Anyone have experience with marketing residential snow removal? I have commercial to hold me over for the winter months, but looking for more ways to $$$$. I like the idea of offering driveways, sidewalks, then roofs(for an increased rate). Ideas???
I like thinking about snow removal when it’s 110 outside
Thanks for the visual
Check out Sima
Snow Business Magazine | Snow Removal, Commercial Plowing & Resources from SIMA
Its a very well run and professional association. You can definitely get some ideas by cruising there site. I went to there convention last year and was pretty impressed.
As Chris said SIMA is a good site, also try Plowsite.com. Residential driveways are usually like $25 to plow…at least that’s here in Chicago area. The rate increases like $15-$20 for every 2 inches.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Fortunately, it’s pretty cool in Savannah today. Only 95.
You can make really good money roof clearing. $100/hr. or more because of the inherent danger, in my book.
We get a minimum of 125 for a driveway 8 car lengths. The real money is in the commercial tho. You make the most money laying salt.
Too many h.o.'s want to hire some cheapo off craigslist for ten dollars an hour to shovel off their roof.
Driveways aren’t that big in Chicago…but every area is different. Salt you buy it by the ton for $75 I think it was last year. You can make 10x that spreading it…just gotta have all the equipment.
Most of the time customers ask what we do in the winter, makes an easy lead-in. Also send an email out to customers at beginning of winter to see who wants on the list. Make sure you detail ahead of time what happens to the snow after you shovel it off the roof, if you are moving it or if they want someone else to, it packs pretty good when it hits so you may not want to charge your regular sidewalk shovel price and more than likely have someone removing it while the roof is being cleared. Also make sure your liability insurance and workers comp covers those activities.
thanks for the tip.
There has got to be some type of market tho. What do u do in the winter besides comm route work? im based out of st paul
Brett, that’s like a light turning on. Everybody asks me, even the same people year after year what I do in the winter. I need to be more aggressive letting them know on the spot. Good advice about the insurance as well.
I like the roof cleaning along with residential. Being my first year getting into snow removal, you have to start somewhere. im trying to build a residential clintel base, then branch out to commercial next year
Make sure to understand the difference in the ice melts because basic rocksalt will mess a driveway/sidewalks up quick. When we do residential we use straight magnesium. When we do commercial we mix rock salt and mag together. Rock salt alone isn’t always the answer due to different temperatures of the ground. I’m sure you can Google some of this info but if you have any question feel free to email me.
Magnesium is better than calcium chloride? In what form do you get magnesium?
When you’re ready to go commercial, hook up with a landscape company as a sub. You can get work thru them usually between $70-$100 an hour if you have your own vehicle with a plow on it. You can get a shop to install the plow on your truck for like $400 give or take some. Find a good used plow off of Craigslist or Plowsite.com for $2500 max. You’ll make your money back in no time.
Calcium Chloride and magnesium basically works the same.
Here a good one for ya! Meyer Plow and Spreader
