One-time jobs pay the bills this week. Recurring maintenance plans build a business. A route full of contract customers means predictable income, less time selling, and a company worth more if you ever sell it.
Why plans beat one-time jobs
- Predictable income: you know what is coming in each month
- Less selling: you sell once and serve for the whole season
- Better routes: contract customers on the same streets mean less drive time
- More upsells: customers who see you every week say yes to mulch, aeration and cleanups
Build simple packages
Three options work best:
Basic: weekly or biweekly mowing, trimming, edging and blowing
Standard: everything in Basic plus spring and fall cleanups and bed weeding
Complete: everything in Standard plus fertilizer and weed control, mulch once a year and shrub trimming
Name them in plain words. Avoid long lists of technical terms.
Price it monthly
$180 a month sounds easier than $2,160 a season. Spread the season's total over 12 months (or the months you work) so the customer pays the same every month. This also keeps cash coming in the slow months.
Make payment automatic
Card on file and automatic monthly billing remove the awkward part of chasing payments. Customers who pay automatically cancel less.
When to sell plans
- In winter and early spring, when people plan the year
- After a one-time job, when the customer is happy with the result
- To every new mowing customer, as the default option
How to present it
Show the three options side by side, with the middle one marked as the most popular. Explain what they get and what they save compared to paying job by job.
Keep customers on the plan
- Show up on the same day each week
- Send a quick text if weather changes the schedule
- Send a short note with photos after cleanups
- Raise prices modestly once a year, with notice
Contracts or not?
Some companies use season contracts, others month to month. Month to month with great service often keeps customers just as well and is easier to sell. Whatever you choose, put it in writing.
Start by offering the plan to your ten best one-time customers this season. If half say yes, you just added steady income for the year.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a lawn maintenance plan cost?
Add up the visits and services in the season at your normal prices, subtract a small discount for the commitment, and divide by the number of months you bill.