LAWN CARE PRICING
What do others do when clients skip multiple weeks in a row? I have a situation where for years I was providing weekly services, and this year I’ve skip a certain property more times than I’ve servic...
Forum Discussion
Yes, you should definitely be charging more—or setting a strict policy on skips.
When a lawn skips weeks, you’re dealing with double passes, heavy clippings, extra equipment strain, and extra time on site. You end up subsidizing their savings with your labor.
Here is how most guys handle this:
- Bi-Weekly Rate Switch: If they skip consistently, they aren't a weekly client anymore. Shift them to your bi-weekly rate (usually 1.3x–1.5x your weekly price).
- Per-Skip Surcharge: Add a $15–$25 overgrowth fee on the next cut whenever a weekly service is skipped.
- Monthly Flat Rate: Charge a fixed monthly price regardless of whether they choose to skip a week. You hold their spot on the route; they pay for the slot.
How to message them:
"Hey [Name], since we've skipped several services this season, the lawn requires double-passing and extra time to keep clean. To keep you on the route, we can either stick to a consistent weekly schedule at X, or transition you to a bi-weekly rate atY per cut to cover the additional labor. Let me know which works best for you!"
Bottom line: route density and predictable revenue are everything. Don't let a long-term client hold a spot on your route for free.