you're thinking marketing and logisitics!! I love it. This is my thing---
It depends on
1) what your mowing customer market is comfortable with
2) what you can do
If you violate #1, you have to frame yourself with some kind of perks for their uncomfort. That is the only way they will pick you over a service they're comfortable with.
Obviously, with #2, maybe you only have access to a bike with a bike trailer. You can't do a box truck with employees, so utilize what you have on hand.
i.e. if you're an estranged 18 year old looking for beer money but want to take market share from a commercial mowing service, you may frame yourself with the same prices but more careful, personalized services. Learn about grass types, rollers, buy an edger instead of using weedeaters to edge to get that clean cut. This differentiates you, and your market share from the commercial mowing market will grow RAPIDLY. People love personal service they would not expect from a service like this.
i.e. if you're a commercial mowing service and you want to take market share from the 18 year old beer money market, you may simply lower your price and make your employees look more professional, make sure you're insured, bonded, licensed, maybe offer quick extra services for free, like an employee pulls weeds in your garden for a few minutes if he has nothing to do instead of taking a break. This differentiates you, and your market share from the 18 year old beer money market will grow RAPIDLY. People love personal service they would not expect from a service like this.
see what im sayin?
differentiating takes effort, time, and money. So, here's a plan if you don't feel like differentiating:
Everything you listed is what a mowing customer commercial market is comfortable with.
-If you're doing residential yards for baby boomers who romanticize the idea that you're an 18 year old with a bike, you can just tell them to leave $30 in cash in an envelope on the back door or something sketchier than an automated system. They will love participating in your sketchiness. It's part of the romance!
-If you're a commercially painted and wrapped box truck with employees, there is some tech you can utilize or build to personally fit your needs that would best suit billing people.
To fit that #1 rule, you have to fit what they are expecting of you.
If you're 18, they likely can expect a no-tech solution, they can 'play along' with your quick cash business by doing shadier things like leaving money in an envelope. They'll love being apart of it! It's why they hired you instead of a commercial landscaper.
If you're a box trucker, automatic email invoices confirmed by an employee after service is completed is expected. People who hire these kinds of landscapers are just happy to get their yard done and do not want to participate as much in the process of lawns. They hire them because they love being "just another yard"
Do what suits you!