ATO benchmarks for painters
Painters earn from interior and exterior painting for homes, builders and commercial clients, usually on quoted jobs, and spend on paint, primers, equipment, vehicles and staff or subcontractors.
General information
Total expenses as a share of turnover
Low and high end of each published range
| Turnover range | Financial year | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 to $150,000 | 2023-24 | 36% | 51% |
| $50,000 to $150,000 | 2022-23 | 36% | 52% |
| $150,001 to $600,000 | 2023-24 | 54% | 71% |
| $150,001 to $600,000 | 2022-23 | 57% | 73% |
| More than $600,000 | 2023-24 | 74% | 86% |
| More than $600,000 | 2022-23 | 76% | 87% |
Australian Taxation Office, Small Business Benchmarks, key ratios for 2023-24 and 2022-23 (data.gov.au), licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
What sits behind these figures in the books
- The main day-to-day expense lines are paint and primers, brushes, rollers and drop sheets, scaffold or access equipment hire, vehicle running costs, insurance and staff or subcontractor costs.
- Paint bought on a trade account is entered from each invoice and recorded against the job it was used on, so material costs line up with the work done.
- Spray rigs, ladders and scaffolding bought outright are kept apart from hire costs and consumables, and private use of the work vehicle is kept out of business costs.
Sources
- Small Business Benchmarks, 2023-24 Benchmarks (key ratios)
Australian Taxation Office. 2023-24 financial year, released 16 March 2026. Checked 15 October 2026.
Based on Australian Taxation Office data, Small Business Benchmarks, 2023-24 Benchmarks, licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU.
- Small Business Benchmarks, 2022-23 Benchmarks (key ratios)
Australian Taxation Office. 2022-23 financial year, released 17 March 2025. Checked 15 October 2026.
Based on Australian Taxation Office data, Small Business Benchmarks, 2022-23 Benchmarks, licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU.
Get your books in order
Cost of sales and total expenses are only as reliable as the books behind them. Tell us how your business runs and we will suggest a bookkeeping plan that fits.