Priced the way Painter work is billed
A interior repaint and a trim & doors don't get quoted the same way, so why would every trade? SideWRK prices Painter the way the work is really billed: per square foot, all-in — about $3.50 a square foot. Tap the work, put in the numbers, and the line prices itself — no napkin math, no undercharging a job because you rushed the quote.
What moves a Painter price
Two Painter jobs that look the same on paper can be a hundred dollars apart once you're on site. Here's what actually changes the number — the things to size up before you quote:
- Prep — patching, sanding, and priming a beat-up wall is most of a good paint job, so never quote the topcoat alone.
- Coats and color change — dark-to-light or a full two coats is more paint and more time than a refresh.
- Trim, doors, and ceilings — cut-in work is slow, skilled, and shouldn't be lumped into the wall rate.
What a Painter job puts on the record
Every trade documents something different, and Painter is no exception. SideWRK captures the scope — interior, exterior, cabinets, deck and the rest of what your work needs on the record — the details that protect you and make the invoice stand up:
- the scope — interior, exterior, cabinets, deck
- a pre-1978 lead flag
- EPA lead-safe firm certification and the Renovate Right pamphlet, plus OSHA lead and VOC-limit notes
Example note on a job: "One coat at customer request — advised coverage may vary."
How to price a Painter job in SideWRK
- 1
Start the job and add your work
Open a Painter job and tap a suggestion like "Interior repaint" or "Exterior repaint" — the common work is already loaded, so you tap instead of type.
- 2
Price it per square foot
Enter the numbers and the line prices itself, per square foot, all-in — about $3.50 a square foot. Put parts on at your cost so what you clear is real profit, not just the Painter ticket total.
- 3
Note the details
Add a plain-English note — for example, "One coat at customer request — advised coverage may vary." — and a photo of the work.
- 4
Log what the job needs
Capture the Painter-specific records: the scope — interior, exterior, cabinets, deck, and a pre-1978 lead flag.
- 5
Send it and get paid
Send the Painter estimate for approval. Your customer approves from their phone, the invoice goes out, and you get paid — card, Apple Pay, or straight to Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App.
Staying on the right side of the rules
SideWRK documents your Painter work — it doesn't make you licensed, and it says so plainly. What to know: EPA lead-safe (RRP) work once you disturb more than six square feet inside, twenty outside, or any window on a pre-1978 home — plus VOC content limits. The app flags the permit and license triggers so they never surprise you mid-job.
Painter pricing — common questions
How do I price a Painter job in SideWRK?
You bill per square foot, all-in — about $3.50 a square foot. Add the work — Interior repaint, Exterior repaint, Single room — enter the numbers, and each line prices itself. Parts go on at your cost, so you see real profit and not just the total.
What does SideWRK document on a Painter job?
The records Painter work actually needs: the scope — interior, exterior, cabinets, deck; a pre-1978 lead flag; EPA lead-safe firm certification and the Renovate Right pamphlet, plus OSHA lead and VOC-limit notes. It rides on the estimate and invoice, so your paper trail is built as you work instead of reconstructed later.
Do I need a license to do Painter work?
That depends on your state and the job, but here's the shape of it: EPA lead-safe (RRP) work once you disturb more than six square feet inside, twenty outside, or any window on a pre-1978 home — plus VOC content limits. SideWRK documents the work; it doesn't certify you, and it flags the permit and license triggers so nothing sneaks up on you.
Does SideWRK work for trades other than Painter?
Yes — it runs all 42 trades, each priced and documented its own way. If you run more than one, the Multi-Trade plan unlocks them all and switches between them in a tap.