What to Include in a Lawn Care Estimate (with Downloadable Template) 

Creating estimates shouldn’t slow you down. But for many small lawn care companies—especially owner-operators juggling everything—building bids can feel messy, repetitive, and time-consuming. 

A strong lawn care estimate template changes that. It helps you work faster, stay accurate, and present your business like the pros.  

The right template removes guesswork, prevents missed details, and gives customers the confidence to book with you. The result? More accuracy, less back-and-forth, and better first impressions. 

In this guide, we’ll walk through the key pieces every lawn care estimate should include. And, we’ll share a downloadable template you can start using today to create clean, consistent bids in minutes. 

Let’s dive in! 

Why Lawn Care Pros Need Better Estimate Templates 

Of course, a good estimate template keeps you organized. But, more importantly, it can directly affect how much work you win and how smoothly your day goes. 

First, it saves time. When your template already includes every section you need, you’re not reinventing the wheel with each new customer. You simply plug in the details and send the bid.  

Over time, you can reuse estimates for similar jobs, making the process even faster. 

Second, it protects your profit. Missing even a small line item adds up. An outdated or incomplete template makes it easy to underprice a job or leave out materials, driving down your margins.  

A clean, up-to-date template helps ensure you charge accurately for what the job actually requires. 

Third, it boosts professionalism. Customers notice when your lawn care estimates look polished and complete. They also notice when something is missing, unclear, or corrected later.  

A consistent template shows you’re reliable and organized. These qualities make homeowners more comfortable choosing you over a competitor. 

And with lawn care demand rising and competition heating up, that polish matters. Industry growth is being fueled by: 

• A surge in new landscaping and lawn care companies 

• Growing home ownership rates in the early 2020s 

• Social media trends pushing outdoor living and curb appeal 

• Weather and drought conditions requiring professional treatment plans 

Customers compare more options than ever before. Keeping your estimate template current and making sure it reflects what today’s homeowners expect is a simple way to stand out.  

Free Lawn Care Estimate Template 

If you’re spending too much time building estimates and not enough time in the field, a ready-made template can be a lifesaver. It gives you a clean starting point and cuts down on the back-and-forth that slows your week down. 

It’s an easy way to test whether a structured estimate workflow fits your business without changing anything else about how you work.  

Most pros find that once they use a template with all the right sections baked in, they don’t want to go back to piecing bids together from scratch. 

RELATED ARTICLE: 10 Hidden Costs of Manual Processes in Your Lawn Care Business 

How to Customize Our Template for Your Lawn Care Business 

No two lawn care companies run the same way. Your climate, service mix, and customer expectations all play a role in how your estimates should look. 

For example, lawn care in the South runs nearly year-round, while businesses in the Northeast may swap certain services for snow removal in the winter to keep revenue steady.  

Some companies handle both residential and small commercial properties. Others carve out a niche, like drought-friendly landscapes, difficult terrain, or properties with pets. 

Your estimate template should reflect those differences. You might add details such as: 

• Working around pools or hardscaping 

• Pet cleanup policies 

• Care tips for new homeowners 

• Native or drought-resistant plant options 

• Adjustments for steep or hard-to-access areas 

Use our template as a starting point, then tailor it to match the work you actually do. Swap in your own terms, pricing structure, and branding. The sections we outline later in this guide will help ensure you don’t miss anything critical. 

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Charge for Lawn Care Services 

What Details Every Estimate Should Include 

Regardless of your niche or location, a strong lawn care estimate covers the same core details: 

• Your company name and contact information 

• The client’s name and contact information 

• An estimate number 

• Date issued and expiration date 

• Scheduled service date and frequency (if applicable) 

• A clear description of the work you’ll provide 

• Rates and a cost breakdown 

• Subtotals and total cost 

• Notes or special instructions (if applicable) 

• Any terms or conditions 

The more specific your estimate is, the easier it is for customers to say yes. It also protects your time since everyone is aligned on expectations before work begins. 

When to Consider Lawn Care Estimating Software 

A template is a great entry point. But as your business grows—or as you take on more complex jobs—you may want tools that handle more of the heavy lifting. 

Lawn care estimating software builds on what a template offers and adds features like: 

• Service categories and preset bid types  

• Property diagramming for precision work 

• Pricing calculator for lawn care by square foot or flat rate  

• Warranties with set start and end dates  

• Recurring service estimating for ongoing work 

And because estimating software ties into the rest of your workflow, it gives you other helpful advantages, such as: 

• Automatic scheduling and routing 

• Revenue tracking  

• Sales team visibility and leaderboards  

• Project and task management  

• Marketing automation  

• Lead and customer management 

That last one—lead management—is a big deal. When your estimates connect directly to your CRM, you’re less likely to lose a potential client to missed follow-up or simple oversight. 

If you find the template helpful, you may want to explore tools like Briostack’s lawn care platform down the road. It includes the estimating features above, along with scheduling, routing, invoicing, and other tools that help small teams work faster without adding more admin to their day. 

Lawn Care Estimate Template vs. Lawn Care Software 

Both lawn care estimates and lawn care business software help you standardize your bidding process, but they’re built for different stages of your business.  

Here’s a quick comparison to help you determine which tool is right for your business right now: 

Estimating Template	Lawn Care Business Software
Only for creating job bids	Manages estimates and wider operations
Faster than starting from scratch	Even faster with built-in automation
Built for a single user	Built for office and field teams
Requires manual CRM updates	Integrates directly with your CRM
Limited flexibility	Highly customizable for complex properties and services
Great beginner tool	Better for scaling, accuracy, and professional polish

 
If estimating is totally new to you, start with the template. Once it becomes part of your daily workflow or demand picks up, it’s worth considering software that can support your whole operation.  

Growing companies often make the switch when they realize that estimates, routing, invoicing, and customer communication are all connected. 

Next Steps for Efficient Lawn Care Estimates 

You’re already on the right track by tightening up your estimating process. Here are a few simple next steps to put this guide into action: 

• Download your free lawn care estimate template to get comfortable with a more structured workflow. 

• Review your CRM process. Are leads slipping through the cracks? Are follow-ups happening too slowly? 

• Look at who on your team builds estimates today. Would sharing that responsibility speed things up? 

• Think about your goals for the next 6, 12, and 24 months. If growth is in the plan, consider whether software will help you support a larger customer base. 

• Compare platforms. Look for tools—like Briostack—that offer both strong estimating features and the operational support you’ll need as you scale. 

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