What a lawn care proposal is for
Lawn care sells in tiers better than almost any trade, because the services stack naturally. Customers who call for mowing often want a greener lawn and do not know what it takes. Three programs, each with its lines and season total, show the path from a cut lawn to a thick one.
What to put on a lawn care proposal
- The same lawn size and season in each program.
- What each program adds.
- The season total and monthly billing.
- Treatment timing.
- One sign-up line.
A worked example
The same quarter-acre lawn. Every line uses the calculator's typical prices; the programs stack services.
Option 1: Good: mowing. Weekly mowing, trimming and blowing through the season.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mowing, trimming and blowing * | 26 | each | $46.75 | $1,215.50 |
| Total before tax | $1,215.50 |
Option 2: Better: mowing and treatments. Adds fertilizer and weed control for a greener lawn.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mowing, trimming and blowing * | 26 | each | $46.75 | $1,215.50 |
| Fertilizer applications * | 4 | each | $130.75 | $523.00 |
| Weed control applications * | 2 | each | $92.50 | $185.00 |
| Total before tax | $1,923.50 |
Option 3: Best: full program. Adds aeration and the fall cleanup for a thicker lawn.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mowing, trimming and blowing * | 26 | each | $46.75 | $1,215.50 |
| Fertilizer applications * | 4 | each | $130.75 | $523.00 |
| Weed control applications * | 2 | each | $92.50 | $185.00 |
| Core aeration * | 1 | each | $166.50 | $166.50 |
| Spring or fall cleanup * | 1 | each | $339.00 | $339.00 |
| Total before tax | $2,429.00 |
Show the monthly figure in the notes if you bill monthly. A season total looks large; the monthly number is what customers compare.
* Typical price from our free lawn care cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items lawn care companies use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Mowing, trimming and blowing | visit | Per visit, priced by lawn size. |
| Fertilizer application | each | Per round; say the product type. |
| Weed control application | each | Pre-emergent or post-emergent. |
| Core aeration | each | Once a year, usually spring or fall. |
| Overseeding | sq ft | Often paired with aeration. |
| Spring or fall cleanup | each | Leaves, sticks and bed cleanout. |
| Leaf removal | visit | Say whether leaves are hauled or mulched. |
| Hedge trimming | hour | By the hour or by the hedge. |
| Edging beds and walks | ft | Hard edging along beds and paving. |
| Mulch, delivered and spread | cu yd | Type and depth. |
| Grub or insect control | each | Where licensed for the application. |
| Extra charge for overgrown first cut | each | When the first mow needs extra passes. |
Terms and deposit language for lawn care
- Deposit. Weekly mowing usually needs no deposit; many lawn care companies bill monthly or keep a card on file. Seasonal packages may be paid up front or in monthly installments.
- Payment. Billed monthly or per visit, with a card on file charged after each visit or at month end.
- Warranty. If a treatment does not take, many lawn care companies re-treat between visits at no charge. Say whether you do and the conditions.
- Rain days move mowing to the next dry day; say how you handle a skipped week.
- Customer keeps gates unlocked, pets in, and toys and hoses off the lawn on service days.
- Pesticide and fertilizer applications follow product labels and state licensing rules.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Check each option's name, its one-line difference and its lines.
- Add your prices; each option totals on its own.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print it, download it, or send it from Koira so the customer can pick and sign on the phone.
Free tools for lawn care
- Lawn care cost calculator
- Lawn square footage calculator
- Satellite measuring tool
- Landscaping business name generator
The same proposal for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.