How to Charge for a Mural or Faux Finish
Posted by: THAT Painter Lady in Start Your BusinessHow much should I charge??? It's so hard to figure out how to charge for a mural or faux finish when you are new to the business. We got this question just the other day…
I am a medical illustrator, sitting at a computer all day and I'm thinking of doing side work as a muralist. (I need to move more!) I've done all sorts of painting on canvas wood, walls, paper, saw blades,etc.
Though I've done murals, they were freebees! What would be a good starting price for a mural or faux wall texture! Do you charge by the job, hour, square footage, detail or other?
I'm working on a faux field stone wall in my kitchen now and it sure is taking a lot of time but I am learning what to do and not to do next time!Thanks,
Cindy Scott
Hi Cindy… I asked the new resident expert Dawn Papandrea-Khan to answer this question. I have answered it several different ways on this website… and I wanted another "take" on the subject.
This is the all time most popular question that beginners ask, and the all time hardest question to answer. There are so many things to consider, such as: type of job (mural, faux finish, etc.) time, materials, location (cost of living in your area), travel expenses, and business expenses.
I will go ahead and try to break them down one by one and then you will need to try to come up with your own conclusion. Let me just reiterate that because you are a beginner, you should probably start lower on the price scale and then work your way up, as you gain skill and experience.
Type of Job – Each job will be different. There are many different faux finishes ranging in skill level. There are also many different types of murals, ranging from a simple cartoon children's mural, to a very detailed trompe l’oeil. Obviously the harder jobs will take you longer and you may need more materials (which we will discuss below). When pricing a job, try to feel out the client to see what their budget is. You may want to give them a few different price options, so you are not stuck painting a very detailed painting when they really wanted something a little less detailed for less money.
Time – This goes along with what type of job. Like I said, each different job will take a different amount of time. You may need to come up with an hourly rate and then multiply it with how long you think it may take. I always add a few hours in case of mess-ups or mistakes on my part. Try not to tell your client what your hourly rate is. They may blurt it to all their friends and neighbors, and then you are stuck charging them the same price. Maybe start at $20 per hour, get a few jobs under your belt, build up your picture portfolio and then gradually add $5 an hour every 6 months or so.
Materials – Always minus your materials cost. If you are not sure of the materials cost when meeting with a client, then let them know you will get back with them to give them the price. You may be able to give them a ballpark price, but nothing set in stone. The price of paint goes up all the time and you want to make sure you are charging them correctly. Also, even if you are using your own paints and materials left over from another job – you can charge them for it. Do not tell them how you charge, just tell them what the final price will be. It is none of their business how you decide to run your business.
Location – This is a tough one, because the cost of living may be substantially lower in some areas than others. If I go into a million dollar home, I don't charge my middle class home price. If I am doing work for a church or a school, I don't charge them my million dollar prices. A good way to tell the cost of living in your area is to check out the average price of a home. For instance in the Carolinas, a 3 bedroom new home may go for $250,000, but here in NY the average 3 bedroom home can cost over $600,000. So I can obviously charge much more per hour than I would be able to in the Carolinas.
Business Expenses – As you establish your business, you will start to build up monthly business expenses for things like: insurance, marketing, advertising, website, etc. All of this should be considered as well when you are pricing a job. You may want to average out what your expenses are and then add that to the final price of the job.
So, these are the few things that I would focus on when learning how to charge for a mural or faux finish. As you familiarize yourself with working and figuring out how long a certain job will take, it will get easier. You will become more confident and you can then raise your prices.
I have been in business for 7 years now, and this is how I learned how to price my jobs. I hope that this helps. DAWN
Dawn Papandrea-Khan
Surfaces with Paint
(845) 669-9093
Website: www.surfaceswithpaint.com
Click here for more information about Faux Painting Business Estimates
Northern Illinois Faux and Mural Painters Frank Capra and David Cook sent me their website link… 
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