There is no set way that the cost of a commercial or industrial painting project is determined. Instead, there are many factors that go into determining the cost of hiring a professional painting contractor.

Hiring out industrial or commercial painting services for a new paint job is a great investment, but can be expensive. If you want to understand where these costs come from and everything that goes into creating a quote, this guide can help you understand the major areas that will determine the commercial painting costs associated with a specific project.

The most common things that go into the cost of hiring an industrial painter include how much the actual materials cost, the size of the project, labor costs, any overhead costs for the painter and the cost for the actual service (which includes any markups so the professional industrial painting contractor can make a profit).

Continue reading below to better understand what goes into determining commercial painting costs.

How do Professional Industrial Painting Contractors Estimate a Job?

There is not one set way that all painting contractors use to set their pricing. Pricing is determined based on the experience of the contractor and their employees, as well as their overall business costs and other goals.

Typically, you will see estimates from different companies varying by about 20% between each company for the same project. And remember, the most expensive quote does not guarantee the best quality. Instead, you should be looking at their past work and talking to past clients.

Estimates will be created based on the following information:

• Do repairs need done?

• Is the area easily accessible?

• How many coats of paint are needed?

• Is surface preparation needed?

• Are there door frames, windows or trim that must be avoided or repainted as well?

• How much paint needs to be purchased?

• How large is the project?

• How long will the project take to complete?

• What are their labor and overhead costs?

Color Consultation

Many painting contractors will offer color consultation services to ensure you pick colors that reflect the message you want to send to your customers. This process takes time, planning and knowledge of color theory. Because of the extra time color consultations take, they will add additional costs to your painting project.

Licensing and Insurance

A qualified professional industrial painting contractor will have the necessary licensing and insurance for a project. However, many contractors fail to take care of either.

Licensing and insurance covers the project and the employees and is a huge part of protecting both you as the customer and the hired industrial painter. Make sure the contractor you are hiring has the proper licensing and insurance to complete the project. 

These licenses and insurance policies are actually quite expensive to upkeep and will become a part of the cost associated with an industrial painting project.

Quality of Paint Products

Good painting contractors use high-quality paints and coatings that will last. You do not want to have to hire out painting every year due to low-quality materials being used. You want the paint to hold up and last, which does mean more money up front.

Warranty

In addition to the quality of the paint, many contractors will have a warranty built into their contracts. You want to hire someone that backs their work, and warranties are there to show they do good quality work. In some cases, warranties may cost extra, but they will save you a lot of money in the future. 

Size of the Job

The size of the paint project is another huge part of what goes into the price of the project. Larger spaces not only take more time to complete, but also require more materials. The size of the space and the scope of the project are a large part of the final cost of a project.

Small touch-ups will cost less than entire walls. Just getting a few pieces repainted will cost less than everything being repainted. But remember, hiring out industrial painting can be expensive, the contractor has other overhead costs they must pay for, including paying workers and making money for their own business. 

For smaller jobs, many contractors have a per-job minimum that must be met.

Scheduling

Scheduling for painting is actually extremely tricky, as painting disrupts regular business and most businesses cannot afford to close their doors for a few days for paint.

Painting is often done outside of normal business hours, which means that you will be paying higher premiums to keep your business operating as normal during the project. This will ensure your business can have as little disruption from the project as possible.

The Bottom Line

There is no set way that the cost of a commercial or industrial painting project is determined. Instead, there are many factors that go into determining the cost of hiring a professional painting contractor.