Don’t hide the fact that you are making a profit at providing snow management services. While it may seem like everyone is plowing snow, the fact is you are in the minority. You provide a necessary service that requires specialized equipment, special talents and tremendous dedication to your customers. Customers should be glad you are there – ready and willing to provide services under terrible, and often unsafe, conditions. Sell these benefits of dealing with your compan

Be very careful in your treatment of independent service providers while they are plowing snow for you. You do not want them to be misconstrued as being “employees” as compared to actual “subcontractors”. While you can give them direction – that direction should be limited to what your customers’ expectations are as far as a finished product after the plowing is completed. You must not restrict them from plowing for themselves or other contractors (if you treat them right

When seeking out new business, you might consider targeting all potential customers in the immediate vicinity of your satisfied customers. Ask your satisfied customer(s) for a letter of recommendation that you can use when discussing the possibility of securing new customers in the immediate geographic area around the site that you are already servicing. If you are charging ‘per push’ having new customers in the immediate vicinity will cut down on travel time between jobs.

One of the major questions that arises when plowing contractors get together is “How do I get new customers, what with all the cutthroat one-truck operators out there giving away their time??”. Maybe this is the wrong attitude. Might it be better if we (as the contractor providing services) were in such a position that we interviewed customers who we wanted to have instead of quoting work ‘hit or miss’? Target marketing is key to success in any business. Why should it be a

When we think of “safety” with regards to snow removal, there are some significant considerations that have to be taken into account. The timing of the work that is required comes into play. The vast majority of work done in winter snow removal operations is done at night. This presents some challenges that don’t normally incur during landscape operations. Additionally, a good portion of the work is done “behind the wheel”, and this too is different than most landscape/tr

In my opinion, it is imperative we (in the snow business – as well as all other walks of life) you project a professional image. Customers need to be able to communicate with you. You must have at least a cell phone – and nowadays maybe an I-Phone or smart phone of some sort. Sounds basic doesn’t it? It is. However, do you have the phone number accessible so customers can find you. Nowadays, a Facebook page is a cost of doing business. Have business cards. If you have