Here in the state of Wisconsin, we get blasted by old man Winter between 4-5 months of the year! During these chilling months, it’s not uncommon for us to see multiple snow storms that produce some major accumulation of snow. In the winter of 2007-2008, South Eastern Wisconsin witnessed 19 winter storms that produced 6 or more inches of snow, and 3 of these storms produced 18 or more inches! That is a lot of snow! It becomes both a hassle and a hazard. So, who do you turn to find a reputable snow plowing and snow removal professional to take care of this inconvenience?

1. There are many places to look for a Snow Plowing and Snow Removal Professional. A few that I recommend are Online Professional Service Directories such as Get Plowed Now, Service Magic, and Yellow Pages. Look for a couple of professionals in your local area. The further you wander from home, the further you push their response time back. You don’t want to be waiting until 3 pm the day after a storm before your property is clear.
2. Make sure they service your type of property, Commercial or Residential
3. Ask them if they are insured. This means, Insured for snowplowing. Seems simple, but many out there are not these days! If they swipe a car or hit a Fire Hydrant, both you and they are covered.
4. Make sure they have experience. Ask them if they have any references, especially if you are signing any sort of contract with them. Check the references out and make sure they hold up to their end of the deal.
5. Take a peek at their trucks/equipment. Make sure it appears to be well-maintained and in good shape. The last thing you want is your professional’s 1984 rusted-out truck breaking down on you!
6. You should ask how much snow accumulation is needed before they come out and plow. Typically, it’s a 3″-4″ minimum before they come out. However, if you want that amount to be more or less, you need to ask and get it taken care of upfront.
7. Do you need the sidewalks cleaned off? This is an extra cost service that may not be part of your contract. Some take care of this and many do not. So, get this cleared in the beginning too.
8. Ask what type of service plans are available. There are seasonal plans where you pay 1 flat fee for the entire season, no matter how many snowfalls. You can also find Pay Per Plow plans where you are billed per snow accumulation over your agreed amount. Also, it is best to secure contracts before the snow season hits. It is not uncommon to find early bird deals before Thanksgiving time!

There are many great Snow Plowing & Snow Removal Service Professionals out there. Call up a couple and ask some questions to make sure they are a good fit for you.

When the next big snowstorm hits, sit back and relax, and let the pros do the heavy lifting! Especially use Orlando Pest Control for a pest-free Indoor stay this winter.

Whenever we think of a snow removal business, we usually envision a pickup truck with a snowplow on the front going around plowing parking lots and driveways for businesses. But, what about all the residential areas that need snow removal from their sidewalks and driveways?

I think if I were looking for a business to start, I would take a hard look at starting up a special residential snow removal business. This could also be a great winter business for gardeners and landscapers that are shut down in the winter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMMAZf8MO1s

This is how I would approach starting a snow removal business:

1.) Develop a small informal business plan where I would write down who I think my customers would be. Then (long before the snow started) I would go and ask some of them if they would be interested in my services when the snow came. Based on my canvassing and customer research I would figure out how big my market could be, and determine if the idea was feasible in my town. This would also be the time to test out some suggested pricing for my services to see what the market would bear.

2.) Keeping with my little business plan, I would investigate the cost of the equipment I would need. I would have to have a good quality professional snow thrower, or at least a prosumer model. I would need to have a small trailer to haul the machine from house to house (not all of them will be side by side), and I would need some miscellaneous accessories, like gas cans, chains, and maybe a cab to keep out of the wind, plus a few other supplies. This research and list would tell me how much money I needed to get into the business.

3.) I would then compare my cost of getting into the business against what I calculate I could receive in revenues to see how much money I could make in one season. I wouldn’t have to offset the cost of my equipment over just one season because it would last for several seasons. But I would need to determine my out-of-pocket operating costs for gas and oil and maintenance on the equipment. Of course, I would probably want to base my services on an average number of snowfalls for the season. If there is less snow, I can only hope for a heavier winter next year, Or, if there is more snow than normal, I will have to work overtime to keep up…and collect more money.

4.) I would check with my city offices to see what kind of business license I would need to operate this business, but I would try to avoid getting into too much “formalized” business stuff–I just want to clear some snow from people’s driveways…not start the next Microsoft.

5.) When my little business plan indicates that I can make some money and the business looks viable…I will need to determine where I will get my startup money. If I can tap into my savings to buy equipment, I will be ahead of the game. Or, maybe I will need to borrow from family or friends. I may need to look to a third-party investor in my town who would loan me the money. There are also several places on the Internet where I could look for several different forms of small business micro-funding. Money is available…sometimes it is just hard to find and takes perseverance.

6.) I would set myself up in business with some business cards, a two-part receipt book so I could present a bill to my customers and record my income, and a small notebook to record my expenses and revenue to keep track of how my business was doing…and to calculate my taxes when the time came. Also, I would do some advertising in local neighborhood shoppers and nickel ad papers. Anything to get the word out that I was in business.

Well, there is the framework for a snow removal business this winter. There may be competition out there, but with superior customer service, someone can make a real business out of snow removal this winter.

When the weather gets bad, residents and businesses alike may find themselves in need of snow removal. While some people can get rid of the white powder from their sidewalks, it takes a company to come in and clear the way to business entrances as well as passages for vehicles to get by. When this situation arises, it is important to know exactly what needs to be done.

Keep Contact Information Handy

You just never know when you are going to need the number for the snow removal company. You take a look outside and everything seems okay, but just around the corner, a major storm could be on the way. You don’t want to wait until you need the information to run around the office trying to locate it.

Write down all of the important information, including the contact person, phone number, and email address. When you need assistance, you as well as your employees will know just where to go to make the call. Be sure that throughout the winter season, you remind people about the contact number and what they need to do in case there is a problem. If you are a business owner, you probably want to have this number on your cell phone and written down somewhere at home.

When to Call

As you watch the news in the morning, you see that the weather person is calling for a storm. How do you know when it is time to make the call for assistance? Usually, snow removal companies are well aware of the weather and are going to keep up to date with how things are progressing. As soon as you sense that there is going to be a problem, go ahead and make the call. This doesn’t mean that someone is going to come out right away, but it does mean that the company will be aware of your situation and realize that there is a chance that you may need help shortly.

Choosing a Company

If you live in an area that requires the use of a snow removal company often, chances are there may be one or two close by. How do you decide which company to choose? You want to find a company that has the most up-to-date equipment available. This makes them better able to take care of the issue as soon as it arises and avoid problems and failures in equipment.

Also, you want to choose a place that makes communication a high priority. Because of the nature of the situation, you want to be able to talk with someone as soon as you notice a problem. If your phone calls aren’t being returned before a problem arises, how will you know they will answer when you need to talk to someone? Find a snow removal company that will work hard to make sure that you, your customers, and your