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How to Bid or Price Painting Jobs

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When looking for construction work, it's essential to bid the right price. Otherwise, you risk not getting the job if you bid too high or not making much if you bid too low. Instead of going through the process of trial and error, with profit and gigs lost in the process, take some time to learn how to price painting jobs the right way.

Estimate the Cost of the Materials

The first step is to accurately identify the materials required for the job. That means calculating the surface to be painted and the amount of paint needed to cover it. Once you have the right amount of paint, multiply the number by the average cost of paint per gallon to get the paint price. Add any additional materials you need, such as new brushes or drop cloths.

Calculate the Price of Labor

This cost depends on a lot of things, such as your painting skill and experience. The general rule of thumb is to offer a price per hour. The amount is usually around $20, but this is completely up to you.

Naturally, you need to calculate the number of hours you expect to need to finish the project. It's easy to make errors in the beginning. Try to include an additional hour or two for finishing touches and unpredicted tasks, but make sure the overall price doesn't go too high.

Ask About Special Requests

When you ask experts about bidding on painting jobs, they tend to agree that you have to remember to ask the client about special desires and requirements. This avoids any confusion during the process, as you will have all the details before starting. Make sure special requests are incorporated into the price as well, both for additional supplies and hours.

Add Your Markup to the Equation

Your construction work also needs to result in profit. Up until now, you estimated the cost of labor and materials, but what about marketing, insurance and other expenses? All these should be included in the markup. Your final price should also include an amount that is purely profit. Include this amount in the markup.

Deliver an Estimate

Finally, add the markup to the total cost (labor + material) for the job to calculate the final bid. The only thing remaining is to deliver the bid to the client. Make sure you make adjustments as needed in the future. If multiple clients reply that the bid is too high, consider lowering it. If you're getting jobs but not making enough money, consider increasing the price.