What should I charge for lawn care?
Lawn care runs on tight per-yard prices and a season that doesn’t last all year. Equipment, fuel, trailer, and winter months with no mowing all have to be paid for by the cuts you do in season — so your in-season hourly target is higher than most people expect.
| Gross revenue you need to bill | – |
| Business expenses | – |
| Self-employment tax (15.3%) | – |
| Federal income tax (est.) | – |
| State income tax (est.) | – |
| Retirement savings | – |
| Your take-home income | – |
For projects: estimate the hours the job will take, multiply by your hourly rate above, then add materials (with markup) and a 10–25% buffer for overruns.
Estimates use 2025 federal brackets, the standard deduction, and an approximate state rate. Local taxes, credits, and deductions beyond the standard deduction are not included. Not tax advice.
What to count as expenses
For lawn care, annual business expenses typically include mower/trimmer/blower replacement, fuel for equipment and truck, trailer, blades and maintenance, liability insurance, and dump fees. Add up a full year of these — using a rough annual total is far better than entering zero and pricing your overhead at nothing.
Be honest about billable hours
In most of the country mowing season is 28–40 weeks, not 52 — enter your real season length. Drive time and loading mean a 10-yard day might be 6.5 billable hours. Your seasonal weeks must fund your whole year unless you sell winter services.
Lawn Care Pro pricing FAQs
How do I price a yard I have never seen?
Estimate cut time from lot size and obstacles, multiply by your calculated hourly rate, and add a margin for the unknown. Most solo operators floor at $45–$50 per stop — below that, drive time makes the job a loss regardless of yard size.
Should I offer seasonal contracts or per-cut pricing?
Seasonal contracts (fixed monthly over 8–12 months) smooth your income through the off-season and reduce skipped-cut losses in dry spells. Price them at your per-cut total ÷ contract months, plus a small discount only if it locks in the full season.
What about equipment costs if my mower is paid off?
A commercial mower lasts roughly 1,500–3,000 hours. Divide replacement cost by expected hours and that is your true cost per mowing hour — often $3–$6. Include it in expenses or the replacement will land as a surprise.