Snow Removal & Plowing
Seasonal contracts pay whether it snows or not — weather risk flips to the client
Bottom line
Accessible entry point; validate local supply before buying.
Snow removal businesses plow driveways, parking lots, and commercial properties when it snows. The model has one brilliant structural feature: seasonal contracts. Commercial clients — shopping centers, apartment complexes, office parks, municipalities — pay a flat fee for the entire winter regardless of snowfall. When it doesn't snow, you collect anyway. When a single storm hits three times in a week, you run 24-hour operations and bank it. A single truck operator can earn $80K–$200K in a 4-month season in the snow belt, with 25–40% net margins. The business pairs perfectly with landscaping for a year-round revenue model.
How It Works
Residential driveways are priced per push ($30–$75) or per season ($300–$600). Commercial lots — the real money — charge $150–$800 per visit depending on acreage, or $3,000–$15,000 for a seasonal contract. Operators respond to storms around the clock, routing their territory in a fixed sequence. Salt/ice melt application is a high-margin add-on at $100–$400 per application. Skid steers, loaders, and sidewalk crews can dramatically expand capacity and commercial contract eligibility.
BizBite verdict
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Snow Removal & Plowing has enough high-level data for a first look, but BizBite has not assigned a category-specific operating model yet. Treat the score as preliminary.
Why it may work
- +Attractive 30% estimated margin profile
- +SBA dataset shows 212 recent comparable loans
Be careful
- !Source link status has not been verified yet
- !No last-checked date yet
- !No category operating model yet
SBA 7(a) data
Real acquisitions in this category
Change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 561730 · Landscaping Services
Deal size distribution
Deal flow over time
Financing profile
Recent comparable deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | NY | $135K | $159K |
| Mar 2026 | NJ | $150K | $177K |
| Mar 2026 | NJ | $1.4M | $1.6M |
| Mar 2026 | CA | $333K | $392K |
| Mar 2026 | MN | $83K | $97K |
| Mar 2026 | IL | $1.2M | $1.4M |
| Mar 2026 | MA | $100K | $118K |
| Mar 2026 | FL | $1.2M | $1.4M |
| Feb 2026 | SC | $480K | $565K |
| Feb 2026 | IN | $990K | $1.2M |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Deal Calculator
Priced off $75K SDE — can this deal service its own debt?
SDE = revenue × margin estimate for this niche; it includes owner compensation, so budget your salary out of cash flow. Excludes working-capital injection, capex reserves, and taxes. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower.
Pros
- +Seasonal contracts mean you get paid whether it snows or not — client absorbs weather risk
- +High effective hourly rate: $150–$300/hr per truck during active plowing
- +Pairs naturally with landscaping for 12-month revenue from the same client base
- +Low competition: most competitors drop out after a few difficult storms
Cons
- -Highly seasonal — all revenue concentrated in Nov–Mar in northern climates
- -Equipment-intensive: plow trucks, salt spreaders, and backup gear add up
- -Liability exposure is real — missed properties during a storm invite lawsuits
Best For
Landscaping operators adding winter revenue; owner-operators in northern markets willing to work nights during storms
Operating Costs
Primary costs: truck payment ($800–$2,000/mo), plow attachment ($4,000–$7,000), salt/sand material ($80–$200/ton), insurance (liability is expensive), and labor for large commercial routes. Solo operators keep 35–45% of revenue as net profit with owned equipment.
Where to Buy
Find snow removal and landscaping businesses for sale across the snowbelt
Browse seasonal service businesses including snow plowing operations
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Largest business-for-sale marketplace in the US
SBA loans and business acquisition financing — get funded fast
ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
Bookkeeping for small business owners — hands-off financials
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