Pricing: You have 3 options.
1. Per Push, $xxx.xx per visit ( never less than $25.00 (for a residential drive) in my mind). That is for each visit, to the location, only some guys charge full price for the first and 1/2 for the second (depends on your location in the country), then they plow ever 4" of accumulation.
2. Per season, you charge xxx.xx per year to keep the drive or lot cleared, even if it snow once, or 20 times. This figure is generally generated by, XXX.XX per push visit N(number of storms on average). So XXX.XX* n+5. Depending on your contract it may or may not include sand/salt.
3. Per hour, I don't use except for when i am haulling or moving snow with a loader.
Plow every 4-6" off acumulation, is my advice (however this is for my area, may be different where you are) Just base your working hours on that.
My advice, stay away from commercial lots your first year. Get good at plowing, it takes sometime, then take on bigger accounts. Some guys service high end residetial jobs, and do complete service ( drive, walks, decks, sand/salt) and they make enough money, not to have to do commercial. Some of the tricks of the trade you will have to learn on your own. I would also keep your account numbers low the first year, then expand the numbers the second ( so you can learn the tricks of the trade). Note you may not be able to live off the plowing money, on your first year, just keep that in mind.
Best of luck, just be detailed orriented, provide quality service, at reasonable prices, and you will do well.
Read some of the old post, you will find the info ya need.
Geoff
[Edited by GeoffDiamond on 09-23-2000 at 02:43 AM]