What a painting receipt is for
Painters are often paid by check at the kitchen table, and customers file the receipt with home improvement records for resale. A receipt for the deposit also confirms the dates and the colors are held. For multi-stage exteriors, each receipt should show the running balance.
What to put on a painting receipt
- Amount, date and payment method.
- The job and the address.
- Deposit, progress or final payment.
- Balance remaining.
- Scheduled dates, for a deposit receipt.
A worked example
An exterior repaint deposit paid by check. The receipt shows the full job with the deposit against it. Type the check amount in Amount received.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wash, scrape and paint siding | 2,200 | sq ft | Your price |
| Paint trim, fascia and soffits | 420 | ft | Your price |
| Scrape and prime bare wood | 6 | hour | Your price |
Put the start week in the notes. Weather may move it, but the receipt shows the deposit secured that slot.
Line items painters use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Paint walls, two coats | sq ft | Wall area, not floor area; say the paint line and sheen. |
| Paint ceilings | sq ft | Flat ceiling paint unless the customer asks otherwise. |
| Paint trim and baseboards | ft | By the foot, or per room if you prefer. |
| Paint doors and frames | each | Both sides and the frame, or say otherwise. |
| Paint cabinets | each | Per door and drawer front; say whether boxes are included. |
| Drywall patching and sanding | hour | Nail pops, dents and small holes before paint. |
| Prime stains or new drywall | sq ft | Stain-blocking primer where water or smoke marks are. |
| Caulk gaps at trim | ft | Where trim meets wall. |
| Exterior siding, wash, scrape and paint | sq ft | Prep matters most outside; describe it. |
| Scrape and prime bare wood | hour | Exterior prep that varies by condition. |
| Move and cover furniture | room | Say whether you move it or the customer does. |
| Wallpaper removal | sq ft | Price separately; condition varies. |
| Lead-safe work practices | each | For homes built before 1978, where federal rules apply to disturbing paint. |
Terms and deposit language for painting
- Deposit. A deposit at signing reserves the dates and covers the paint order. On short interior jobs some painters take none. Check your state's rules on home improvement deposits.
- Payment. Balance due when the walk-through is done and touch-ups are finished. Larger exterior jobs can split payment at the halfway point.
- Warranty. State how long you cover peeling or flaking from your workmanship, and that it does not cover damage, moisture problems or surfaces you advised against painting.
- Colors are confirmed in writing before paint is bought; changing a color after purchase is a change order.
- Exterior work depends on weather; say how a rain day moves the schedule.
- Furniture moving, wall hangings and outlet covers: say who handles each.
How to fill it in
- Fill in who paid and which job or invoice the payment is for.
- Check the lines; they show what the payment covers.
- Pick how they paid and add the check or reference number.
- Type the amount received, or leave it blank when it pays the whole total.
- Print it, download it, or hand it over as a PDF.
Free tools for painting
The same receipt for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
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