How to Price Lawn Care Jobs

Learn proven pricing methods that ensure profitability while staying competitive in your market.

Pricing lawn care jobs requires balancing three factors: covering your costs, staying competitive in your market, and rewarding efficiency. The most successful lawn care companies use systematic pricing methods that account for property size, service complexity, and local market rates, then apply those methods consistently across every quote.

Three Proven Pricing Methods

1

Square Footage Pricing

Charge based on the measurable lawn area. This method provides consistency and is easy to explain to customers. Calculate your per-square-foot rate by determining your hourly operating cost and average mowing speed.

Best For:

Mowing, fertilization, aeration, and other services where property size is the primary cost driver.

2

Cost-Plus Pricing

Calculate your total costs (labor, equipment, fuel, overhead) and add your desired profit margin. This ensures every job is profitable and accounts for all business expenses including insurance, equipment maintenance, and administrative time.

Best For:

Complex jobs, custom landscaping projects, and services with variable material costs.

3

Tiered Pricing

Group properties into size categories (small, medium, large) with set prices for each tier. This simplifies quoting while still accounting for property size. Adjust tiers based on your market and typical property sizes in your service area.

Best For:

Residential mowing services where properties fall into predictable size ranges.

Common Pricing Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting Overhead Costs

Only accounting for direct labor and fuel, ignoring insurance, equipment depreciation, and administrative time.

Inconsistent Pricing

Quoting similar properties at different prices because crew members estimate differently.

Underestimating Property Size

Eyeballing lawn size instead of measuring accurately, leading to underpriced quotes.

Competing Only on Price

Racing to the bottom instead of demonstrating value through professionalism and service quality.

Execute Your Pricing Strategy with GreenQuote Pro

Understanding pricing methods is essential, but executing them consistently across your team is what drives profitability. GreenQuote Pro turns your pricing strategy into a repeatable system that ensures every quote is accurate and profitable.

Accurate Measurements

Measure lawn size precisely using map-based tools. No more guessing or pacing off properties—get exact square footage every time.

Custom Pricing Formulas

Build your pricing logic once, then apply it automatically. Square footage rates, cost-plus calculations, or tiered pricing—all supported.

Professional Quotes

Generate branded, detailed quotes that show customers exactly what they're paying for and why your pricing is fair.

Team Consistency

Everyone on your team quotes the same way. No more pricing discrepancies or leaving money on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best pricing method depends on your market and services. Square footage pricing works well for mowing and provides consistency. Cost-plus pricing ensures profitability by covering all costs plus desired margin. Many successful companies use a hybrid approach, combining square footage rates with adjustments for property complexity and additional services.

Turn Pricing Knowledge into Profitable Quotes

Start using GreenQuote Pro to measure properties accurately, apply your pricing formulas consistently, and generate professional quotes that close more jobs.

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