Painting business resources

How much paint, what to charge and how to write it up, for painters working inside, outside or both. All of it is free to use, with nothing to sign up for. When you want the office work done for you, see how painters run on Koira.

33Free resources

8Tools

7Document templates

7Sections

Price a job

Cost calculators, painting pricing guides and the math behind an honest number for painting work.

Paperwork

Painting documents with the trade's own line items, terms and a worked example. Fill one in, then print it or download Word.

Free templatePainting estimateLine items, deposit, good-until date and a signature line.Free templatePainting invoiceLines, tax, deposit already paid and the balance due.Free templatePainting receiptAmount received, how it was paid and the balance left.Free templatePainting work orderTasks, materials, crew, site notes and a sign-off.Free templatePainting proposalThree options side by side, each with its own total.Free templatePainting change orderAdded work, credits, the new total and days added.Free templatePainting service agreementVisits, coverage, price, billing, renewal and cancellation.

Licensing

What each state asks of painters before the first job, read from the state boards and linked to them.

Checked in 35 statesPainting Contractor license requirements by stateInterior and exterior painting. A few states have a painting class, more cover it under a contractor or home improvement license.ReportContractor license requirements by stateWhich states license which trades, checked against each state board.

Pay

What the people in this work earn in every state, from the federal wage survey, and how a wage turns into a price.

Pay by statePainter salary by stateHouse, commercial and maintenance painters.ReportTrade wages by state 2026Median pay for 14 trades in every state, from the BLS wage survey.

Start a business

The steps to open a painting business, a name, and a plan you can take to a bank.

Start-up guideHow to start a painting businessLicensing, the EPA lead rule, pricing interiors and exteriors, and winning the first bids.Name generatorPainting business name generatorName ideas for a painting business.Business planPainting business plan templateA painting business plan with trade sections and example text.Any tradeHow to Start a Home Services BusinessHow to start and own a home services business: picking a trade, licenses and insurance, pricing, first customers, getting paid and the tools a small shop needs.

Software and comparisons

What painters need from office software, and how the big names compare on price and fit.

SoftwarePainting software for a small painting companyWhat a one to three crew painting company needs from estimating and scheduling software, a plain checklist, and real prices for Koira, Jobber, Housecall Pro and QuoteIQ.ComparisonJobber alternative for paintersJobber for a painting company: the plan painters land on, what it costs for 1 to 3 people, a worked painting price example, and how Koira compares.ComparisonHousecall Pro alternative for paintersHousecall Pro for a painting company: the plan painters land on, what it costs for 1 to 3 people, a worked painting price example, and how Koira compares.ComparisonQuoteIQ alternative for paintersQuoteIQ for a painting company: the plan painters land on, what it costs for 1 to 3 people, a worked painting price example, and how Koira compares.ComparisonServiceTitan alternative for paintersServiceTitan for a painting company: the plan painters land on, what it costs for 1 to 3 people, a worked painting price example, and how Koira compares.

Messages

Texts and emails to copy for the moments every job has: the follow-up, the deposit, the reminder and the review ask.

Message templateQuote follow-up textNudge an open estimate by text: first nudge, check-in, polite close.Message templateDeposit requestAsk for the deposit: what it covers and a link to pay.Message templatePayment reminderUnpaid invoice reminders: friendly, firm and final notice.Message templateReview requestAsk for a Google review after the job, with your link.Message templatesEvery message templateQuote follow-ups, payment reminders, appointment texts, review requests and more.

Painting business resources

Price a job

Cost calculators and pricing guides

Measure and do the math

Your rates and margins

Paperwork

Licensing

Pay

Start a business

Software and comparisons

Messages

Built for painters. Start with a free AI report.