There are two ways that are generally used to calculate the fee for a painting job. The first is a flat fee, where you figure out what the total costs for the job will be, and then add in your overhead and profit. This is the method that professional painters generally use. The other is a time and materials method, which is sometimes used if you are acquainted with the person who wants the job done. For this you would do the job at an agreed upon hourly rate and have the person pay for materials.
Flat Fee
Flat fee is the way painting and construction jobs are usually bid. Consumers like it as the fee for the job is fixed; contractors like it as if they get the job done faster they can make more money, although if it takes longer than they anticipate they can lose.
Start by calculating your materials. Measure the cabinets, assessing whether you will need to prime them. Once you have the square footage, get a price on paint (and primer, if you will use it) and calculate the price. Unless you are painting a lot of cabinets a gallon will be much more than enough, and quarts may do, especially if you are using a custom color that cannot be returned. Add in materials that will be used on the job, such as tape, disposable drop cloths, sandpaper, etc. For business purposes, you will want to include overhead, such as costs of your vehicle, tools, insurance and office space, if you have an office. Calculate what you spend in a year and divide it across your jobs. You then must decide what your profit will be, whether you want to make an hourly rate or figure it as a target profit for the business. Don't forget to add in time for picking up materials, client contact and record keeping.
Time and Materials
For this, less formal, method, the simplest way is to just have the client pick out the paint and purchase it, along with disposable items for the job. You can then set an hourly rate which the client pays when the job is completed. If you want to give the client a ballpark figure, you can, but make sure you take into account not just the painting but preparation and cleanup as well, which can add a fair amount of time depending on the condition of the cabinets.
Related posts
Your kitchen cabinets see a lot of wear and tear. These surfaces are subject to both hot and cool conditions, as well as steam and moisture. Not to mention the grubby hands that often open and clo...
Painting particle board can be a real trial. After all, most paint simply will not stick to the stuff. However, with the proper preparation, painting your particle board kitchen cabinets will be j...
Make money painting murals for other people.Mural painting can go from a hobby to a job if you have the skills, time and clientele to make it work. In order to make this transition you need to fig...
Revive your kitchen by refinishing the cabinets with high-gloss white paint.Nothing reinvigorates a kitchen like a gloss of fresh paint over the cabinets. If you want your kitchen to shine like ne...
Use your computer to design a virtual kitchenGetting an idea of what your new hickory cabinets will look like alongside your countertop, flooring and appliance colors is important. With today's te...
