Write the colors on the invoice
Brand, color name and code, and sheen, for every surface. A year from now, when a client needs a touch-up or wants the hallway to match, that line is the most useful thing on the page, and it brings the call back to you.
- Coats per surface. "Two coats" is what the client paid for. Say so.
- Trim by the linear foot, walls by the room or square foot. Use whatever you priced with, so the invoice matches the estimate line for line.
- Repairs and prep on their own lines. Drywall patching is real work, and clients rarely see it once it is painted over.
Pre-1978 homes
Under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, paid work that disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint per room inside, or 20 square feet outside, in a home built before 1978 must be done by a certified firm using lead-safe practices. Put your RRP firm certification number on the paperwork for those jobs.
Questions painters ask
Should painters charge per square foot or per room?
Either works if it matches how you estimate. Per room is simpler for clients to follow on interiors. Per square foot is more accurate on exteriors and open plans. Keep trim separate either way.
Should paint be a separate line on the invoice?
Most painters show materials separately, which makes the labor easy to compare and justifies a premium paint choice.
Missing a line you always need? Email support@vanreceipts.app and we will add it to the template.