Prices and Business Hints for Murals and Faux

[Becktoria]

I have shared this story before but we have lots of new DA members and there are so many threads going, you'd have to take a week off to read everything...so, here is a brief reason for this particular thread.

I have asked Chris to make this a sticky (permanent) so we can help our new and old members alike without having to rewrite our answers every single time. We can all add our 2 cents or 2 dollars. I take Debit and American Express.

When I started out in the business of murals and faux, NO ONE would answer my emails or calls to just help me a little bit. So I decided from the get go, I would share everything I can with anyone who is interested and simply ask them to pay it forward.

Recently one of you (Robin ) asked if I would share my prices via PM. She also suggested this thread.
(Thanks Robin! ).

Not every muralist or finisher charges the same so these are simply various guidelines so you can get yourself started.

I have been painting murals for over 25 years and creating faux finishes for 8 years. I live in Phoenix, Arizona where the housing business is booming and is reflected in my prices.


Becky's Price Structure for Wall Surprises!
(All finishes to be applied to freshly painted walls, not included in this price list)

$2.00 per sq foot for colorwashing (1 or 2 colors applied together)
$2.00 per sq ft per color if multiple colors will be applied seperately~second color is $1.50 per sq ft.
$3.00 per sq ft for one glaze leather.
$3.50 per sq ft for the multiple glazed leather and faux stone
$7.00 per sq ft for torn tissue with glaze
$8.00 per sq ft for torn heavy papers and glaze
$9.00 per sq ft for textured plaster with glaze.
$10.00 per sq ft and up for marble
$15.00 per sq ft for river rock and other stone
$20.00 per sq ft for stacked stone
$22.00 per sq ft for brick

Murals/Decorative Art is priced according to the amount of detail desired. Minimum price is $500 per day.

Design/Color Consultations are $75 which is used as a credit if Wall Surprise! is hired.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope this helps!

[debsn2paintn]

What about ceilings or high walls...I assume there is an extra charge for these?

Great info Becky, I'm sure it will be very helpful to many people. I'm still new learning prices myself so I really don't have any info...sorry.

[Becktoria]

oh, yes, sorry Deb.
I also look at the job and see the scary/tough areas and figure out how long it will take me to crawl through a ceiling vent, over the refrigerator and down the chimmney and add that in.
I am so tired right now, I will post my high areas tomorrow.

[dudley_d]

Originally Posted by Becktoria

I also look at the job and see the scary/tough areas and figure out how long it will take me to crawl through a ceiling vent, over the refrigerator and down the chimmney and add that in.
.

Plus medical costs for that work I hope!!!

[ashlandartist]

YEAH! BECKY - - You GO Girl! This is wonderful! I will post what I've been charging. I'm tired too. Been priming Hardiplank shingles all day (some type of concrete and nylon fiber board) for the exterior A-Frame of my studio. Once I finish primming them I get to put 2 coats of paint on them. Yahoo - NOT!

I just think that knowing what others charge can give all of us a helping hand toward our own financial goals. You may not feel like your in Becky's league yet, but every one has to start somewhere. If you're not comfortable charging $X.xx amount drop yours by a couple dollars. We've all been in situations where we've really wanted the job and were willing to take a little less just to try it out or for the portfolio. For me, personally, I feel knowledge is POWER! Anyway. Thanks for doing this Becky.

As for the rest of you: DON'T BE SHY!!!!!!! Robin

[Autumnwillow]

Well, I'm cheaper than Becky, but I don't have the years of experience, the clientele, the name recognition or the booming business in my area. I also don't do faux at present, and don't plan to until my biz can afford to send me to classes. So murals only here.

Normally I try to bid according to how many days I think a job will take, and bid a total price based on around $300/ day (used to try to get $200, but my prices have gone up with my experience), more for ceilings or exterior work (I try to get $500/ day for them but realistically get around 350-400). So basically, I don't tell the client it's a "daily rate", just give a price for the whole job. That way, they aren't looking at me funny every time I take a break (which I rarely do cause I want to finish quicker! )... and then I can have the freedom to stand around with my finger up my nose wondering who I think I'm kidding, did I really think I could paint???

Someday I hope to be in the big leagues... until then, the term "starving artist" remains a bit too descriptive... At the moment at least, I have tons of work, but unfortunately it's almost all donations. Amazing how many of those I get...

Michele

[dreamz]

regardless of the amount you want to get perday/hour, I agree that the job should be bid as a whole with no mention of hour/day rates especially for a mural. Even a square footage price list should have a disclaimer that circumstances may change the rate or that the rate is for the average 8' ceiling. Even $22.00 sq' seems paltry when your 25' in the air

[Becktoria]

Ditto with the "day price" issue.

I do not use the wording...just an amount. "This mural will be $500" is the way I handle it. I NEVER go back on my prices after they are given to the client unless they are the ones who need to add to the contract. So if I have a low creativity day, that $500 mural might take 2 days but the price stays the same.

When I look at the room to be worked in, I will figure out the square feet then look at the room and know how long it will take me with the finish or mural that will be applied. I then price accordingly because if it's a bath room or kitchen with not as much wall space but tough to reach, I will charge a price that reflects my time. I NEVER quote day rates although I know muralists who do. Each of us has to decide what works best for us.

One time I under bid a job so much I made $150 a day. I have learned to take my time and bid carefully.

The above prices from Michele and me ....and all that follow.... are just guides to help you get started!

I do not give the above list to the clients...it's a guide for you to use. I am bidding some arches today and while the arches don't have lots of wall space, they are going to involve lots of cut in work and under arch areas so they will be priced more on how long I know it will take with a speciaty metallic rub finish.

Deb asked about heights and ceiling...I use the sq ft theory but also check out the height...I know 9 foot and under is a snap for me to finish, 10 foot not too bad but 11 ft and over is tougher with manuevering. All of that is figured into the price before I write the project bid for the client. Ceiling work is also depending on height, if it's a mural or faux finish...I base those also on a time factor rather than sq ft.

Have I totally confused everyone?
Please feel free to ask questions here!

[pjpaints]

There is a firm here that starts with $6.00/sq/ft for a 1 color wash! Jeeze, I thought that was the starting price for textures.

[Becktoria]

Me too Pam!!!
But I have found that the big "firms" have several laborers and they have cute littel uniforms...lol.

I think that is why I stay busy...I am affordable. It is rare I work for VERY HIGH end home owners. Out of the 8 years, I have only had 3 homes that are over a million They use Interior Designers and my experieince with designers has not been the best. I love my clients and my repoire with them has been a blessing! I love working one on one, not through someone else.

By the way, here in Phoenix, the million dollar homes are not unusual anymore. So many sell for 800 to 1mil. Crazy market. The homes that used to sell for 500 are selling for 900 now. I'd say my average homeowners home is worth 400 to 900.

[ashlandartist]

Here-here...I agree with you Becky. I, too, prefer NOT to work with the dreaded interior designer. I'm working with one now and I might as well be a migrant worker picking produce on a farm the way she interacts with me!

I looked through our local yellow pages and there is about 6 PAGES of interior decorators. There are only 4! mural artists listed. (I'm sure there are many more out there that just aren't advertising there). My point is: WE are the elite. WE are "specialized" (kinda like general practicioner vs. neuro surgeon!) WHO should be the snobbish one????

And speaking of which...I don't know if any of you are interested or not, but you can get a "free" listing for your business in the YellowPages on-line directory. More and more people are utilizing the phone book on-line than trying to flip through that huge book looking for what they want. Visit www.yellowpages.com It takes about 15-20 minutes to set up your new account. But included is the ability to link to your web site - still freeeeeee.

Sorry guys, did I post all this in the wrong thread????????? Don't want to mess up the flow.

[Becktoria]

[quote=ashlandartist]Here-here...I agree with you Becky. I, too, prefer NOT to work with the dreaded interior designer. I'm working with one now and I might as well be a migrant worker picking produce on a farm the way she interacts with me!

Oh Robin..........
so true so true!

Thanks for the link to the yellow pages...I will do that later.

Not to worry about hi-jacking..anything that helps us in our business is important!!! You were in the right place for sharing~!!!!

[Max2006]

Here is a basic guideline for mural work http://members.tripod.com/Exmatrix/Can.html

[Becktoria]

WELCOME to Wet Canvas, Max!!!
What part of the world do you live in???

Someone was asking about this chart just the other day....thanks for posting it! There is some great information in it.

The prices are higher than I charge for a basic mural but closer to any trompe l'oeils I might create.

There is a lot of great info here to consider and will help Wet canvas viewers for many years!

THANKS AGAIN!!!

[Max2006]

Thanks for the welcome. I live in Colorado. I don't usually post much, just kind of surf some of the different forums. Glad the chart helps.