Why does the outlet method matter to the price?

Because it's the difference between a short daylight run at the property edge and excavating a dry well because there's nowhere for the water to go. Naming the outlet on the estimate is what makes the price defensible — and it's the thing cheap bids leave undefined.

Should lawn restoration be included?

Quote it explicitly — backfill and seed, sod, or leave-as-is. Trenching a yard leaves a visible scar for a season, and a customer who wasn't told expects a finished lawn for free.

Do I need to bill utility locating?

Call the public locate service regardless — it's free and usually required. Bill private locating separately when irrigation, low-voltage lighting, invisible fence, or a gas line to a grill needs finding, because public locates don't cover those.

French Drain and Yard Drainage Estimate Template (Free)

What belongs on the estimate

Business name, license number, contact info
Customer name, property address, phone
Problem area described — where water collects or enters
Run length and trench depth
Pipe type, diameter, and sock
Drainage stone and filter fabric
Catch basins and downspout tie-ins — by count
Outlet — daylight, dry well, or pop-up emitter
Utility locating — public and private
Restoration and access notes

The template

[Your Business Name] · License #________
[Phone] · [Email]

Estimate #____        Date: __________
Prepared For: [Customer Name]   Phone: __________
Property: _____________________________________
Problem area: __________________________________
Machine access: [yes / limited / hand-dig only]

--------------------------------------------------
Description                              Amount
--------------------------------------------------
Utility locating (private lines)         $______
Trenching — ___ lf @ ___ in depth        $______
Filter fabric — ___ lf                   $______
Drainage stone — ___ tons                $______
Perforated pipe — ___ lf, ___ in [sock]  $______
Solid pipe run to outlet — ___ lf        $______
Catch basin(s) x___                      $______
Downspout tie-in(s) x___                 $______
Cleanout(s) x___                         $______
Outlet: [daylight / dry well / emitter]  $______
Dry well excavation + chamber            $______
Spoil haul-off — ___ loads               $______
Backfill + topsoil                       $______
Seed / straw   OR   sod — ___ sq ft      $______
Hardscape cut + patch — ___ lf           $______
Hand-dig access surcharge                $______
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal                                 $______
Tax (if applicable)                      $______
Estimate Total                           $______

NOT INCLUDED: irrigation repair beyond located lines,
tree root damage, retaining walls, regrading beyond
trench area, permanent lawn establishment.
Valid ___ days.

Water has to go somewhere

A french drain with no viable outlet is really just an expensive underground puddle. Name the outlet on the estimate — daylight at the property line, a dry well of stated size, or an emitter — because it’s probably the single biggest determinant of both the price and whether the system actually works.

Price the trench by depth, not just length

Twelve inches and thirty-six inches are entirely different amounts of excavation, stone, and spoil. Print the depth, and the per-foot rate becomes explicable instead of arbitrary.

Warn about the scar

Even a perfect trench leaves a visible line for a season. Say so, and quote the restoration option they choose — a customer expecting an invisible repair is a customer who’ll be unhappy on a job you actually did correctly.

Skipping the copy-paste

Software with your trenching, pipe, stone, and basin rates saved builds this estimate in a few taps and turns the accepted version into an invoice with the outlet detail intact.