A landscaping job involves numerous tasks and costs. For that reason, most workers might find it difficult to make landscaping estimates for their clients.

To make the landscape estimation more precise, there is a great tool called the landscape cost estimate sheet. It makes your landscaping business look more professional and provides much more accurate estimates, whether for personal or commercial landscaping.

In this article, we will show you how to create a landscaping estimate template for your landscaping projects. Make sure to follow all steps carefully to ensure the best results and enhance your profitable landscaping business.

As the name suggests, these templates are documents used to create estimations regarding a landscaping project. Whether the labor costs or the material costs, the estimate template gives both the professional and the client the primary information needed before starting any work.

The estimate template for landscaping costs is used for professional companies and workers who attend to particular requests. 

Regardless of the size of your company, the landscaping business estimate is a powerful tool and can attend to your needs no matter what they are. Everything will depend on the information you feature in your document and how complete it gets.

There are several reasons why creating a landscaping estimate template is very important, whether you work alone or have a landscaping company. The first reason is that your landscaping jobs will look much more professional.

Moreover, these documents work perfectly to tell the customer precisely what will be done and what they are paying for. Making a clear document where clients understand each cost is more likely to convince them to hire your work.

Also, landscaping estimate templates help you better track what materials you need for each work and how much it will cost to acquire them. This way, you avoid budget problems and ensure efficiency when acquiring materials.

The landscaping estimate is a game changer and can perform numerous tasks depending on the categories you include in the document. Make sure to choose them based on your needs and the information you want to provide your customers.

Now that you know what a landscaping estimate is and why having this document on your side is crucial, it is time to see the main categories that should be included for effective results. Remember that each business is unique and requires different particularities for its services.

Here we will cover the essential categories that should be featured, regardless of business kind and size. Make sure to analyze all categories to understand better how they can impact your company and the services provided.

Here are the main categories you should feature in your landscaping job estimate template:

Business Identification

The first item of the template should be proper identification of your business, whether through a logo or a simple text with your name if you work alone. This makes it look more professional and also easily identifiable.

Not only that, but identifying your documents with a common visual ID also helps build your brand identity and get known by more people. It is a great way to organically market your business without spending extra effort.

The business identification should contain your contact details along with the name or logo. Having a phone number and email is indispensable if the client needs to contact you, so make sure to include them. 

Client’s Information

Along with your identification, you also include a field for filling in information about your client. Just like in the previous field, you should include your client's name, phone number, and other relevant contact information.

They can use your information to get in touch when needed. Their contact data can be used in case you need it. Both ID fields are usually located at the top of the document.

Address

Along with contact information, it is also essential to take note of both parties' addresses in the landscaping quote template. The client’s address is added for localization and identification purposes.

Having that information clear on the document lets you quickly identify which client it regards and calculate the displacement expenses in case you have any.

On the other hand, the company’s address is for use in case the client needs to talk to you because of any matter. With a clear address, the customer can talk directly with the landscaping team.

List of Works

One of the core items of cost estimates is the list of works and services provided. Whether just backyard landscaping work or multiple tasks, these items should be listed along with their estimated price.

This way, the customer can understand exactly what they’re paying for and how much they will be charged for each item. It is important to list the exact services and not forget anything to avoid differences in the value between the estimation and the final payment amount.

Landscaping Materials List

In case there is a need to purchase extra materials, these costs should also be included if you want to create professional-looking estimates. Most of the time, your final estimated value will be more than just the landscaping services themselves.

This happens mainly thanks to the materials needed, whether for lawn mowing or any other activity. When you have to purchase specific materials for the work done, the client is expected to pay for them, so featuring these items is indispensable to have the estimate approved.

Labor Cost

If you want to create an even more detailed estimate, you can also specify how much of the values charged refer to your labor costs. It is almost impossible that you’ll set only the materials. 

Each task requires different effort and actions. Thus, each task can also have different labor costs attached to them.

Specifying these values is very important for clear communication between you and your clients. Also, it helps justify the final price of your estimated document to the potential client.

Additional Services

Since the landscaping estimate document is a previous version of the work that will be done, you can also include additional services you suggest to your client. These additional tasks don't necessarily need to be done, but by recommending them, there are higher chances of the customer accepting them.

It is a common practice that can benefit both you and the client. Make sure to list them along with the total cost, including materials and work.

Payment Terms

When creating a template for estimating landscaping services, it is also crucial to specify the payment terms. Details like the payment methods accepted and the due date for the deposit should also be featured for a quality document.

These terms can be negotiated with the client when needed. Remember that all items can change over time. The estimation is a document for the early stages, and it is typical for the final invoice to differ in terms of services executed and total cost. 

In the estimate, you’ll base it on overhead costs and other details. On the other hand, invoices should feature the exact value, including taxes and other fees.

If you want to get the most out of your estimative documents, here are some tips for you. Make sure to look at each one to see how they impact your business.

Here are the main tips you can use:

Create a Visual ID

When creating professional templates, it is vital to have a common visual ID between them. Dedicating more than just a few minutes to creating a company logo and your company's colors can bring numerous benefits.

It makes it easier for people to recognize your business and makes all your files look more professional. Make sure to think about these details when creating a landscaping estimate template.

Remember That the Estimate Is Not an Invoice

Many professionals struggle to create the landscaping estimate template because they want to make the most accurate document possible. The estimate is not an invoice, so if there is a difference between this document and the final invoice, don’t worry. It is normal to have these differences, not only in the service price but also in the number of materials used and other details.

When it comes to creating a landscape estimate, there are tons of options available. From known programs to specialized estimating software, each one has its own tools and features.

Among all the options available, we highly recommend using Microsoft Word for this task. MS Word not only has the best tools and features on the market but is also an industry standard. This means you won’t need any extra software for your business tasks.

If you don’t have a Microsoft Office activation key, you can find one at RoyalCDKeys for a considerably lower price. This way, you get access to all tools you need and still save money.

If you don’t want to create your templates from scratch, there is no problem. Here are some free estimate template examples you can download and use:

Template #1

Complete landscape estimate document. Template featuring all the categories needed for a complete and precise estimate template.

Get this template

Template #2

Simple estimate template for landscaping work. Features spaces for logo and visual ID elements and all the necessary categories for a complete document.

Get this template

Template #3

Colorful commercial landscaping template. Document featuring multiple graphic elements for visually appealing creations.

Get this template

Running a landscaping business can generate numerous challenges, and one of the main problems is generating quality estimates of work costs. For this reason, most professionals create a landscaping estimate template.

This powerful tool can impact numerous aspects of the business and benefit both the client and the professional. But to have the desired effect, every aspect must be well-thought-out.

Now that you know everything you need, it is time to start creating your estimate template for a landscaping project. Ensure you follow all steps and tips above to get the best out of your document.