Originally published in January 2022. Last updated on April 14, 2025.
Lawn care contracts bring in consistent revenue, set clear expectations with clients, and protect your business if something goes wrong.
Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or running a full crew all over a city, having reliable service agreements in place can help your business run smoothly.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about lawn care contracts. Learn what details to include, how to build both residential and commercial agreements, and how to send and manage contracts for easy operations.
You’ll also get practical tips for pricing your services and winning new contracts.
What is a lawn care contract?
A lawn care contract is a legally binding agreement between a lawn care service provider and the client. It outlines the specific services you’ll provide, such as lawn mowing, fertilizing, or weed control.
A lawn maintenance contract also outlines the lawn care schedule, cost, and payment terms. When a client signs a contract, they agree to the price of the services and the terms of service.
For the lawn care service provider, a signed contract guarantees payment for the provided services. This means that you and your team are protected.
To create your own lawn service or landscaping contract, you can use a free lawn care contract template or make your own with Jobber’s DocuSign integration.
Different types of lawn care contracts
There are three different types of lawn care contracts: seasonal, annual, and long-term lawn maintenance contracts.
- Seasonal contracts usually run from April to November, depending on the weather in your region. Once the agreed-upon season is over, your client is responsible for their own lawn maintenance until the contract is renewed. (In most cases, seasonal contracts end for cold weather months when there is less lawn growth or maintenance.)
- Annual contracts work well if you offer fall and winter lawn care services, like winter mulching, leaf removal, or winter lawn prep. Clarify what services will be performed per season, list the cost breakdown for each, and let your client know when the alternating services will be performed.
- Long-term lawn contracts work best for commercial lawn care companies and last many years. This allows commercial property managers to better manage their maintenance budget. You might charge the same amount but break up the total into monthly payments.
READ MORE: How to get commercial lawn accounts
Benefits of lawn care service contracts
By getting new lawn care customers to sign a contract before your first service, you can:
- Lower the financial risks of customers paying late (or refusing to pay at all).
- Set clear expectations about your provided services.
- Enjoy predictability and provide a steady income with regular services throughout the spring and summer months.
- Provide legal protection in the event of a client disagreement or dispute.
It’s always good practice to update your contract templates on a regular schedule, especially if you change or adjust services and pricing. Communicate clearly with clients about any new sections or changes to their existing agreements.
What to include on your lawn care contracts
A lawn care maintenance contract or landscaping contract lets your customers know what services you’ll complete, how often they’ll see you, and what the payment process is like.
In other words, a contract is an important roadmap that everyone can refer back to when they have questions.
Here are the important elements you need to include on every lawn care service agreement:
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Always consult with your legal or financial advisor to make the right choice for your business.
1. Business information
Make it easy for your client to get in touch by including your lawn care business information front and center on every contract. Your business details should include:
- Your lawn care business name
- Contact name
- Email address
- Telephone number
2. Customer information
Include any information you may need to reach your customer, such as:
- Property owner name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Property address
If your lawn service contract is for a commercial property, you’ll also want to include:
- Company name
- Business address
- Property manager’s name, email, and phone number
3. Scope of services
Include a detailed list of the services your lawn care company will provide as part of the contract. Your lawn care services may include:
- Mowing lawns
- Weeding
- Edging driveways and walkways
- Trimming hedges and bushes
- Mulching
- Raking and leaf removal
4. Lawn care maintenance schedule
Clearly state when your client should expect you to service their property and how long you’ll be working on their property. An example schedule might include:
- When your lawn care services season will start and end (e.g., May to September)
- The frequency your customer’s property will be serviced (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly)
- The day of the week the work will be performed
- The approximate time of day the work will be performed (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening)
Pro Tip: Create a separate snow removal contract for year-round service that switches to snow removal throughout the winter months.
5. Payment amount and payment terms
The payment terms of your lawn care contract should tell customers:
- Your lawn care service pricing
- Payment due dates
- Penalties or fees for late payments
- Your accepted payment methods (i.e., cash, debit, VISA, or Mastercard)
- How and when you’ll send invoices
6. Terms and conditions
Your terms and conditions outline the exceptions and “rules” that your client agrees to. Use this section to explain any service guarantees, insurance, payments, and cancellation policy.
Always answer the following questions on your signed contract:
- Are there any service blackout dates? (e.g., 4th of July or Labor Day)
- What type of business insurance coverage do you have?
- What are the penalties or fines for late payments?
- How much notice is required to terminate the agreement?
- Are there any penalties or fines for canceling?
- What is your policy for inclement weather?
7. Space for a signature
Create space at the bottom of your contract for both you and your customer to sign and date. Collecting your customer’s signature shows that they reviewed the details and understand and agree to the terms of your contract.
Best practices for creating a lawn care contract
To create a lawn care contract that’s both comprehensive and clear, follow these key guidelines:
- Be specific about services you’ll provide, including what will and will not be done. This helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures both you and your client have the same expectations.
- Have a legal professional review your contract to make sure it complies with local laws and regulations. (This step also protects you from other business liabilities that you might miss, like needing specific insurance policies before you work.)
- Detail any client responsibilities, like making sure pets are locked inside or picking up dog poop before service. Let clients know that these factors could slow down work or result in rescheduling.
- Keep a signed copy of the contract for your records. When you use a lawn care CRM like Jobber, you can easily store a copy of your contract right in your client’s file.
How to price lawn care contracts (commercial and residential)
Pricing your lawn care contracts the right way helps you stay profitable and competitive. Whether you’re quoting a small yard or a large commercial property, here’s how to break it down for your first visit:
- Start with your hourly rate: Estimate how long the job will take, then multiply that by your hourly rate. Include any setup, travel time, and clean-up.
- Calculate your overhead: Equipment maintenance, fuel, insurance, and administrative costs always factor into your operational costs. Build these into your pricing to protect your profit margins.
- Consider the property size and complexity: Larger or more detailed jobs (like hilly terrain, lots of trimming, or landscaping and irrigation features) take longer. A higher quote is normal for these situations.
- Offer tiers and bundles: You can also create basic, standard, and premium plans so clients can choose based on their needs and budget. This also gives you a chance to upsell higher-value services.
- Compare local rates: Research what competitors in your area are charging. Set competitive rates and deals—without compromising on your value.
- Calculate the total contract cost: Once you’ve determined how much to charge for one visit, multiply that amount by the number of visits included in the contract. For example, if the contract covers 3 months of weekly service, that’s 12 visits total. If each visit costs $60, the total long-term contract value would be $720.
- Break down the payment schedule: Even though the contract has a total price, most customers will expect to pay at regular intervals—weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Be sure to show both the total cost and the recurring payment amount so clients know what to expect and when.
How to get your initial price is one of the most challenging things about the businesses that we’re in.
There’s so many different ways to underprice yourself. But how you interact with a customer is even more important than what your price is.
Not only does a detailed pricing plan help you win more work, it ensures that your business stays sustainable and profitable for the years ahead.
How to get lawn care contracts
Landing lawn care contracts takes a mix of smart marketing, relationship-building, and a little hustle.
Putting yourself out there in neighborhoods you want to work in is a good start.
Obviously, you have to do good work. Neighbors coming in will see that and want their yard to look like that.
Here are some proven strategies to help you grow your client base:
- Grow your online presence: Create a professional website and Google Business Profile. This will help you appear in local searches and show clients that you have a reputable, recognizable brand.
- Work your local connections: Reach out to property managers, HOAs, and real estate agents (especially when targeting commercial contracts). They often manage multiple properties and can refer you for recurring work.
- Offer free quotes and show proof: Provide no-obligation estimates, and back up your pitch with before-and-after photos, reviews, or references from past clients. As you complete more high-quality work, you’ll have even more results to show.
- Build positive relationships: People hire providers they trust. Be professional, responsive, and consistent—and always follow up after initial outreach.
- Encourage referrals: Don’t be shy about asking happy customers to refer you to their friends, coworkers, or neighbors. You can even use Jobber Referrals to send automatic requests as soon as customers pay an invoice.
Over time, these smaller marketing efforts can pay off big. One-off jobs turn into long-term, profitable contracts that keep your business moving forward.
READ MORE: How to get commercial lawn contracts for your business
When your contracts are clear, consistent, and professional, your business runs smoother—and your clients know exactly what to expect.