize it or not and I would always reccomend getting trim painted too. Ceiling can be skipped about half the time, but will always look better painted fresh. Per sq foot depends on whether there is a lot of mud work or not, condition of the walls, how “cut up” the room is, meaning is there a ton of brush work, a lot of angles and corners and half walls , stuff to paint around, or is it just big square walls. If it’s easy and quick it costs less. If it’s a paint in the rear it costs more. Typically I’m between 2-7 per square foot. All depends. Nasty ol decrepit walls in a 100 years old house cost less 2-3$ sqfoot than brand new nice smooth perfect drywall in a million dollar home 4,5,6$ sqfoot. When bidding I typically go with a vibe or a feeling I have based on how much material will cost and how long it will take me to do it and also how desperate I am or not for the job tbh . Usually not a ton of math or measuring . Only for huge projects to help me get a ballpark number will I measure and do a ton of math , then even then will I add in a vibe type of adjustment .
I am new to having my own business; not new to painting. I suck at bidding. Sick of screwing myself by low-balling a job!!!! UGH. I need to be more assertive. Great vids.
I had my painting and drywall company in the late 80's and early 90's and I wish you guys were around then, I gave it up around 99 and went to work in Hvac and then in Real Estate, but now my nephew wants me to start my company again and work with him. I am so grateful to your videos, and am now considering just getting my licenses and insurances and hiring subs to do the work after doing the estimating based on the information you gave me about sites such as pep estimating. Thanks.
I've been painting as a subcontractor for a local real estate company here in South Mississippi for 4 years now. And just this month I've decided to start my business. I'm licensed now . This video is a tremendous help. Because working for the real estate I've not made good money. They will only pay me 1000 bucks for a 13 hundred Sq ft house. Which is a rip off to me. But ive had to do this to make money. But no more. I love this work and I want to make money at it. And u just helped me ..
Hello Eric at PaintingBusisnessPro. Ive been a painter in Vancouver British Columbia for the the past 17 years. I started in exterior repaint and moved into new construction apartments and town homes. I've always usually worked hourly sub contract and made a decent wage but Im finding now i want more. I have a good knowledge of how to run a job as far as quality goes and rate of production. I've always been detoured by my bosses as they would feel threatened by my going on my own and stealing customers, and not share their knowledge of the industry. I've since made the decision to go on my own. I've taken the time to go through many of your videos and feel much more confident and excited to make this venture. I soon plan on purchasing your course to help further my success in this industry. I think your views and opinions as to the attitudes towards certain aspects of the industry are right on.
Where's the variable of repair! I've been painting for 30 years. Painting new builds is easy. Repaint residential painters better know how to repair cracks using a variety of compounds, not just joint compound and skilled with the blades. Waiting for patching to dry between coats is TIME, one of the most important variables. Painters need to know when to go drywall or 3 coat skim for large areas. Is there furniture to be moved and how much working space with furniture in room. That's time prepping. 3rd floor or 1st floor? Color? Some colors, like reds take 3+ coats. Windows? Prepping peeling paint from a 6 pane per window and sanding smooth is TIME. I could go on and on. Bidding is not that simplistic as presented.
This is a 10 minute video. Of course there is more to building this business and doing it properly. But this is a great place to start and keep it simple. This is an example of a basic room that needs to be repainted. If there is a lot of prep, you'll need to have a "standard" for that. If you are going to be taking down pictures or moving furniture, you'll need standards for that too. But you also need a place to start. And this is a good and simple place to start.
Absolutely true. His model just shows the basics to run off of in an ideal setting. Your points are right on. The devil is in the details. Unkept Animals and smokers ... Do I need to say more with that one? There a million variables.
Believe me! it's not always that simple. The job I am currently on have vaulted ceilings in the living & dining room. Also, all the trim, doors & base boards were in a stain pack and were going into white. I hate biding myself but, I have a simple way. A daily rate for myself and my crew. Then, I figure out how many hours or days per room. Next, material costs. I always add a little more for extra's. I always come out on top.
Interior is definitely trickier to estimate than exterior - for exactly the type of job you just mentioned. Interiors can be so different and unique, which makes it harder to have a set formula. What's in the video is a good place to start though, and it will need adjustments for unique situations. Thanks for the input!
Hey Eric. Your methods are so easy to understand and follow. Sometimes I tend to over think quotes as I'm just starting out with my own business, but you have definitely helped that out. Following you has definitely made things a lot easier. The only question I have is. Do you ever run into a quote that seems a little high or to low and what do you do to simplify it.
Thanks! This helped, I'm bidding for a painter who cannot read or write. I was successful in getting the exterior for him but the interior is killing me! I've already spent three hours with figures. (I am a hairdresser just trying to help him out). This is a big job for a new business in an historical building. I am working on 2050 square feet, 9 ft ceilings and 18 rooms!!! It is a nightmare! I am subscribing to your videos for sure.
Thank you so much Eric! You are SUCH A GOOD resource! There are so many things I like about your video- (I haven't watched others you've produced yet but I definitely will.). You are professional but not pretentious. You get right to the point and don't waste your (very grateful viewers's) time. You seem to enjoy yourself and have great energy. You put things in an easy, don't sweat it, perspective. NICE! I could go on but I'm the sort who can get verbose so I'll leave it at that. Thanks again! :)
Jimmie from Louisiana just to say thanks I like the break down to your system and I know thats the info I been needing to get me started and I will be starting the process and I will let you know the out come. Im sure ill do just fine and now I can work a job and be home with my family when this goes well. Thanks for your time to make the videos
Hey Eric, Great Video. I've been painting since I was 11 yrs. old. Dad would get the "Side Work" & put us kids to work. Later in life I thanked him for the knowledge but back in the 70's, I wasn't very happy about it. I've been bidding side jobs for yrs. but wasn't sure if I was being fair. As you mentioned, you win some & you lose some. Mostly I've been successful at doing so. Since viewing your videos you have showed me I have been pretty much on track with pricing. Wanting to change careers, I'm tired of working for The Man! lol Thanks my friend & I'll be watching more of your videos. Thanks Again, Peace
hey Eric. good video I bid the very same way down here in Florida. It's simple and easy and that's what customers like. I've come up with a few good ideas from watching you're how to do videos. I subscribed. hope the business is doing well. take care
1.00 sq foot walls 0.75 sq foot cielings 1.00 sq foot trim A standard door is 42 sq therefore 40 dollars a door I use ppg 28.98 gal 118 5 gal I double prices for primer and add to sq foot depending on wall repairs 👍🏼 lmk what you think
First of all no bedroom has one door. Ever heard of a closet? Also what are you painting the trim/doors with? Lacquer, oil base or latex? Prep time on trim [ cleaning, sanding, caulking] is there crown, is the window wood or some other material, is there more than one window, what is the integrity of the previous material. Is it bonded well? Are walls and ceiling same color or different? How many coats to cover trim? How many coats to cover walls and ceiling? Are you spraying or brush and roll? Are there holes to spackle or match texture? Are you painting in a carpeted room or hardwood floor? Removal of switch/plug plates and reinstall. Are you removing door knobs or taping them off? What about light fixtures [can, track, cheap globe or ceiling fan]? Are you removing blinds and reinstalling them? What about curtains? Do you have to work around furniture? What's the ceiling height? Are the walls smooth or are they textured. In my 30 years in the industry and a business owner, you sound like someone who works out of their pickup. There is no formula for painting a room. There's always going to be variables. You said it all when you said you were ghetto. You basically work by the hour for yourself.
My company did a little over $5M in revenue in 2018 in residential painting. I don't do the work by the hour by myself. And calm down man. This is a 10 minute video to help people GET STARTED. I have more detailed estimating training in my full business training program. Because, as you have demonstrated, there is more to it than this. But this can get people started. If you're so great at estimating, you don't need this video anyways. Oh, and this video is also almost 5 years old.
Wow I was just going to say 12" x 12" room $500 and if they want the trim with doors done an extra $50. Never thought about the ceiling cause that doesn't always need painting. $50 for just a door is very pricey but hey I guess maybe that is why people would use me more because I see everything fair rate. I will get lots of clients and still make so much money. Thanks for sharing this cause now I know that I will be doing good in starting a business.
I'm a painter and i have started doing my own jobs on top of my 9-5 but I think this is a bit steep because when people get a single painter thy expect a saving. still I'll use your model today on my quote and see what the reaction is. Thanks mate.
I just get this gut wrenching feeling every time I go to leave a quote then just as I'm about to I change my mind and drop it by around 20 percent. I really enjoy your videos mate and hope to one day grow to be half the size of yours.lol. Thanks for your feedback as I know that a lot of people want your advice so it's well appreciated. I take inspiration from your videos although clearly I'm still learning. Thanks mate.
They can still get a good savings. Problem is we're out here lowball bidding and cutting each others throats just to get a job. Everyone needs to up their game. Make their only choices fair market value. Painting is worth every bit your skill as any other trade... Lol js
I am glad to come across you, looking to get my own thing going soon. Tell me, are these numbers usually including me buying the paint? Also where are you located? Forgive me, I don't want to bother you with questions you have already answered. Thanks
Materials included, as stated in the description. I'm in Colorado, but these prices will be a good starting point for just about anywhere in US/Canada.
thancks man for all ur advices .... ill folow u step by step and im shure my company will be like yours in the next tree four years ...im on job seekers alowance from 2 mounts ago and convinced by u, today i was and i registred my company name :) lets do it man:
Thanks for the Easy to follow video, much appreciated:)… I do Reno's and sometimes painting is involved. At present I have a customer who wants to buy their own paint… What percentage would you take off the $1/sq Ft formula?
Glad to hear it! Let me know if you have any questions I can help with. If you decide to start one, definitely look into my full program here: www.paintingbusinesspro.com/course Cheers!
When will the interior bid sheet be available and do a live interior estimate like the wonderful exterior you did Eric👍🏻 Great Videos and explanation. Happy Week, Derek
In this video, these are labor plus material prices - total price given to customer. However, this video is also from 8 years ago. Prices have for sure changed since then.
Hey Eric you are making me want to come back to painting lol . I was working with my dad about 8 years ago but couldn't get along with him lol .. I want to come back and work with him again in he's company but I want to still find my own customers and surprise the old men .. He is getting old and I know that he wants to pass the business to he's sons but I have no idea on how to estimate a job this video is giving me a idea on where to start lol .. Thank u for the videos..
Great instructional. Haven't been in this line of work for many years. Most of what you used for examples sounded spot on to how we used to do it! Just helping an old friend out and this gave me a great starting place to give her a price. Thanks! DP
Good day ma'am/sir, if you need any help for your takeoffs i can assist you with that,I do most of the trades,im a freelance estimator, i used planswift in my takeoffs, you can email me at earlobregon@gmail.com
BEST RU-vid PAINTING CHANNEL OUT TODAY! Thanks for all the info. on your videos. You can't find that much people that wants to help others for free now day$. LOL! ERIC U THE MAN! Stay Subscribed! MAHALO!
Does this estimate include prep work? Mudding, sanding and priming? Thanks so much for the video you've just made my job so much easier moving forward.
No they don't. Depending on size of closet you can add $30-$100... or if it's a walk in closet, like a small room, it might be as much as a couple hundred. This is just designed to get you started. You can get more estimating info here: www.paintingbusinesspro.com
@@thecommission970 Amazing man. Thanks for sharing! Check out my full training course when you can afford to get it, it's better than all my free stuff (obviously) :) www.paintingbusinesspro.com/course
this was very helpful and the prices were good as well. like one commenter said its really all about where you are bidding for jobs. If your bidding in a economically struggling area you wont make the money you want to. doesnt mean you dnt occasionally take those jobs to help others where you can. my old boss used to do that. He would lose money sometimes just to help people or help his workers.
Someone wants me to go estimate an apartment.. for paint what should i do?? I dont know nothing about estimates this is in new york everything is expensive
Very helpful. Me a my friend are starting a painting business we have 3 subcontractors that would work with us, just we gotta estimate well so there's money for everybody... Thanks for this info 😀
Good day ma'am/sir, if you need any help for your takeoffs i can assist you with that,I do most of the trades,im a freelance estimator, i used planswift in my takeoffs, you can email me at earlobregon@gmail.com
Break it down to square footage, add overhead. and even categorize your sq ft price by levels meaning prep, fills, primer, coats, clean that way if a customer wants to skip a step, it's not a guess. Then you can get paid for what you're actually doing.
Our actual estimating standards are a lot more detailed than this. This is a basic breakdown. You can download our complete estimating formulas on my website: www.paintingbusinesspro.com/articles - Check out any of the estimating articles to download the formulas. Thanks for the comment!
I was wondering about coats but I see the comment that includes 2 coats. I have been a sub-contract laborer for years, my main person for work has retired. I am now having to learn all the bidding process, most people keep it a secret because they don't want a sub knowing they are making as much money and doing no labor work. I always understood this because my guy held the insurance and half the workers comp. How do you handle your subs concerning insurance? Do they work under your umbrella or have to go at it all alone? But thanks for sharing your method. I to charge $50 a door and a bit more if using oil because of the clean up cost with thinner being 12 a gallon. I'm not big on spraying but my next new house I'm going to use a airless gun for doors, crown, and base, roll the rest.
Hey Eric, really nice system you have there, thanks for the advice...this is a trade I had about 2 decades ago before I ended sitting in a cube farm writing computer programs for big banks :( I have finally escaped the cube farm and I am now free again to paint (both as work and as an artist :P :) I can't believe I sat there for those many years when I could have been painting houses and apartments and making way better money :) I have a question, do you use a paint sprayer at anytime? Anyways, wish me luck! lol Cheers from Halifax, Canada :)
Does your course cover additional variables than just this? Great intro video and helpful but curious how much more info on this process is listed in your program. Thanks.
Pretty much everything in the course is more detailed than anything I put out for free. And anything you still have questions about our Facebook group (members only) is great.
I will post! Eric for sure I didn't listen and saw what you talked about avoiding lol. It was a big step before to me. Now it's time to mandatory utilization and I am starting from the beginning! Follow the leader for sure. Even if ur ghetto♡ That's why I know when I follow (am ex-ghetto) I will get that good money results. - Miss Maria
Thanks for sharing this information. This is very helpful, and pretty easy to comprehend and remember. Please tell me is there a easy way to estimate how to paint interior concrete floors, can you just use the ceiling price + figure in some prep time or is there another way to estimate floors?
$650 for a bedroom? I've been painting since 2004 and I can tell you, you'd starve up here in Montana. I get roughly $350 *labor* for the entire room__door, trim, walls, ceiling. I give the receipt for paint, caulk..etc., to the homeowner at the end of the job and add it to the labor.
People do all kinds of price points. There isn't a "right" one. Other people have commented that this price is LOW believe it or not. The bottom line: this pricing is what we do to run a profitable multi million dollar business. It ensures that we charge enough to deliver a quality job, pay our staff and team, all other overhead, and a healthy net profit margin. If you're doing the work yourself, you can charge whatever you feel you are worth.
Oh, I agree. However, in the painting business you can really only charge what the local market will allow, otherwise you starve. By the way, does that $650 include paint, caulk, tape..etc., along with labor?
The prices in the video are all inclusive. This pricing has been proven in thousands of cities across the US. I don't know anyone in your area specifically (maybe I do, I'm not sure), but I do know people in cities large and small, north and south, east and west that this pricing is right in line.
$350 labor not bad for 2 to 4 hrs work imo even a day if its slow. Upsale those cosmetic repairs and tape & caulk lazor line cut ins. Spray your trim for that factory look they will pay a little more when they see presition craftmanship then word gets around to the deep pockets. Lol
Great video! Do these quote prices include material cost, or do you ask for this in addition to your client purchasing work materials for the job? Thanks!
When you give your customer an estimate with just a number on it or do you give them your detailed blueprint you used when walking around getting your calculations or do you use a template?
Thank you for the into Eric very useful and helpful. Just one thing Id like to be clear of, when you estimate interior or exterior but interior in this case, do you put the Paint price in it to, total price or do you just always do the labor and materials part just like you explain and do add one more thing on the question, what is the best choice to do when estimating, include the paint or let the customers deal with that part what choice will win you the job. Once again, thanks a lot!
PaintingBusinessPro true true, quick question tho; i know you said you would normally give a subcontractor 50% so in tha case do you also provide materials and pain? or its upto them to provide all the resources the job will take out of what you pay them. thanx!!😎
I have started my small painting business, and its doing ok. but sometimes i have trouble measuring inside and outside and when that happens i called for help.. for example, some contractors say that you don't have to measure the ceiling because it doesn't count. only the walls. this is what they called " total heated space" or insulation painting.. have you ever heard about this stuff? Also, any tips on how to calculate an estimate using a Blueprint? Thanks
@@joshuajohnston8452 For all other estimates, use this as a baseline. If it's a little bit bigger room, add a little. If it's a little smaller room, take a little off. If you aren't including materials, take off the cost of materials. Usually only a couple gallons for something like this. So that would also depend on the materials you're using and the cost per gallon.
@@PaintingBusinessPro This doesn't work across the board though? The prices in Seattle differ from the prices in rural Idaho. How do you go about finding the balance necessary for your region?
@@factspirate99 It's a great question. This is a good place to start for most places. But you will need to adjust labor rate slightly in different areas of the country as well as adjust based on material pricing. This video is also pretty old, and material costs have already gone up quite a bit. We have much more detailed estimating training (and full business training) in our PBP Residential Membership which you can check out here: www.paintingbusinesspro.com/course
For a full house u should just price it per square. So 30 square house times a set price say 400 bucks per square for a quality job with all defects and damage repaired. So 12 grand for that house interior 2 coats with repairs. All surfaces.
Not bad. Try charging floor square footage. If the wall are 8' high. Multiply by around the $3 mark. Including the trim and 1 door in the price. Should work out to your final discount price. Nice video
Yea that's another approach. In my experience, almost all interior estimating formulas have problems with them. When you use square footage of the floor, it doesn't always account for the detail of the room(s). Thanks for the comment!
Going off your standard interior formula. How do you adjust for kitchens and bathrooms. Alot less wall space. Do you charge by the cut ins. And for trim thru out the house do you have a stanard price per foot.
It's hard to answer that. How we actually estimate is WAY more detailed than this video. This is a very basic starter. We have very detailed estimating standards we use, but we teach those in the full training program.
+Eric Barstow Thanks for the quick response, Eric! One last question: If an average exterior job averages $3,000-$3500, how much should you typically average for an interior job? Thanks.
