Landscaping is a route business: the more clients you have close together, the more you earn per hour. Smart pricing — and seasonal agreements — turn one-off jobs into a full, efficient route.
1. Price mowing by time, not by guess
Time a few lawns of different sizes (mowing, trimming, edging, blowing). Price each visit from those minutes × your crew's hourly cost plus profit, plus a small amount for travel. Group lots into size bands (small, average, large, extra-large) so quoting is quick and consistent.
2. Sell the season, not the visit
A seasonal agreement locks in your route and gives the client a simple, predictable bill.
| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly mowing, trimming & edging (avg. lot) | 26 visit | $48.00 | $1,248.00 |
| Spring clean-up | 1 visit | $240.00 | $240.00 |
| Fall clean-up & leaf removal | 1 visit | $320.00 | $320.00 |
| Aeration | 1 visit | $110.00 | $110.00 |
| Subtotal | $1,918.00 | ||
| Tax (13% — use your own local rate) | $249.34 | ||
| Total | $2,167.34 | ||
26 weekly visits over the growing season. Many companies split the season total into equal monthly payments.
Example numbers only — prices vary a lot by area, season and job. Use your own costs.
That's $1,918.00 for the season before tax — or about $274.00 a month over 7 months. Spell out what happens with extra-wet weeks (more mowing) or drought (fewer visits), and what's not included.
3. Clean-ups, planting and hardscape
Price clean-ups by crew-hours plus disposal. Price planting and mulch by the plant and by the cubic yard installed. Price hardscape (patios, walkways, retaining walls) by the square foot — but build it from your real costs: excavation, base material, compaction, product, edge restraint, equipment rental and disposal.
4. Winter work
In colder climates, snow clearing keeps crews and cash flowing through winter. Seasonal snow contracts (a fixed price for the season, or per-visit pricing with a clear trigger such as a minimum snowfall) are the most common models. Write down response times, what's cleared and how salt or ice treatment is charged.
5. Building a tight local route
- Street density. When you service one home, offer neighbours a "same-street" slot. Less driving means more profit.
- Early-season offers. Sign seasonal agreements before the season starts.
- Property managers need dependable grounds and snow crews for multiple properties.
- Photos and reviews of transformations sell design and hardscape work.
- Genie. Take on-demand lawn and snow jobs near your route and claim the landscaping projects you want.
6. Landscaping quote checklist
- ✅ Lot measured or timed
- ✅ Visit frequency and season length stated
- ✅ What each visit includes written down
- ✅ Clean-ups and extras priced separately
- ✅ Disposal and equipment included
- ✅ Weather policy explained
- ✅ Payment schedule agreed
- ✅ Client signs online before the season starts