Lawn Care Contracts: What to Include and How to Send
Lawn care contracts bring in consistent revenue, set client expectations, and protect you in case of a dispute.
Keep reading to learn more about lawn care service agreements. You’ll learn what to include, the different types of contracts, and how to send them to your clients.
What is a lawn care contract?
A lawn care contract is a legally binding agreement between a lawn care service provider and client. It outlines the specific services you will provide, such as lawn mowing, fertilizing, and weed control.
Your lawn maintenance contract should also detail the lawn care schedule, cost, and payment terms. When a client signs a contract, it shows that 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.
To create your own, you can use a a free lawn care contract template, or make your own template with Jobber’s DocuSign integration.
Use DocuSign to automatically draft a lawn care agreement that’s easy for clients to sign from anywhere.
What to include on your lawn care contracts
Your lawn care maintenance contract tells your customers what services you’ll complete, how often they’ll see you, and your payment process.
Here are all the details 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 on the 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
List (in detail) 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 and what duration your lawn care contract covers.
This should 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: For year round service that switches to snow removal throughout the winter months, create a separate snow removal contract.
READ MORE: How to create a profitable lawn mowing schedule
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.
Be sure to answer the following questions:
- When can lawn care services be expected? (e.g., every Thursday at 11am)
- 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?
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 understood and agreed to the terms of the contract.
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 renews.
- Annual contracts work well if you offer fall and winter lawn care services, like winter mulching, leaf removal, or winter lawn prep. Make sure to clarify what services will be performed, the cost breakdown for each, and when they’ll 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.
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 the services you’ll provide, including what will and won’t be done. This will prevent misunderstandings and ensure 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.
- Detail any client responsibilities, like making sure pets are locked inside or picking up dog poop before service.
- Keep a signed copy of the contract for your records. When you use a lawn care CRM like Jobber, you can store a copy of your contract right in your client’s file.
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.
- Provide a steady income with regular services throughout the spring and summer months.
- Provide legal protection in the event of a disagreement or dispute.
How to send lawn care contracts with Jobber’s DocuSign integration
- Choose when you would like your lawn care contract automatically drafted—when a quote is sent, a quote is approved, or a job is created.
2. Edit your template. DocuSign lets you drag and drop details from your Jobber account into the contract—like your client’s property address and the quoted service amount.
3. To automatically draft a contract in DocuSign, check the box for “contract required” when creating a quote or a job in Jobber.
4. Click View in DocuSign to open the contract, review, and make any required changes.
5. Click the preview button to see what the contract will look like to your client.
6. When you’re happy with how the contract looks, hit send to email it to your client.
From your client’s file in Jobber, you’ll be able to track whether your contract has been sent, delivered, voided, declined, completed, or expired.
Creating a detailed lawn care contract is more than just outlining services. A solid contract can help you maintain a steady income and build trust with your clients.
Make sure to update your contract templates annually to account for any changes in your business. Then have a legal representative review it before sending your contract to customers.
Originally published in January 2022. Last updated on January 31st, 2024.