How landscaping and snow removal companies win contracts
Landscaping and snow removal share crews, trucks and customers, and in Canada they are two halves of the same business year. In Canada, “landscaping” draws an estimated 18,100 searches a month, “snow removal” about 9,900 and “snow removal near me” about 3,600. Estimated click costs for “snow removal near me” and “landscaping” are close to each other and higher than for “snow removal”, and actual campaign costs vary. These searches overlap, so they should not be added up into a count of unique customers. Companies that smooth their revenue sell seasonal contracts early, fill the shoulder seasons and keep commercial clients on multi season agreements. This guide covers how.
The year at a glance
| Period | Sell |
|---|---|
| Late winter | Spring clean up, design and build projects for the coming season |
| Spring | Lawn care plans, planting, hardscaping and patios |
| Summer | Maintenance plans, irrigation and lighting |
| Late summer and early fall | Snow removal contracts, fall clean ups, aeration |
| Winter | Snow service delivery, holiday lighting, design consultations for spring |
We plan and run landscaping marketing for home service companies in Toronto and across Canada, scoped in writing after a free review.
Show the work
- Project galleries for patios, retaining walls, gardens and lighting, with before and after photos taken with permission.
- Drone shots of larger properties. See our drone photography.
- 3D designs for hardscaping projects so clients can picture the result.
Snow removal contracts
- Explain contract types clearly: per visit, seasonal or per event, with triggers and response times.
- Show coverage areas on a map.
- Sell early: many homeowners and businesses sign before the first snowfall.
- Commercial clients want proof of insurance, documented service logs and reliability.
Winning commercial and property management contracts
Commercial properties, condominium corporations and property managers often buy landscaping and snow services together, and they usually compare several bids. Winning these accounts depends less on advertising and more on how well you answer the buyer’s questions about reliability and risk.
- Prepare a short capabilities document with your service area, crew and equipment, insurance coverage, safety practices and the types of properties you already maintain.
- Explain how you document service: site visit logs, timestamps, photos and salt or de-icing records. Property managers need these when a slip and fall claim arrives.
- Describe your storm plan in plain words: when crews go out, how sites are prioritized and how the client is kept informed.
- Find out when local condominium boards and property managers review contracts and reach out before that window, often in spring for landscaping and summer for snow.
- After you win an account, a short review at the end of each season keeps the relationship strong and opens the door to renewal and added services.
Following up on estimates
Many landscaping quotes are lost not because the price was wrong but because nobody followed up. Homeowners planning a patio or garden project often take weeks to decide, and a polite, timely follow up keeps you in the running.
- Send the estimate quickly after the site visit, with photos or a sketch of what you discussed.
- Follow up a few days later to answer questions, and again before your schedule fills for the season.
- Explain what the client can do now to hold a spot, such as approving the design or choosing materials.
- Record why lost quotes were lost, so you can adjust your offer or your target customers.
Product and claim accuracy
Ontario restricts the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes on lawns and gardens, so describe lawn care treatments accurately. Environmental claims should describe specific, supportable practices. For pesticide products, Health Canada’s advertising guidance rejects broad unqualified green claims and describing the product itself as “organic”; follow the applicable product rules.
Local search and reviews
Use accurate service areas on your Google Business Profile, build pages for each service and city, and ask for reviews at the end of each project or season. Read the Google Business Profile guide.
Systems for recurring revenue
Recurring maintenance and snow contracts need scheduling, renewals and billing reminders. A landscaping CRM keeps renewals on time and lets you upsell spring services to winter clients.
Selling the next season to current clients
The cheapest new contract is usually one from a client you already serve. Because landscaping and snow removal run on opposite halves of the year, every client in one season is a natural prospect for the other.
- Offer snow clients a spring clean up and lawn care plan before the snow melts, and offer summer maintenance clients a snow contract in August.
- Walk the property at the end of each season and note what the client might need next, such as drainage work, a tired patio or new plantings, then send a short written suggestion.
- Ask satisfied clients for referrals to neighbours, since crews already working on a street can add nearby properties efficiently.
- Send renewal notices well before the season starts, with any changes to the service explained clearly.
Keep each client’s history in one place so every crew member and office staff member knows what the client has bought, what was promised and when they were last contacted.
Ads by season
Run landscaping campaigns in spring and summer and snow removal campaigns in late summer and fall, with negative keywords for DIY, equipment and jobs. Click cost alone does not show whether ads are profitable. Compare cost per booked contract with its expected gross profit and your service capacity.
Marketing through uncertain winters
Snow removal revenue depends on weather nobody can predict, and that affects how you market it. Seasonal contracts give clients a known cost and give you predictable revenue, while per visit and per event pricing shifts more of the weather risk to the client. Be clear in your marketing about which model you offer and what each one includes, such as the snowfall trigger, the number of visits, salting and the response time after a storm ends. Clients who understand the terms are less likely to dispute invoices after a heavy or a light winter.
Use your website and email list to communicate during the season too. A short post or message before a major storm explaining your plan reassures existing clients and shows prospects how you operate.
See our landscaping marketing service and the home services marketing guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do landscaping companies get more clients?
Show real project work, sell seasonal plans early, win local search and keep renewals on schedule.
When should snow removal contracts be marketed?
In late summer and fall, before the first snowfall.
How much search demand is there for landscaping?
"Landscaping" draws an estimated 18,100 searches a month across Canada. It is a national planning figure, not the demand in a particular service area.
What should a snow removal contract explain?
Contract type, triggers, response times, coverage area and what is included.
Can landscapers advertise pesticide treatments in Ontario?
Ontario restricts pesticides for cosmetic use, so describe lawn treatments accurately.
How do landscapers fill the shoulder seasons?
Sell spring clean ups and design work in late winter, and fall clean ups and snow contracts in late summer.
Do commercial snow clients need documentation?
Yes. Insurance and service logs are often required.
Are Google Ads worth it for landscapers?
They can be. Estimated click costs for "landscaping" are higher than for "snow removal", and actual costs vary by area and season. Judge the campaign by cost per booked contract, gross profit and capacity; a low CPC alone does not establish profitability.
What helps sell hardscaping projects?
Galleries, drone shots and 3D designs that show the result.
Do landscapers need a CRM?
It helps manage recurring maintenance, snow contracts and renewals.
How should landscapers follow up on estimates?
Send the estimate soon after the site visit, follow up a few days later to answer questions and again before the schedule fills, and record why lost quotes were lost.