Question 1

How much should I charge for lawn mowing?

Accepted Answer

Lawn mowing prices typically range from $30-$80 for residential properties, depending on lawn size, location, and service frequency. Calculate your price based on square footage ($0.01-$0.05 per sq ft), ensuring you cover all costs (labor, fuel, equipment, overhead) plus desired profit margin. Properties under 5,000 sq ft might be $30-$45, while 10,000+ sq ft properties could be $60-$80 or more.

Question 2

What is the best pricing method for lawn care?

Accepted Answer

Square footage pricing is the most accurate and fair method for lawn care services. It ensures customers pay proportionally to lawn size, rewards your efficiency as you get faster, and provides predictable revenue. Calculate your per-square-foot rate based on operating costs and mowing speed, then adjust for property complexity. This method works best when combined with accurate property measurement tools.

Question 3

Should I charge by the hour or by the job?

Accepted Answer

Charge by the job, not by the hour. Per-job pricing rewards efficiency and provides customers with predictable costs. As you get faster and more efficient, your hourly earnings increase without penalizing customers. Hourly pricing discourages efficiency improvements and makes customers nervous about final costs. Use time estimates internally to validate your per-job pricing, but always quote the final job price to customers.

Question 4

How do I calculate lawn care overhead costs?

Accepted Answer

Overhead includes all business costs beyond direct labor and materials: insurance (liability and workers comp), equipment depreciation and maintenance, fuel and vehicle costs, marketing and advertising, office expenses and software, administrative time, and taxes. Calculate total annual overhead and divide by billable hours to get your overhead cost per hour. Typically, overhead adds 30-50% to your direct costs. Include this in your pricing to ensure profitability.

Question 5

What profit margin should lawn care companies target?

Accepted Answer

Target a 30-50% gross profit margin for lawn care services. This means if your costs (labor, fuel, equipment, overhead) are $50 for a job, charge $71-$100. Net profit margins typically range from 10-20% after all expenses. Higher-end services and commercial contracts can support higher margins. Track your actual margins by job type to identify your most profitable services and adjust pricing accordingly.

Lawn Care Pricing FAQ

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Costs & Profitability

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