What to charge for snowplowing

[foggy1111]

Ive seen lots of posts on how much to charge for rotary cutting and such. But....I cannot recall seeing a thread about how much to charge for snowplowing.

My question A: What would you charge a homeowner to PLOW snow from a residence having a 12' x 100' gravel driveway and blacktop parking area / turnaround area for three cars (assume about 50 x 75'). 6" snowfall. No big hills. A good place to pile snow and no unusual issues. Assuming you have to plow this place 10x per year. $???

My Question B: Same yard as above with a front blower on a tractor? $???

 

[leonz]

Ive seen lots of posts on how much to charge for rotary cutting and such. But....I cannot recall seeing a thread about how much to charge for snowplowing.

My question A: What would you charge a homeowner to PLOW snow from a residence having a 12' x 100' gravel driveway and blacktop parking area / turnaround area for three cars (assume about 50 x 75'). 6" snowfall. No big hills. A good place to pile snow and no unusual issues. Assuming you have to plow this place 10x per year. $???

My Question B: Same yard as above with a front blower on a tractor? $???

It is what is referred to as a "Per Push Price".

It is the fastest way to loose a client.

Your better off offering a seasonal price for the
same driveway figuring 2 hours per time and $200.00
for the season.

When they ask to have it plowed off more often agree
on a fixed price per time over and above the 10 occurances
or gamble on a $300.00 seasonal price for it all.


_________________________________________________________________
Pronovost or not at all!!!:thumbsup::licking::drool:

 

[grsthegreat]

I have the same issues. My new tractor, loader mounted blower and blade have set me back a chunk of $$$$, so just how much should i charge.

I didn't want to get into the season charges as was stated before, cause when i tried to do this with my old JD870 and rear blower, i got no takers. They just called me when they needed blowing out and paid me 20-35/plow depending on length of drive and depth to blow.

I'm doing my associations roads this year with my tractor and have set a $200/ plow or $250/blower per 2-1/2 miles of flat gravel road. I set this price cause its what we have been paying for past few years. I figure if it doesn't pencil out as a good deal at the end of the season, i wont do it again. I also get $75/hr for clearing out snow drifts or heavy slush situations, as this takes alot more time.

some driveways here are onlt 50-100 feet long but require the blower as there is no good place to push snow. since this blower set me back over $10,000 i really dont feel bad about charging what i am charging. I need this blower and blade for my own place, so if i dont do the roads so be it. Im not out anything. Most driveways only require 2 passes and the whole thing takes about 10-15 minutes. There all flat and straight.

 

[TCJatko]

Charge per season with a limit of snow events and an additional fee for excess events. For example: $300 per season plus $35 per storm after 10; will plow after X" accumulation. Some years you make out like a bandit, some years you take a bath.

 

[bubbacuse77]

It is what is referred to as a "Per Push Price".

It is the fastest way to loose a client.

Your better off offering a seasonal price for the
same driveway figuring 2 hours per time and $200.00
for the season.

When they ask to have it plowed off more often agree
on a fixed price per time over and above the 10 occurances
or gamble on a $300.00 seasonal price for it all.


_________________________________________________________________
Pronovost or not at all!!!:thumbsup::licking::drool:

For $10-15 per hour you can come and plow/blow my driveway................your loosing money at that price.

I have one account that I do when they need me to because the driveway is so steep that only a tractor can do it safely. I charge $75 per time and it takes me anywhere from half to one hour.

Make sure it is worth your trouble.......only you can put a price on your time and machinery.

 

[grsthegreat]

most driveways i blow off only take 10-15 minutes. and i only do these if i can line up at least 5+ of them to make it worth the effort. So far this year there slow signing up. I usually have more calls by now. I dont think i am charging too much...heck let them get up at 2am to plow their own places HAHA

Might be because our snow season hasnt really started yet.... give them time.

What amazes me most is that anyone would come out and live in the country ... 10, 20 50 acre plots and not have any means of moving snow. Some have been here for many years...still not even a small snowblower.... amazing really.

 

[RickB]

Charge per season with a limit of snow events and an additional fee for excess events. For example: $300 per season plus $35 per storm after 10; will plow after X" accumulation. Some years you make out like a bandit, some years you take a bath.

Pretty hard for the contractor to take a bath when the customer pays for 10 trips whether he gets them or not, and the contractor gets paid for all trips over 10. Nobody around here is going to sign up for that, it's a crappy deal for the property owner no matter what the per trip rate is.

You want to charge a contract rate to plow my driveway, we will negotiate a season rate and I pay you that amount whether it snows every other day, or not at all. Otherwise, pay per occurrance like 95% of the world does.

 

[grsthegreat]

Pretty hard for the contractor to take a bath when the customer pays for 10 trips whether he gets them or not, and the contractor gets paid for all trips over 10. Nobody around here is going to sign up for that, it's a crappy deal for the property owner no matter what the per trip rate is.

sorry, but i also didnt see the benifit of this. When i made my offer of a set price it was for the entire season reguardless of amount of snow. Say $200/house whether its 1 plow of 30 plows. And not a single person elected to do this. THey would rather do it as an "Need to do" basis.

HAY this is my 2,900th post "And the crowd roars"

 

[haroldy]

I charge $35 per visit .that includes a one km private road that all use and their driveway
I only do this when there is 3 inches or more

 

[foggy1111]

So.....IIUC.....the best answer to my question thus far is $35. per time via blower or plow. Or, $200 for the season.

Kinda wonder why I buy snow equipment...and do it myself.

 

[bubbacuse77]

So.....IIUC.....the best answer to my question thus far is $35. per time via blower or plow. Or, $200 for the season.

Kinda wonder why I buy snow equipment...and do it myself.

Thus my point.........if you want another job I will leave equipment in the garage and just pay you to do it for $35 per time.

 

[Mounted Madness]

I maintain the same hourly rate I charge for summer jobs...$50/hour. If the driveway takes 15 minutes to blow out, then it's 0.25 hours rounded up to 0.3 hours which equals $15.

I had one customer last winter that lucked out for much of the season. Her driveway was almost constantly cleared out by the prevailing wind...it was the town plowing in the foot of her driveway that she was charged for.

When the wind comes up and drifts some driveways in and others not at all, I figure that it's the fairest method for all of my customers. One residence seemed to be depository for most of the snow in the neighbourhood.

When the town plow comes around and clears the street, I'll go back and clear out the entry to the driveway and add the time to the homeowners tab.

I don't have contracts, just agreements with the respective customers.

It works for me, gets me out, and everyone seems happy and it pays for my machine which is obviously the most important part of the equation.

Good luck in whatever billing method you choose. :thumbsup:

 

[grsthegreat]

ya, if your only doing 1-2 driveways it doesnt pay to start up the tractor. I can do my 2-1/2 mi of road in about 3 hours, then get in 5 driveways (so far on books) in another hour, thats about $350 +/- for 4 hours work. thats worth it to me.

 

[bigd74]

we wont drop a blade for less than 35 a push.some accounts we gamble with they pay a set amount per monthwhether it snows or not make a fortune or lose your shirt but those are comercial and not residential accounts i'd charge 35 or 40 per push

 

[timswi]

Wish I could charge for plowing...I do get a case of beer every so often, so I have that going for me. 9 diveways and a 700' rightaway every time we get more than 2"...All gratis.

It's all good though, the neighbors are mostly retired and we don't want to see them attempt to dig themselves out. I feel like I did something for somebody, that kinda helps.

I know many landscapers that plow...They have seasonal contracts on the commercial deals and end up with a per push on many resi properties since many people don't want to contract. They do know that they may wait a good while for clearing though as the comm deals get preference.

 

[grsthegreat]

Wish I could charge for plowing...I do get a case of beer every so often, so I have that going for me. 9 diveways and a 700' rightaway every time we get more than 2"...All gratis.

It's all good though, the neighbors are mostly retired and we don't want to see them attempt to dig themselves out. I feel like I did something for somebody, that kinda helps.

I know many landscapers that plow...They have seasonal contracts on the commercial deals and end up with a per push on many resi properties since many people don't want to contract. They do know that they may wait a good while for clearing though as the comm deals get preference.

i do some freebys...but not many. I spent 43K on this equipment...not so i can do their driveways. I have to get something for my equipment. Mind you id have this with or without their driveways and roads... but money is money. It helps pay for expenses.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I discussed this charging with my insurance agent this week.

One must get additional insurance if you go in business with your equipment. Doing it for a quoted price puts you in business per him.

Now going over and plowing snow or dig a footer at NO charge my farm policy will cover any damage I may create.

Check with your agent and see if you are self insuring for open ended liabilities. A business rider is not that much more I think. Going naked is common but getting caught naked would not be a good thing.

I declared the tri axle equipment trailer behind the F700 16' flat dump because it is not insured as a personal vehicle so there was NO coverage for any damages occuring involving the trailer hitting something, etc before this week and I did not know that for any trailer rated over 1000 pounds.

In my case I do not insure just to have a good reason to stay out of the business of doing work for hire. Collecting $1000 a year and assuming a potential million $ liability does not make sense in my case.

 

[George2615]

I do my immediate neighbors (2) for free. People further away get charged $50. hr. (1/2 hr would be $25.) I have insurance because I've been there and done that before and learned a lesson.

I still work a regular job during the day so hours I plow are limited to usually after work. Neighbors can be hard to find when it comes to getting paid. Sometimes you have to wait a few weeks to get paid. I had one neighbor I had to wait almost two months to catch up with him. He was supposed to pay each time, In the meantime I was plowing him all winter at my cost. He's a good neighbor though so I didn't mind because I knew I'd get paid.

I'm not saying all neighbors are like this but in today's economy with so many people out of work and money is tight you'd be surprised how many will try to get something for nothing.

Like Gale said if you charge a fee its best to have insurance. If not be prepared when the neighbor calls you up in the spring to replace his torn up lawn and or driveway. If you charge a fee, have insurance and a properly worded contract of when you come, at how many inches of snow, assume no liability for property damage, charge per visit or by season, etc.

 

[bubbacuse77]

I do my immediate neighbors (2) for free. People further away get charged $50. hr. (1/2 hr would be $25.) I have insurance because I've been there and done that before and learned a lesson.

I still work a regular job during the day so hours I plow are limited to usually after work. Neighbors can be hard to find when it comes to getting paid. Sometimes you have to wait a few weeks to get paid. I had one neighbor I had to wait almost two months to catch up with him. He was supposed to pay each time, In the meantime I was plowing him all winter at my cost. He's a good neighbor though so I didn't mind because I knew I'd get paid.

I'm not saying all neighbors are like this but in today's economy with so many people out of work and money is tight you'd be surprised how many will try to get something for nothing.

Like Gale said if you charge a fee its best to have insurance. If not be prepared when the neighbor calls you up in the spring to replace his torn up lawn and or driveway. If you charge a fee, have insurance and a properly worded contract of when you come, at how many inches of snow, assume no liability for property damage, charge per visit or by season, etc.

You nailed the other bad thing about plowing snow.......chasing people down for money. In my case I don't need the extra money but I'm not going to take on other peoples problems, spend my free time, were out my equipment, and take the insurance risk if it isn't appreciated and a fair price. I can't see doing it for as low as you fellas are charging. by the time you figure gas and your equipment cost you are probably making $5-10 per hour. Totally diffrent story if your helping out a neighbor......I want to help people but only if they appreciated it. In my case I plow the one driveway for $75 per time because it is so steep it is dangerous to do with a pickup truck. Tractor with chains and pto blower seems to really do the trick.

George I use to live in Clay, NY over by you. You have some serious snow to contend with. I use to get sick of coming home from work and always clearing 4-6 inches of lake effect............I actually look forward to snow again.

Cheers,

 

[haroldy]

I quoted $35 per time each, I neglected to mention I have 6 neighbours paying me for this . This gives me $210 for about 3 hours work
this i figure is reasonable and helps pay for equipment,, At the end of season I
give them a bill. They all seem satisfied with this arrangment

After 20 years it has provided me a lot of funny money to play with......