Snow 'removal'

[data farm 26]

Any of you do snow related work? I may get into it this year if it ever snows again... I've not settled on how to charge though. In the past I've done a set price for each property that is billed incrementally, like $240 every three inches. I'm questioning that though. Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Reach]

It's been a while since we have done snow, but we used to do a lot of snow. An awful lot of snow. I would be happy to connect with you to talk strategies and pricing systems.

 

[Bart_]

Be wary of early riser customers who want to drive down to the local outlet for a coffee and newspaper at 6:30 a.m. after an all night storm that is a) still snowing b) city streets aren't even cleared yet. And it's your fault when they try to drive their car over/through the city plow "triangle" exactly when they need to go out.

Try for retired customers or snowbirds who are relaxed about when you get there.

Depending on how much you stretch yourself, are you comfortable with a 12 or 18 hour day in the snow and slush for a whopper storm? Getting someone willing to help only for overload is difficult. Ie would you sign on for that? I wouldn't.

Best part is customer-adjacent: "Could you do my driveway just this once? I only need help in a bad storm." translation "Otherwise you working at moderate manageable load for fair money is not what I'm interested in signing up for." I say that on a storm day if I have any energy left I'll try to come back after I service all my regular paying customers but the odds are low. They get priority.

Another best part is city plows blasting slush/snow 6' (record was 15'!) up the end of the driveway after it is cleared multiple times in the same day. Even as you're working! I once saw a street re-plowed 5 times same day. One senior couple (later just the widow) told me such plowing interfered with an emergency ambulance call to their house. Hello liability.

Also beware liability if doing commercial properties.

Check into good winter boots - recent thread coincidence. Be like a marine and go bunny boots Just kidding, but half not.

 

[Mike H]

Despite swearing it off every year, I will be doing snow removal again for my 29th season. I have never had my own clients because early in business my tree care liability insurance wouldn't cover me. I have been subcontracting for the last twenty years. Last year was dry so only a few thousand dollars. Happy to put you in touch with the Boulder bro who I work with

 

[flushcut]

I plow my own interests. My house, the shop, my wife’s grandpa, my mom, and an elderly widow up the block from my house and that’s it. But she makes the best damn apple pie I’ve ever had as payment.

 

[Reach]

I plow my own interests. My house, the shop, my wife’s grandpa, my mom, and an elderly widow up the block from my house and that’s it. But she makes the best damn apple pie I’ve ever had as payment.

Sometimes that is the best payment you can get. These days, I plow our shop, my house, the half mile private lane I live on, and most of the neighbors. Once in a while somebody gives me a batch of cookies or brownies, and I get an occasional "thank you". Sounds like you've got a better deal going, I would love a good pie!