I have been painting for the past 7 years for other contractors, and am currently in the process of establishing my own painting company. I have a general understanding of how to make square foot bids, but one thing I'm unclear on. When making a square foot bid on a job, whether it's exterior, or interior, does the square foot price include the cost of paint and sundries? Or is the square foot price generally for labor only?

What I charge per square foot is for labor only. Oftentimes, I even drive the customer to the store to pick up and pay for the paint that will be used. I also charge them my discounted price for the paint, figuring that I am building a reputation for being fair and giving them a good deal.

If I figure the cost per square feet into a bid as far as how many gallons of paint will be used, then I figure the coverage per gallon to be at about 250 square feet if the paint will be cut in with a brush and then be rolled on. This would be for perfectly flat areas with no texture what-so-ever.

How are you going to be applying the paint, please? That will be a determining factor as to what you will be charging and how you will be charging the customer.

Thanks!

Im an getting ready to open my own painting company, and I was unsure of how to measure the square footage of the places that I would be painting?

Also is that the best way to charge your clients isa my the square footage, or the hour of labor?

Applications will vary. 1 color rooms will generally be done with a sprayer, rooms with lids and accent walls will be coated by spraying the lids first then cutting and rolling the walls. Textures are always going to vary by the job.