Snow Plowing??

[Steve]

With getting a foot through out the day, I start my mornings at 3 am, if it were to snow till 5pm with a foot total, I would plow once in the morning when I make my runs. Then At about 4pm go out to do it again. I wouldn't go back a third time unless called. I would just wait till the next morning! How many customers do you feel a one man snow plow operation could service? And the way I invoice for per push is, I have business cards made up with a date,time, and frequency area on them so I can leave them in a mail box to tell the customer how many times i was there. Will you leave an invoice per visit? So if you are there twice in a day you will leave two?

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[Dumore Landscape]

I have so far this season 22 customers, 2 are family so i don't count them.

Some of my customers want to know when i was there and all that jazz so i came up with a Mini invoice i call them. I use business card stock from office max and make my own.

[Dumore Landscape]

The last two cards I use for the customers that get billed monthly. Its just away to let them know how many times I plowed or mowed.

[Steve]

That's a great card! Very creative.

I have so far this season 22 customers, 2 are family so i don't count them.

Do you feel that is a good amount of customers for a one man operation or do you feel you could do more? What would be ideal?

[Dumore Landscape]

Its good for a beginner, but I would like to be at about 40 or so, I generally get more once the snow flys! Then if I can't handle them all I have a friend that I can give some to. He will work for an hourly rate at the site and usually does about 15 or so! I also do alot for a guy I do side work for, he has alot more driveways and when one of his trucks breaksdown, he calls me when he needs help so its a win win situation.

[Steve]

Your friend has a snow plow on his truck? It sounds like it is really important to network with others in your area that have snow plows so if you get swamped, you can call others for help.

What % do you suggest paying your friend when you need him to help you?

Also, would you have him place the invoice cards in the mailbox or would you handle that still so he wouldn't know how much you are charging?

Do you have to pay him that day or will he wait till you get paid?

[Dumore Landscape]

It is a great idea to get in touch with "friends" Im not say competition... Friends who just so happen to have a Plow or tractor and blower. I will pay my buddy any wheres from 15-20 % depending on the drive way. I will always handle the invoices at a later time in the day. Right now I have a agreement that he signed that states, He has to be ready 24/7 during a set date till set stop date. He will be paid at the end of the month, as most of the time so do I. I will sometimes be able to give him 40 or so bucks for gas for the day. But I like to keep a tight schedule so that we can move on. If for some reason he is late getting out and I get a call from customers, I will deduct from his monthly pay. Which so far I have'nt had to do.

[Steve]

If for some reason he is late getting out and I get a call from customers, I will deduct from his monthly pay. Which so far I have'nt had to do.

Have you thought about what kind of deductions you would take?



Do you feel having such a workforce makes you want to expand out your services? Or are you at a spot where you feel it works and it's comfortable and you don't want to grow it much bigger?

[Dumore Landscape]

I have worked it out with him on deductions! And I think for now i am in a good spot not to expand. Him and I have talked about doing so next year. But one thing to remember is we both work two full time construction jobs and I also have a part time job at the golf course.

[Steve]

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And I think for now i am in a good spot not to expand. Him and I have talked about doing so next year.

When you think about expansion, what would be your ideal? What would be your next steps?