Both home and business owners often look to use landscaping services to spruce up their property. Unfortunately, while many areas often have countless businesses to choose from, not everyone offers what potential customers are trying to find.

This post will explore a handful of aspects clients prefer in a landscaping business. To discover what they are, keep reading!

6 Things Clients Look for in a Landscaping Service

The Services

One of the first things many customers analyze is the work a landscape service offers. Is it just basic yard clean-up, or are there more intricate features, like landscape design?

Many of these services have vast options, but they are also prone to specialize in certain aspects. For instance, they might provide grass mowing and tree trimming but could focus more on high-end plant care.

Some other options to provide include:

Remember that you don’t have to only work during the warmer months. You could also labor in the fall and winter with snow services such as plowing and log removal. By being versatile, you’re more likely to get extra business.

If You’re Insured

Many clients won’t work with a landscaping company that isn’t insured because they don’t want to be held responsible should there be injuries. Quite a few also want to know that it will be paid for if something is damaged. Moreover, most states won’t allow you to work without insurance legally. In fact, to get a landscaper’s license, you need to show insurance proof.

Landscape insurance will usually cover aspects such as:

  • Workers’ compensation
  • General liability
  • Commercial auto and property
  • Contractors’ errors and omissions
  • Tools and equipment

If you’re unsure whether you can afford insurance, don’t worry. Many agencies will design a custom plan to fit your budget and needs. Some can even provide a quote to give you a general idea of what you’ll pay. However, a general landscaping insurance cost to keep in mind includes the premium, which is around $50 per month.

Good Reviews

You might offer incredible services, but it could turn some away if your reviews are low. So to keep your status up, make sure always to do high-quality work. This will keep your current base impressed and lead to them spreading the word about your business.

Your Experience

Your landscaping business might be equipped with high-tech tools and several services, but if you don’t show enough experience, some customers might be hesitant to hire you.

To prevent losing clients, highlight your landscaping experience. Even if it’s only a few months, you want to show that you have knowledge in the industry and can be trusted. One of the best ways to spread the word is to mention it on your website and in ads.

Your Communication

It might seem strange that clients would base their hirings around good communication, but it’s key to your success.

To ensure that you’re able to reach and hold clients, practice your communication and listening skills. Besides verbal exercises, make sure that you’re well-versed in digital communication. Most customers prefer to talk either by text or email. If you’re not keeping up with this, it could look as if you’re ignoring them. To stay organized, invest in an online communication tool where you can store notes and keep track of recent correspondences.

It’s also vital to update clients on current projects. They’ll appreciate knowing their current status and if there might be some problems.

Reasonable Fees

It’s also good to keep your prices fair. While a handful of clients might be willing to pay high costs, many are often unable to do so. This could limit your customer base.

You don’t have to be extremely cheap, but research your potential clientele to get an idea of their average budget. In most cases, this will be around $50-$100 per hour.

Determining the appropriate fees will depend on a few things. One is what your competition is charging. You’ll also need to include labor and material costs into it. For example, if you plan to buy mulch for $50, you don’t want to set the price exactly at this because you won’t be making a profit. If you have to pay for extra labor, you should make sure you have enough in your budget for workers.

To make a decent income, figure out your overhead rate. You can do this by dividing your overhead (the items required) rate by the hours you’ll work. This will give you a general hourly rate to charge. You might also slightly increase this number to cover potential issues, but make sure it’s not substantial.

There might be countless landscape services, but not all meet clients’ needs. By keeping this information in mind, you can better understand what potential customers are looking for.