Sometimes, landscaping customers need a one-time fix around their property. Perhaps they are out of town and need temporary help with their lawn, or maybe they have a social gathering event and want their landscape enhanced for the party. When you provide the one-time, high-quality services they want, you can use that opportunity to introduce your long-term maintenance plans and encourage them to sign up for your skills. Maintenance plans offer many benefits for both your company and the customer. The completion of the one-time project is the starting point for discussing a long-term engagement with your customer. Learn more about this transition phase as you continue reading.

What are the Benefits of A Long-Term Maintenance Plan?

Recurring, long-term maintenance plans offer many benefits for landscaping companies. Those benefits include:

• Predictable revenue
• Regular scheduling
• Plentiful upsell opportunities
• Reliable referral opportunities
• Long-term, reliable relations with customers

Maintenance plans benefit the customer in many ways, too. Customers who engage in maintenance plans have less worry about their lawn care projects, enjoy priority scheduling and seasonal promotions, and they trust that someone else is taking care of their outdoor environment, which provides peace of mind. 

How to Turn One-Time Projects Into Long-Term Relations?

One-time projects are beneficial because they enable the customer to receive the lawn care services they need, and they give the landscaping company the chance to demonstrate useful skills while securing a new customer. A one-time service is also an opportunity for the landscape professional to showcase their company and the many lawn care services they regularly offer. Completing a one-time service can be a pivotal point in the professional/customer relationship, especially if you can encourage the customer to sign up for a routine maintenance plan with your team. 

To showcase your maintenance plans, begin discussions early with each one-time client. Discuss benefits associated with a routine maintenance plan, such as reliable curb appeal, weed control, lawn and plant health, priority lawn care services, and year-round predictability. Deliver top-quality services during the one-time project that highlight your professionalism and dedication to your craft. Offer a variety of maintenance plans so each customer can find the services that work for them and their budget. 

Lastly, always follow up with prospective customers, because if they are not ready to commit today to a maintenance plan, they may be ready in the future or have referrals for you. Many customers enjoy the peace of mind that maintenance plans offer, and it is important for you to highlight their benefits when you have the opportunity.

Bottom Line

As you seek to build a solid customer base for your landscaping company, do not miss the chance to discuss long-term options with your one-time clients. Once you successfully complete the one-time project, you can nurture the relationship with the customer by providing details of your ongoing landscape services. Perhaps they never considered a routine lawn care service, or they did not believe the services were within their budget. When you provide details, you offer them something to think about, and they may be ready to convert immediately or in the future. Long-term maintenance plans are often a win-win for everyone involved in the system. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do maintenance plans benefit my landscaping business?
Maintenance plans provide predictability and stability for your landscaping business. Regular, year-round customers are the backbone of many companies because they allow you to set consistent appointments on your calendar, have a predictable flow of revenue, reduce your marketing costs, and help build long-term relationships with customers. Maintenance plans also help customers by providing peace of mind for their landscaping needs and reliability in their lawn care services. 

What services should I offer with maintenance plans?
Lawn care services may include mowing, trimming, clearing hardscape surfaces, fertilization, weed control, shrub trimming, or seasonal cleanups. Additional services may include irrigation inspections and repairs, landscape lighting, or plant maintenance. Depending on the landscaping services you offer, you may want to develop a variety of maintenance plans so customers can choose the one that best suits their needs. 

What can I do to improve customer retention for my landscaping company?
Most customers want to see the benefits of signing up for a maintenance plan and feel they will receive services that add value to their property. Help customers feel confident in your ability as a reliable landscaper by providing clear, open communication and prompt follow-up communication. Provide details on priority scheduling, referral rewards, loyalty discounts, and reliable, high-quality services to build strong relationships that benefit the property owner.