1. Maine-specific invoice requirements
- Sales tax line: 5.50% state rate. Most services rendered in Maine are exempt from sales tax — but materials, parts, and tangible goods are not. State 5.5%; uniform statewide. Lodging/meals 9%.
- Late-fee cap: Maine statute Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 9-B, §432 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 Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine
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. Maine customers expect digital payment options today — accepting card and ACH typically reduces days-to-paid by 30–50%.
Average invoice
$1,850
State
ME
Net terms
7 days
Deposit
25%
Maine metro guides
Metro-specific guides include the combined sales-tax rate and local pricing benchmarks.