Pricing Landscape Work: Hourly vs. Per Job, Building Maintenance Contracts

How to Charge for Landscape Services as a New Business

Retired, starting a landscape business. Pricing models:

Hourly Rate (Recommended)

• Fair for unpredictable jobs (hidden roots, bad soil, weather delays).
• Client pays for actual time; no awkward mid-job renegotiation.
• Calculate: (Labor + Overhead + Profit) / Billable Hours.
• Typical range: $50–$100+/hr depending on region, skill, equipment.

Per-Job (Fixed Price)

• Only for highly repeatable, well-defined tasks (e.g., standard mulch install).
• Risk: scope creep eats profit.
• If used, include detailed scope, exclusions, and change-order clause.

Year-Round Maintenance Contracts

• Monthly fee covering: mowing, edging, trimming, seasonal cleanups, fertilization, irrigation checks, pest monitoring.
• Price per visit × visits per year ÷ 12 = monthly bill.
• Include clear specifications, response times, renewal terms.

Business Practices for Success

• Communicate standards upfront: "I'm a perfectionist" or "Functional tidiness."
• Clean up daily; never damage property.
• Build reputation on reliability and quality—word-of-mouth is gold.
• Don't underprice; good landscapers aren't cheap.

Start hourly; transition to maintenance contracts for steady income. Track time meticulously to refine estimates.