One job. The right tool at each step.
You do not need to learn the whole toolbox at once. Start with the task you have today. This example follows a small room repaint so you can see where quantities, pricing, changes and billing fit together.
1. Measure the work you are actually doing
For a rectangular room 12 feet long, 10 feet wide and 8 feet high, the gross wall area is 2 × (12 + 10) × 8 = 352 square feet. If measured openings total 32 square feet, the remaining wall area is 320 square feet. Two coats require 640 square feet of coverage.
At an illustrative coverage of 350 square feet per gallon, 640 ÷ 350 is about 1.83 gallons before waste. Two gallons may cover that assumption, but rough surfaces, color changes, primer and package sizes can change the order. Check the product label and the actual surface. Count ceilings and trim separately.
Open Paint Coverage Calculator → · Plan rooms in the designer →2. Turn quantities into a price
Use supplier prices and the hours you expect the work to take. Here is a pricing example, not a recommended market rate:
| Component | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Materials and preparation supplies | Illustrative allowance | $200 |
| Labor | 8 hours × $50 | $400 |
| Direct cost | $200 + $400 | $600 |
| Overhead | 10% × $600 | $60 |
| Markup | 20% × $660 | $132 |
| Total before tax or discount | $600 + $60 + $132 | $792 |
In the estimate, describe preparation, finish coats and cleanup. Say whether the ceiling, trim, furniture moving and repairs are included. A clear exclusion can prevent a price misunderstanding later.
Build an estimate or try the sample →3. Document a change before adding the work
If the customer later requests a closet repaint, record its scope, additional price and any schedule change. An illustrative $120 addition to the $792 proposal makes $912 before any further tax adjustments. Include a reference to the original proposal so the customer can see the relationship.
Agree on the change using the approval process for your job. Saving a draft is not customer approval.
Create a change order →4. Keep a useful record of the work
Use a work order for a service visit or a daily report for job progress. Write “Prepared and painted west and north walls; second coat on south wall planned tomorrow” rather than “painting.” Record hours, deliveries, delays and unresolved decisions. Use a punch list for clearly located corrections that someone can verify.
Daily report → · Service work order → · Punch list →5. Bill the amount due now
Without the optional closet change, a 25% / 50% / 25% schedule for the $792 estimate is $198 deposit, $396 progress and $198 final payment. When billing the progress milestone, the current invoice is $396. If the deposit has been paid, the balance remaining after that invoice is $198.
Check imported line items against the billing milestone. The proposal total is not automatically the amount due on every invoice. Enter tax, prior payments, due dates and payment instructions according to your actual agreement.
Create an invoice →Save, print and keep your own copies
- Browser drafts: most tools store work locally in the browser used to create it. Clearing browser data or changing devices can make that work unavailable.
- Estimate backup: Download draft backup saves an editable JSON file. Use Open draft backup in the estimator to restore it.
- Customer document: Print / PDF opens your browser’s print dialog. Choose Save as PDF to keep a shareable copy and check its preview before sending.
- Account and portal: sign-in can fill saved business details. Customer portal management is a separate authorized admin feature.
Store customer information and draft backups privately. Calculators support planning; verify measurements, product specifications and any applicable local requirements before ordering or doing the work.