I am a firm believer in having monthly contracts with customers, residential or commercial. Setting a customer up on a contract provides the Lawn Care Business Owner with a steady cash flow all year long and gives the customer a fixed cost to budget for.
For residential customers, you need to educate and inform them about the services you will be providing in the off growing season. Leaf pickup in the fall, will you over-seed, will you provide any snow removal or de-icing services?
Industrial Lawn Mowers
Let the customer know that even though the regular turf may be dormant, there are plenty of valuable services you will continue to provide. You must convey the VALUE they will be receiving to them.
Don't be dissapointed if you don't get a bunch of your regular blue collar homes under a yearly contract, that's OK. It has been my experience that most regular, middle income homeowners will probably just want to pay for the services done during the growing season.
Owners of larger more expensive homes are more apt to give you a contract. They are used to service contracts with pest control, cleaning services and the like.
Unless you just focus on the high end residential neighborhoods be prepared to have a small percentage of your houses under contract.
That is why getting commercial jobs is important.
Commercial clients generally understand having a yearly contract and budget accordingly. The concept of year 'round Lawn Maintenance is part of their thinking. Still, a bit of informative education goes a long way.
Either way, have contracts on hand and be prepared to ask. The worst they can say is "no" but if they say "yes", you have a monthly cash annuity.