FREE Pay Per Face Calculator
Created by Paint + Pop in Melbourne, this is the world’s first and only tool designed specifically for face painters to calculate the profitability of Pay Per Face (PPF) events. Whether you’re considering a local market or a major festival, this calculator helps you decide if your time and talent will be well compensated.
Say goodbye to guesswork and hello to profitable gigs
Use this free Pay Per Face Calculator to calculate your effective hourly rate, compare single-painter and multi-painter outcomes, and make smart, confident business decisions.
How to Use the Pay Per Face Calculator
- Enter your pitch fee (your cost to attend the event), the expected crowd size, total hours you’ll be painting, and your average price per face.
- Estimate what percentage of attendees are likely to request face painting based on event type, duration, and crowd demographics.
- Review your projected hourly earnings and total take-home pay.
- If you plan to bring multiple artists, explore scenarios with either hourly pay or equal profit splitting using the multi-painter sections below.
- Use these insights to confidently decide whether a Pay Per Face event is worth your time and effort.
Tip: If multiple face painting businesses will be present (not an exclusive event), divide the estimated foot traffic accordingly before inputting your numbers.
Paint + Pop does not retain or store your data. This calculator is a free tool created for the face painting community. No strings attached.
Pro Tip: If your hourly result is below $100, it may be less profitable than your average flat rate bookings.
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What is Pay Per Face (PPF) in the Face Painting Industry?
Pay Per Face (PPF) events are those where guests pay directly per face painted, as opposed to the artist being paid a flat fee by the event organizer. PPF is common at festivals, markets, fairs, and community celebrations where entertainment vendors operate independently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Pay Per Face event?
A PPF event allows artists to charge each customer individually, usually based on design complexity or a set per-face price.
Why use this calculator?
This tool helps you calculate if a PPF opportunity is financially viable based on crowd size, pricing, painter speed, and staffing structure.
Is this the only tool like it?
Yes. This is the first dedicated Pay Per Face Calculator built specifically for professional face painters by Paint + Pop.
Risks of Pay Per Face Events
- Low turnout or misjudged crowd size can drastically reduce earnings.
- Guests may avoid long queues during peak times, reducing your throughput.
- Poor booth placement can lead to low visibility and missed customers.
- Understaffing can cause stress, rushed work, or long wait times.
- Slow painters or low price points may result in disappointing profits.
When Pay Per Face is Worth It
High-traffic PPF events with minimal costs to attend can generate incredible income. Some experienced artists report earning double or even triple their normal flat rate by leveraging fast painting skills and efficient customer flow.
- Busy markets, school fetes, and family festivals often attract large, eager crowds.
- Fast painters who can serve many faces per hour benefit most.
- PPF events provide visibility and income—especially valuable for growing businesses.
Tried the calculator? Have suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Help us make this free Pay Per Face Calculator even more helpful for the face painting community.