newbie painter here - how much to charge for a basic bedroom paint job in chicago?

im just starting out painting interiors and got my first lead for a standard 12x10 bedroom in chicago. figure $400-500 sounds fair but im not sure, been watching idaho painter videos to get tips on prep work. any advice on what to factor in like primer or benjamin moore paint costs?

homeowners in chicago always try to lowball painters, its the worst.

came in on a bedroom job last month, client complained about every damn brush mark.

never skip the power washing step on interiors, had a job where old paint bubbled up and i had to redo the whole thing for free.

quoted a guy $450 for his bedroom and he laughed, said his cousin does it for beer.

how long does a bedroom like that usually take you solo?

bump your price to $600 min in chicago, covers materials and your time properly.

i feel you starting out, first jobs are always nerve wracking.

same here, my first interior gig i underquoted and ate the cost of extra caulk.

guy wanted emerald paint but wouldnt pay for the quality, ended up using duration and he still bitched.

private equity is buying up supply houses now, prices on sherwin williams are insane across the board.

hit 20 years painting this year, started just like you and now im pulling $120k steady.

man, chicago winters make scheduling a pain, but hang in there.

use housecall pro for quoting, itll help you nail down bedroom jobs without guessing.

chicago painters unite, we gotta stop undercutting each other on rates.

for a 12x10, id say $550 including two coats of advance paint.

totally get the newbie jitters, my first bedroom took twice as long cause i over prepped.

saw a post in painting contractors fb group about chicago rates, average is pushing $700 now.

ive been there, undercharging kills your motivation quick.

frustrated with these cheapskates who want pro results for amateur prices.

proud of my crew, we just finished a whole house interior for $15k in two weeks.

chicago humidity messes with drying times, always add buffer to your quote.

sharktank style debates on fb groups say stick to your guns on $500 min.

controversial take: charge by the hour at $75 for newbies, builds confidence.

big box stores jacking up paint prices is screwing all of us small guys.

yeah, home depot ben moore is 30% more than last year, ridiculous.

lowes is no better, their duration line is a ripoff now too.

i hear ya, first year i barely broke even on interiors.

try graco sprayers for faster bedroom jobs, cuts time in half.

asked about this in house painting professionals group, consensus is $550-650 for chicago.

what kind of trim work is involved? that can add quick.

man those first quotes are brutal, good luck out there.

totally feel the pressure, chicago market is cutthroat.

watched a nick slavik video on interior pricing, super helpful for beginners.

homeowners acting like they know better than us pros, pisses me off.

client called mid job demanding discounts, i walked off and found better work.

proud moment: landed a repeat client after my first bedroom job went flawless.