Working in White Stuff—Making Lots of Green!
Landscaper Roger Cook
It was only natural that landscape contractors go into the snow business. We had manpower and we had equipment. But, in most parts of the country, when it got cold and snowed, we had nothing to do. If you worked into Thanksgiving it was a big deal, then you took a break and in the spring you went back to work.
In many parts of the country climate changes have made it possible to do landscaping all winter long. But, if you’re in a place where it gets cold, like it does in the upper Northeast, you probably know that if you do it right, you can make a lot of money moving snow. Sure, it has its downside, but I know some contractors that make more in the winter than they do cutting grass.
It’s all about weighing options. The equipment is already there, and any kind of work helps pay the bills. It also keeps guys on the payroll, which is important. It’s a natural fit.
Equipment selection
If you’re going to move dirt in the summer and snow in the winter, you’ll need equipment that can do both. Take loaders, for example. If I know I’m going to move snow, I’ll jump up a size and get a bigger Bobcat® skid-steer loader. Then, I can keep it working all year and, best of all, I can push more snow.
Getting started
At first, take on a couple of small lots—don’t go crazy until you find out if you like it or not. If you stay on top of snow removal, you can make some good money. A lot comes from experience and you learn every winter.
Think about how you’re going to bill your services—by the hour or by the push? Some contractors quote lump sums for the season, no matter how much it snows. That’s a tough gamble. I like odds in Vegas better than being out in the middle of the night moving snow. You have to get paid enough to do a good job. You need to know what your liabilities are and how to price things. Get educated.
The Snow and Ice Management
Association (SIMA) does a good job with this. No snow? No problem! Keeping a crew employed all year may be more important than you realize. Think about it: When you have a family, it wears a little thin when you don’t know when you’re going to get laid off. Your crew needs to take pride in what they’re doing. They should be able to budget and have a yearly income, just like you. If you let them go and they do something else in the winter to keep busy they may like it better and change jobs. If they aren’t on your payroll, you could call them in to plow, but they could disappear. Are they really obligated to you if you aren’t paying them full-time?
In parts of the upper North, waiting on snowfall probably isn’t an issue—in fact, you may need to have rental equipment on standby in case you really get dumped on. But, in parts of the country that get warm enough to melt, what else can your crew do when snow’s not falling? Alittle tree work, pruning, brick and patio, stone walls, excavating and prep. I like to take advantage of winter for gravy work . . . jobs here and there that take one day. Then, you’re not dependent upon snow. You’re not putting all your eggs in one basket. It never fails; there’s always a hole in the basket. If it’s not that cold you can re-grade a yard. A lot of times, we’ll work with a client and do hardscaping during the winter. Then they’re guaranteed to be the first job done in the spring. Everyone wants to be first.
If you’re new to snow business, don’t be afraid to call up another contractor and ask, “What can you tell me that’s good and what can you tell me that’s bad?” They may have advice that will help you succeed.
I always say this is a fun business, even moving snow. You’re out in the middle of a whiteout and it’s dark and then the sun comes out and it hits that snow. You look at all the stuff you’ve pushed around and say, “Wow, I was busy last night.” There’s no better feeling.