Landscape companies charge based on an hourly rate or a flat fee. There are pros and cons for each of these pricing structures; neither one is inherently better than the other. The pay-as-you-go aspect of hourly labor ensures that the time worked corresponds with the cost paid. This promotes fairness so long as the landscapers have integrity and don’t “milk the clock.” The benefit of a flat fee is that you know exactly what the cost will be prior to hiring the landscape service, which will help you budget for your project. However, the downside is that the customer is usually required to make a 25% deposit. Plus, hidden fees may arise once the landscaping project gets underway since it’s impossible for the landscaper to account for unknown variables on the front end.