Snow Equipment Owning/Operating snow removal

[hernando]

i do all types of tractor work ..except snow removal.. this year i have had alot of calls asking if i did this type of thing..we dont have much if any snow ,but their is always a chance. i had a big shipping company call and want me to clear snow and put down salt..if it is ever needed...anyone else do this type of thing ?? i dont have a clue as what to charge....should i charge what i normaly do? as if it were any other type of tractor work or should i charge more just for getting out in nasty cold weather ..thanks for the help bruce

 

[etcallhome]

I had a grocery chain manager tell me for year round ,mowing (you could weedeat everything in 3/4 hr), plowing (maybe 20 parking spaces and lane going through to auto store beside him), suppose to shovel sidewalks at least 2 times a day and put down chemicals,pick up trash once a month (real laugh I've seen them maybe once a summer, put down some mulch and maybe plant a few flowers if needed.
Auto store has 25-35 spaces ,they both share a loading dock. and same for everything else. both have there own entrance lanes..

$1600.00 per store /for 1 year.....

Personally I think it is a little high but that is just me.....

 

[skidsteer.ca]

should i charge more just for getting out in nasty cold weather ..thanks for the help bruce

Definitely, it is harder on things to get them running when cold. Block heaters,good batterys, maybe lighter winter weight oils.
You need a little extra to cover this imo.
Ken

 

[SLHawkins]

Bruce,
It is the same here. I subcontracted for a guy this year who paid me $110 and hour for equipment and operator. I put in about 12 hours on this one parking lot, and I was only one of several tractors out there. I either charge by the hour ($75 to $100), or the parking space $5-$7. That is just pushing snow though. It does not include sidewalks or putting down salt or sand. The cost of these materials and labor would obviously raise the price. I would keep all of those services separated and price accordingly. We get about 1 big snowstorm a year here in Northern VA. The price for my residential customers vary, some are really stingy and some are really generous, so it evens out in the end. My quoted price though, depends upon the length and width of the driveway with some consideration for how often I might have to back up and turn around. I would say that your quotes should be similiar to your rate for mowing lawn. Do it based upon the hour and how long you think it will take you to clear the snow.

 

[ctgoldwing]

i do all types of tractor work ..except snow removal.. this year i have had alot of calls asking if i did this type of thing..we dont have much if any snow ,but their is always a chance. i had a big shipping company call and want me to clear snow and put down salt..if it is ever needed...anyone else do this type of thing ?? i dont have a clue as what to charge....should i charge what i normaly do? as if it were any other type of tractor work or should i charge more just for getting out in nasty cold weather ..thanks for the help bruce

fwiw I have a small commercial building with ~ 20 parking spaces & 200' of sidewalks. The contractor I use charges by the storm - $100 to plow the yard, $40 for the sidewalks, $75 to sand lot (if required) and $40 to sand walks (if required). Anything that requires a payloader to remove snow is extra (10-12 inch storms). As an owner I don't care it he plows with a John Deere, F350 or uses a shovel - only that the yard & sidewalks are safe. Charging by the storm seems to be a pretty fair deal for everyone.

 

[Opti-Mist]

fwiw I have a small commercial building with ~ 20 parking spaces & 200' of sidewalks. The contractor I use charges by the storm - $100 to plow the yard, $40 for the sidewalks, $75 to sand lot (if required) and $40 to sand walks (if required). Anything that requires a payloader to remove snow is extra (10-12 inch storms). As an owner I don't care it he plows with a John Deere, F350 or uses a shovel - only that the yard & sidewalks are safe. Charging by the storm seems to be a pretty fair deal for everyone.

The practice in much of Michigan is to plow each time 2" accumulates. In the lake effect snow belt that could mean plowing a couple of time in a day and could happen on average every other day for a month. At the rates you quote above a bad month of 18 plowings and 12 salt/sand applications could run $3,900 for the month.

 

[ropinghorns]

It becomes the hardest job you can do at times, because of conditions. We charge $125per hour and try to hire all the cheap guys we can that don't know how bad it is going to be on them and their equipment. Oklahoma has very little snow, mostly ice. Takes much longer to do anything .............