Landscape Designer Travel Time Billing: Standard Practice

Designers bill for expertise (time), not materials. Travel time is billable—either built into the hourly rate, a trip minimum, or a separate line item. Plumbers embed travel in their $100–150/hr rate (actual take-home ~$25/hr after overhead, unbillable time).

If the designer made multiple trips without charging travel before, they may have assumed 1–2 visits. The contractor meeting is a new trip; billing ½ travel time is reasonable.

Clarify billing terms in the contract upfront.