How Much Money do you Charge to Snow Blow / Plow a Yard

[dodge man]

I do my neighbors for free, just one of them. They usually give me a gift certificate to the local farm store every spring. Some winters I may only plow it once or twice, others it may take some real time. Most of the time we just get a few inches and it only takes me about 5 minutes. They never asked for the help, I just do it.

 

[roadhunter]

We have terrible snow and I occasionally help neighbors and if it gets real bad the local farmers come around with their big tractors to help me. None of us charge anything. That's how neighbors operate around here. We all know we can call each other for help anytime and no money will exchange hands.

The company I wok for does snow removal and for example the local wal mart contract is about 30k per season. Churches are more like 5-10k

 

[GPintheMitten]

There's certainly nothing wrong with running a business to clear snow. Even if it's small and involves people who live near you
If you're running a business you better charge enough to make it worth your time including wear and tear on your equipment.

That said many of us don't want to commit to that. That's why I only do a few close neighbors, most I f whom are elderly, for free.

 

[Billrog]

I plowed snow one winter 19 yrs. ago and charged $50 many wanted a contract price which was fine and as it turned out the only ones I made any money on were the ones I did contract. By the hr. you have to consider the time it takes to run from one job to the next. These were commercial sites Fortunately I had told everyone I would only remove the snow piles once it stacked up by the hr. loading trucks and having them haul it away.You cannot judge the time for trucking especially if the snow is sticky and doesn't come out of the trucks. I now do a few neighbors driveways for free but I really like my neighbors & they will go out of their way to see I'm looked after if help is needed.BTW I just worked for a contractor for a wk. loading snow 12 hrs. a day for $100 ph & decided I won't be doing that again either far to tiring.

 

[PILOON]

"I do a couple of neighbors for free when the snow is deep or wet. Maybe when I retire, I'll get a slightly bigger machine with a cab and pick up some contracts to keep myself busy."

LOL--
Retire,, well I am that, but the only snow I do is the day after the storm, with a hot coffee, in my heated cab, listening to the radio (if it is not to cold)
And I used to do snow contracts!
I just don't have that kind of patience anymore.
Besides mine and my daughter's I did do my immediate neighbor and even gave that up.
Well the last time he had jammed his car into the snow, never moved no matter how much I honked beeped etc and I was forced to blow plow push my way around thru 5 ft piles left by the city plow on either side of his buried car.
That and his 2 trash bins were always in my way as he was a week ender.

This year we get a third trash bin. Ecology, you know.
And we will be fined if they can be seen from the road. ($100. first offense with increases for repeat offenses.)
Pickups to be every second week and the clients expect the contractor to place and retrieve those bins.
Wonder who will pay the fines? Bet some tight wad types will want to deduct the fines from the contract price.

Then good luck if the city plow comes by while a trash bin is out there. Some drivers seem to enjoy seeing how far they can flip the trash bins.

 

[check]

your in TO and by cottage i am assuming you would be north of Toronto? Contractor can't make a living doing this charging what he charges and live anywhere near the T dot... Sent from my iPhone 5s 64Gb using TractorByNet

He has huge numbers of customers, and does almost all of the driveways on our cottage road, plus the road itself. Does well.

 

[check]

I plowed snow one winter 19 yrs. ago and charged $50 many wanted a contract price which was fine and as it turned out the only ones I made any money on were the ones I did contract. By the hr. you have to consider the time it takes to run from one job to the next. These were commercial sites Fortunately I had told everyone I would only remove the snow piles once it stacked up by the hr. loading trucks and having them haul it away.You cannot judge the time for trucking especially if the snow is sticky and doesn't come out of the trucks. I now do a few neighbors driveways for free but I really like my neighbors & they will go out of their way to see I'm looked after if help is needed.BTW I just worked for a contractor for a wk. loading snow 12 hrs. a day for $100 ph & decided I won't be doing that again either far to tiring.

$100 per hour?! Where do I sogn up?

 

[PILOON]

As a business you need to firstly consider the capitol investment.
That needs to make a return (called ROI) otherwise leave your capitol where it is to earn.
If you lease then the cost needs to be broken down to productive hourly basis.
Add insurances, maintenance etc.
Then add operators salary.
Then profit margin you wish.

Using those criteria the only people that earn a decent living are those that operate in suburbs where drives are every 75-100 ft apart
and the drivers do about one drive every 5-10 mins and generally each driver has like 200 drives on his run.
Driver starts at 3:00 AM to assure that every commuter's drive is clear for 7:00.
He then returns mid morning to clean up what the city crews plug into the drive.

 

[Billrog]

check I was actually doing it for less than normal loading trucks without a break for 12 hrs. or more & being expected to load one every 5 to 7 mins. without a break is worth more like 120 to 150 ph.

 

[LD1]

check I was actually doing it for less than normal loading trucks without a break for 12 hrs. or more & being expected to load one every 5 to 7 mins. without a break is worth more like 120 to 150 ph.

Your equipment or someone elses?