How to Invoice as a Painter in Colorado

How to invoice as a painter in Colorado: CO sales tax 2.90% (services usually exempt), late fees capped at 1.5%/mo under Colo. Rev. Stat. §5-12-101. Step-by-step guide with a free template.

State sales tax
2.9%
Late fee cap
1.5%/mo
Net terms
7 days
Deposit
25%

1. Colorado-specific invoice requirements

  • Sales tax line: 2.90% state rate. Most services rendered in Colorado are exempt from sales tax — but materials, parts, and tangible goods are not. State 2.9%; home-rule cities add their own (combined commonly 7-10%).
  • Late-fee cap: Colorado statute Colo. Rev. Stat. §5-12-101 caps interest on unpaid invoices at 1.5% per month. Spell out the rate in writing on every invoice and in your contract — courts won't enforce undisclosed fees.
  • Right-to-cancel notice: Customers in Colorado get 72-hour cancellation rights on certain home-services contracts. Disclose this in your terms.

2. Painter line items + standard terms

Every painter invoice in Colorado should itemize work clearly. Standard painters use Net 7 terms with a 25% deposit required upfront.

  • Surface prep — billed by hour (~$65 default).
  • Painting labor — billed by hour (~$85 default).
  • Paint & materials — billed by itemized.

3. Painter licensing in Colorado

License required in most states for jobs over a state-set threshold (commonly $500–$5,000). EPA RRP certification required for pre-1978 homes.

4. Send and follow up

Send the invoice the same day work completes. Use software that records open events and offers a one-click online payment so you don't need to chase a check by mail. Colorado customers expect digital payment options today — accepting card and ACH typically reduces days-to-paid by 30–50%.

Average invoice
$1,850
State
CO
Net terms
7 days
Deposit
25%

Colorado metro guides

Metro-specific guides include the combined sales-tax rate and local pricing benchmarks.

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