Whether you’re an independent painter or running a small business, an easy invoicing system lets you spend less time on paperwork – and more time impressing your clients with high-quality work.
Here, we’ll share painting invoice templates to save you time, avoid errors, and keep your books organised. We’ll also explore tips on setting payment terms, what to charge for your services, and how to keep your invoices tax-compliant.
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A painting invoice template is a pre-designed document that streamlines the process of creating professional invoices. With an efficient billing system, you can easily track the services you provide and payments received – while maintaining a professional image with your clients.
Painting invoices should include these key elements:
Our free painting invoice sample is designed to be simple and user-friendly. Start by downloading the template in your preferred format—Word, Excel, or PDF. Next, complete the required fields:
By following these steps, you can make the most of our painting invoice sample for fast and accurate invoicing.
Using custom painting invoice templates makes billing easier and improves client relationships. Here are some key benefits of using pre-designed templates:
While the cost of each project is unique, a properly designed painting invoice template includes fields for different services and materials. Here’s what you might include in your painting invoice:
Painters often provide consultation services, including:
Track your time and include it on your painting invoice, whether you charge for a consulting service or offer it for free.
This section of the invoice is where you bill for your painting service. Some painters charge by the square metre, others prefer a flat daily fee, and some use an hourly rate. Whatever method you use, it’s likely something you discussed with your client when quoting the job.
If you charge by the area, specify the square footage or size of each room you painted. For those managing a team, a flat daily rate might be simpler — just divide the earnings among your crew once the job is done. If you charge by the hour, include the exact dates and times you worked, along with a description of the areas you painted.
Sometimes clients prefer to buy materials themselves and hire you to do the painting. But if you’re the one picking up supplies for the job, you should keep track of what items you purchase and include them on the invoice — and don’t forget to save your receipts.
Besides paint, you might need to include items like:
On your painting invoice, list each supply as a separate line item. Add a clear description for each one, along with the unit price, total cost, and tax.
In Australia, if you’re registered for GST, include this number on your invoice, along with your ABN (Australian Business Number). GST is typically 10% of the total amount charged for goods and services.
Not sure if you need to charge GST? The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) provides guidelines on GST registration and compliance for small businesses. Generally, if your business has a turnover of $75,000 or more per year, you’ll need to register for GST.
Your painting service fees should reflect your experience, skill, and the local rates. According to Talent.com, as of 2025, the average painter’s salary in Australia is approximately $76,500 per year, equating to about $39.28 per hour.
However, this rate can vary depending on your location and expertise. To set competitive and fair rates, research current pay scales on platforms like PayScale, and talk to your network to gauge the going rates in your area.
Including payment terms in your painting invoice builds client trust and simplifies billing. By outlining your payment expectations, you minimise the risk of late payments and misunderstandings.
Terms on a standard painting invoice template should include:
Here are some invoice common terms and how they apply to different painting projects:
Charging for payment after the job is complete is often the best choice for smaller painting jobs or one-off tasks. For example, repainting a single room or adding a fresh coat of paint to a small area are usually straightforward jobs that are suited to immediate payment.
A 30-day payment period is typical for large-scale projects like house painting. This gives your clients more time to arrange their finances, which can be helpful when it’s an expensive job. To avoid confusion, make sure your invoice clearly states the exact due date.
For long-term projects, partial payments or instalment plans can be useful for you and your clients. They give your clients the financial adaptability required for bigger projects and provide your business with consistent cash flow.
Generally, the size of the painting project determines when you should send your invoice:
Invoices must comply with tax and legal standards and honour the contract with the client. Painting invoices should be:
In practice, a correctly rendered invoice must also be compliant, especially for businesses registered for GST in Australia.
Learn more about tax compliance for small businesses.
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Whether you're managing a small team or working solo, QuickBooks simplifies your workflow, so you can focus on delivering exceptional results.
Download our free templates or explore QuickBooks invoicing software today!
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