I'm 21M from Indiana, USA. I'm considering trying to start a lawn care business, but because it's too late for that this year I'm considering shoveling snow in the meantime.
My other options are to go back to college or go to trade school. I don't like either idea because I like the idea of being my own boss and being able to take off the exact days I want to but I'm afraid lawn care and snow removal just isn't a realistic way of making money for me.
I just don't see how it could be profitable because personally I would always do it myself and always do the absolute bare minimum to get my car out and not get fined because it's going to melt eventually anyway. If I made $50+ an hour I'd probably pay someone, but most people aren't making that much.
Could I get a surprising amount of business just walking door-to-door? Or is this likely a waste of time?
Is a snow removal business profitable?
byu/joshua0005 inEntrepreneur
Posted by joshua0005
20 Comments
Lotta red flags here, I doubt you’ll put in the effort to actually do it, but here’s some advice.
Snow removal/lawn care is very profitable. You can charge like $150/snow fall > 1″ or something? Typically companies uses thresholds like 1″, 1.5″, 2″, ect and price accordingly like $150/driveway, if 1″ or $175 for 1.5″ ect.
You can hand out flyers (try 500 you’ll get at least one customer from that will probably take you like 5 hours), and then try to get a whole street. You can knock out a driveway and sidewalk with a shovel in like 30 minutes, pocket $150 and do the whole block. You can also offer salting services and salt delivery. Some companies will leave a bucket at your front door and fill it up every week for additional money.
The down side is that if it snows at 1am, you’re up at 4am clearing driveways before people leave for work…but if you’re cool with that, yah you can make some good money. Just don’t get a plow and start taking off car mirrors lol.
Snow removal can be highly profitable, but not in the way you are thinking about it. Walking around door to door and shoveling snow by hand isn’t going to make you much. Commercial parking lots with actual snow plow equipment is where you will make a profit
It can be profitable! Especially if you own your equipment.
Have scheduled or emergency response options ready to offer along with flat rates
Clients and effort are your input if you have the equipment. Get enough people and repeat and you could stack a couple grand before winter ends
Be professional and not pushy. You’re goooood. Happy to chat more if ya want. You’re essentially competing with what people view as “highschooler” work but it’s genuinely a valuable service and there’s a way to even utilize that labor pool if you get enough clients hahaha
I wasted too much of life reading this and responding to it. I’m out. Dudes like, “This low hanging fruit is too high”
Yeah it can be really profitable. The key is getting people to commit to contracts for the season rather than just one-off jobs. That gets you consistent revenue. Startup costs suck with all the equipment but once you have that figured out the margins are solid. Most fail because they don’t know how to manage it as a real business – they just want to shovel. If you stay on top of scheduling and managing people, you can scale way past doing it yourself.
The price of insurance is around $12,000 for the 4 months in Ontario so do the math lol
If I were 21 I would walk door to door with my shovel or snowblower! You’ll make money. Because NOBODY prepares and when you’re there and in the moment it’s VERY easy for them to say yes. I own a roadside assistance company, 10 trucks and install batteries but I CARRY THEM ON THE TRUCK! I have what they need RIGHT NOW! If you hustle and give people what they need WHEN they need it, you will never go hungry. Kick ass this winter!
Nope, they all do it because it’s fun. No money in it though.
Not sure how your city and state operate but there should be city contracts you can bid on for snow removal that would be your best bet to making alot of money
I would find a trade. Lineman, steam fitter, electrician, plumber something like that. Learn something of value that doesn’t cost you money. Work up to become your own boss. Make a plan. Plans take time. Won’t happen overnight.
These things usually have a very slim budget and are entirely based on hope that it will not snow hard that year.
Usually contracts go to the gardener. Switching from mowing, to raking, to snow removal.
Money is taken up front. Best value is when you have the houses next to it minimizing travel.
Needless to say if your client is over an hour away by drive that’s not a client worth holding.
The gardener usually doesn’t have the equipment they need, so they’ll sub it out to the cheapest offer usually.
If you provide salt, your income will drop fast.
You can’t remove snow if there’s cars on the driveway ( liability) so it’s best to clear snow when people are at work.
Shovel doesn’t cut it for these. You’ll need proper tractor like equipment. A hand pushed model won’t do either. Too much time lost.
Yeah sure, why not
White gold they say! But there has to be snow… it makes money if it’s routine and consistent. Head north my friend!
https://youtu.be/BLONWy46gIE?si=zVZZZoMPi6jCobTj
I had a property management company in a ski town in Colorado and made good money with my S10 and a snowblower for the clients I took care of for other stuff. Indiana? Maybe not so much
Unlike Mr. Plow (Simpsons), do get licensed and bonded.
I went all in Singapore as when I did market research there were no competitors….. It’s like the gift that keeps on giving.
Snow/lawn care is good money if you can hustle. Started last year bussing around the city shovelling now I’ve got a truck and pre sold 30 season passes this year just based on my work ethic from last year.
You’re not exactly going to be able to take off the exact days you want to with snow removal.
It’s driven by need. If you’re elderly you’re more likely to pay someone to remove that to try and remove it yourself. There are also commercial contracts where the person needs it to be plowed and can’t do it themselves.
The prices I’ve heard have been something like 1500-2500$ per season. I think that is with the plow truck removal, and shoveling is extra.
The biggest concern is if you can clear the driveway for them when they need it if you’re doing it for the season. When I asked around most of my neighbors said they’ve had bad experiences so that’s why they do it themselves.
Yeah, it can be profitable if you treat it like a real business and not just quick cash. Door-to-door actually works early mornings after a storm, especially in residential areas. I did that my first winter and made around $300 in a weekend just with a shovel and some hustle.
Once you add a snowblower and regular clients, it adds up fast.
I live in Colorado, so we get a ton of snow. There’s a guy I hit up every time it snows and he does my driveway and sidewalks for $50. It takes him about 20-30 minutes. He’s like our neighborhood go-to guy. He also does sprinkler blow-outs and aeration type stuff before the first freeze of the year. Dude lives in the neighborhood, so he definitely makes decent money doing it, because it’s not a super affordable community. I know he has a couple guys that work for him as well, so not sure about how big/small his company is. But his main MO is word of mouth.
Don’t go knocking on doors, people won’t take you seriously. Do local mailers and online community groups. Make a small website with your services, maybe pay someone on fiverr or something to do some local SEO. You should be able to get the phone ringing pretty easily.