how much should i get paid to paint...?

Question

My dad wants me to paint his gas station he owns with my little brother. It is a medium sized building and just because we are family doesn't mean i shouldn't get paid just as much or about that. My brother and i will split the profits. Any ideas? Any suggestions? Thank you.

Well first off i would do it for free but I haven't talked to my dad in two years until last Friday. I only decided to go because my brother wanted to see him badly and he wouldnt go without me. My dad is a jerk for the most part and I am not old enough to get a job of my own. I need to help pay bills and stuff too becuase my mom can't always afford it because my dad hasn't paid child support since January. Not trying to get anyones pity or anything but I deserve the money for what he has done to our family...

Answer 1

Be part of the business and part of the family take what he gives you as you will inherit it one day and I know a few folks who became millionaires from gas stations.

Answer 2

You could get an estimate (make sure they'll give a written one for free) from a local reputable house/building painter, and if they say something like $1200, you could say you'll do it for $1000, undercutting the "expert." But be careful that doesn't backfire and your dad decides to hire the free-estimate guy instead!
Assess your actual ability to do the job, remember if scaffolding is required, that costs a bundle, and you can't erect it yourself. (and scaffolding is way better than trying to use a ladder.)
Don't take lots of breaks (standard 20 min potty breaks mid-morn and afternoon/ 30-45 min for lunch, which you'll bring from home to save time), don't take phonecalls while on the job except from your dad (essentially your boss for this job), and don't stand around chatting about the job; that free estimate guy at the beginning of this answer? Part of the cost of the job is assessing what's involved, how much paint to order, and any special issues needing special attention (rotting window frames, stucco needing patching, etc.).
Clean up entire mess at end of every work day, cleaner than it started, keeping safety in mind as well as aesthetics.
Find the oldest guy at the paint store (Kelly Moore, etc. a PAINT store, not a hardware store that sells paint; pros go to Home Depot because they already know how to do the job, when they first started, they got advice from the experts), make that older guy your best friend, and get as much free advice as you can.
Most important, in the interest of professionalism, get your dad to write the check for the paint itself, and ask for half the estimated amount of the work telling him the rest will be due when he approves the work. Go by regional standards for cost and time estimates. Make dad understand this is an business-expense for the station, and that maybe if you do a timely and professional job he'll recommend you for other jobs. The station is your calling card, so do a good job!
BTW, you can rent those airless sprayers and get it all done pretty fast; try not to paint the bushes and mask the windows before starting! Trim work requires a good sash brush, for the type paint you are using (it says oil or latex on the brush package).
A good idea is to do something not on the estimate, like razor-scrape and wash all the windows inside and out, after the paint is dry. Use something with ammonia in it, like Windex to make them sparkle.
Have a little fun, get reconnected with your dad, and you could be making a great new friend you are related to!
Good Luck, let us know how it all comes out.

Answer 3

All you can do is find the price of the paint and estimate how long it will take to do the job. Then figure how much per hour you want to make. Being a family business, I would make sure you are not ripping your Dad off.

Answer 4

Take the total price of the supplies multiply that figure by TWO. Accept that as total payment. Be happy with that amount and thank him for everything that he done for you for free.