Shovel Snow In The Winter For Cash. Winters tend to keep you in your bed and forget about the world. Sleeping however will not earn you anything. Instead you have extra expenses in winters than you have in summers.

What if you can earn some extra income as a yardman snowblower doing an easy job that is only available in winters? Yes, that job is shoveling snow. Shoveling snow can earn you a good income this winter. The good thing about shoveling snow for cash is, you can do it when you like and where you like, snow is everywhere and every place around you needs cleaning up.

Age doesn’t matter at all for the job, nor do you need any certificate or qualification to find work. All you need is to be active in the cold lazy winter days and work hard to earn your share. You can be that person helping a number of people sleep well at night and at the same time you earn your share of cash to enjoy your evenings with more meat and rum.

• What Should you Know About Shoveling Snow for Money?
• Is it Legal to Shovel Snow for Money
• Hire Someone to Shovel Snow
• How to make Money Shoveling Snow
• How Much do you get Paid to Shovel Snow?
• Is it Better to Shovel Snow Before Ice
• Where can I find Someone to Shovel Snow
• What is the Best way to Shovel Snow
• How Much Money Should You Get For Shoveling?
• Can You Make Money Shoveling Snow?
• How Much Should I Pay The Neighbor Kid to Shovel Snow?
• When Should You Not Shovel Snow?
• How to Start a Snow Shoveling Business as a Kid
• Shoveling Snow For Money
• Help Shoveling Snow
• Best Snow Shoveling App
• What is The Going Rate For Snow Plowing a Driveway?
• How do I Start a Snow Shoveling Business?
• Do You Tip Snow Shovelers?
• Is Shoveling a Good Workout
• Do You Need Insurance to Plow Snow?
• How Much Should I Charge to Plow a Parking Lot?
• How Much Does Snow Plowing Insurance Cost?
• Shoveling Snow to Make Money
• Snow Removal Side Hustle
• Hire Someone to Shovel Snow
• How to Ask Someone to Shovel Their Driveway For Money?
• How Much Should I Pay The Neighbor Kid to Shovel Snow?
• How Much Should a Teenager Charge for Shoveling Snow?
• How Much Should I Pay my Neighbor for Shoveling Snow?
• How Much Money can you Make From Shoveling Snow?
• Is Shoveling Snow Profitable?

If it’s your winter vacations going on, wait no longer to land your first winter job. Here’s everything you need to know about how to shovel snow in the winter for cash.

What Should you Know About Shoveling Snow for Money?

1. About the Work: The work is simple. You will need a few tools to assist you. If possible you can take a friend along to pass your time chatting and working or simply go yourself to concentrate only on work. It will cost you your physical energy. Nothing goes from your pocket apart from the purchase of basic tools for the job.

Read Also: 31 Premium Freelance Websites to Find Work in 2021

Shoveling snow means cleaning up the extra snow gathered around a home, building or a structure. If you are in a good locality where reputed people live, you can earn more income and also gain contacts with these big shots. To be successful at work, you need to also be popular so that you are recommended to others who need snow shoveling as well.

2. The Extra Income: Winter comes with more expenses. Warmer clothes, more use of the heater and the stove, eventually more electricity is used and also more gas. So what do you do to munch on those extra burgers your mouth craves for? In a time like this some extra cash coming in might be of great help.

You can simply find your tools and get on out of home to shovel snow from other people’s lawns, roofs, trees, balconies, cars, rooms, etc. And buy or fulfill your winter desires without spending or investing in anything. Your earnings depend upon how good you’re so make sure you charge your price according to your capabilities and have fun earning more than your regular income.

3. What You Will Need Before Hand: The most important thing you will need to shovel snow is a snow shovel. The equipment helps you shovel snow in a proper way, cleaning up the snow entirely by doing a good job and getting the snow out of difficult places easily. Considering the types of shovels available and the ones you should use, there are various types of the equipment available in the market.

You have a variety of options to choose from and also a variety of ranges. If you like branded things, go on for a branded one. This will last longer too and it will also serve you well. Never mind if you have to invest a little more in the beginning. Customers like to hire those who have good equipment. You can show your branded shovel and guarantee a good job to get more work and eventually more income.

4. Adding Salt: This is done after you have finished with shoveling the snow. If you add salt after you have finished your work in the particular lawn, stairs, and other areas, you will do something of a service to your clients. You do want to be in the good books of the people you are working for now don’t you? This will also differentiate you from others doing the same job and these are your competitors in the work.

Visit your local hardware store or some retail stores and get your salt. You could get salts such as rock salt in these hardware stores. Another benefit of giving extra service is, you can get paid extra and you will be demanded by more people. Remember that people are really ready to pay well if you work well. You have to give more to get more. The salt laying idea is a good way to begin.

5. About Shoveling Snow in the Right and Wrong Way: Now that you know what the work is about and what you will need to go about it, you must know how to do the work efficiently so that you don’t lose your job and get more projects to complete.

If you’re new at the job you will not know how to do it well and if you can’t do it well you will get tired soon and neither will the work be completed. Here’s some advice for you to work as an experienced person without having any sort of experience. Keep in mind that you should shovel snow in the right way so that you don’t get fagged out too soon.

6. How to Shovel Snow the Right Way: Shoveling snow the wrong way might get the job done somehow but it will take time and energy more than necessary. Therefore, it is better for you to learn the stuff before stepping straight into it. First know the wrongness of shoveling snow. If you shovel snow starting from below and raising up, it will take all your energy away in no time.

This might even strain your body to cause internal injury. If your bones are weak, you might even have back injuries. Do just the opposite. Shovel snow from top to bottom and you will see you don’t get tired at all. Your hands get the exercise and so does your core. This way your body too remains physically fit, warm in the winter and there is no chance you will have any injury serious enough to hurt your bones or muscles.

7. Pros and Cons of Shoveling Snow: This is one of the most important things you must know. First of all keep in mind that the work is not an enjoyable one like test driving or ticket selling, it requires a great amount of physical effort and caliber to work in the cold.

However, if you take it as a regular exercise that the body requires in winter, you can at least be prepared mentally for the work. If you simply shovel snow removing the snow from top to bottom instead of carrying it and throwing it, you will not strain yourself and your work will be easier.

8. Important Facts About Snow Shoveling: Shoveling snow has many benefits like it keeps you healthy and fit in the winter, you can earn cash doing work any fit person can do. You don’t need any qualification, etc., Your hard work is all that will work. Keep in mind that shoveling snow can be highly dangerous too. It is important that you balance when you work on snow because you could slip and fall to hurt yourself badly.

There are people who lose their limbs and even lives in the work so be very careful while you work. Concentrate on being safe. If you feel you cannot do it, don’t jump in for the money, but you must be sure you can do it before taking up the job.

9. How Much Should You Charge? : This is one good question you will ask yourself before starting off. How much should you charge for snow shoveling? You’re going to shovel snow for somebody, charge according to your work caliber. Ask yourself how much can you work in a day. No matter what, the work should first of all earn you enough to survive for two days.

There are people who pay well and those who bargain too much. You’re new at the job so don’t mind working for less so that you can learn the job. There is one benefit and that is you can set your prices yourself. You can charge $10 for cleaning up the front area then slowly go to 12 as they begin to like your work and you begin to gain confidence. However, do not be over confident, don’t charge so much that you work and they hesitate to pay you.

10. The Benefits of Shoveling Snow: So apart from the cash there are benefits for you. You get to meet people, gain their trust by working for their home and earning a respectable extra income. Be sure not to be rough or rude to the people. Politeness has always been helpful. Use this magical power to gain the trust of people.

Be nice to the ladies and kids, this might get you some free coffee at work, it might also help you create contacts and sometimes you become friends with nice people and they really visit you offering you more work in the summers as well. Like repairing the roof, fixing their garage etc.

There are jobs that lack manpower to work on them. You are a human resource for them and they will take your number and call you to ask you if you can do other jobs for them. However, shoveling snow is better to do in winters than any other job. Remove snow from people’s houses as if you’re removing snow from your own house.

11.  Scope Of the Work: There is scope in the job unless you ruin it for yourself by not working well or charging too much. Remember that it is only a work of cleaning up and you should charge accordingly. You’re not going to get rich shoveling snow. It is but only a part time job with some extra income to support you in winter.

Take this as an opportunity to have some more cash in your pocket, for example, to buy your dad a Christmas gift or something. If you’re a student, this job is best for you. Get out with your friends and make money to have fun to go watch a movie or eat out. This way your parents don’t feel the burden of paying you money, pocket money and money every now and then.

12. Where Can You Do the Job? : The job is available only where you have snow falls in winter, for example; Dallas, Texas. You will need to check for ads in the paper or consult with friends who know people looking for snow shovels.

One of the best ways is, take your shovel, get in your car and start driving. While you are driving you will notice homes with snow all over. Get off your vehicle and knock on doors asking the people if they need anybody to shovel snow off their car, lawn, etc. Be sure to be polite and tell the people that they need to get rid of the snow lest they should slip and fall.

So now earn that extra income and make yourself useful around your locality. The job is basically for winters and very less people like to do those extra works in winter. So you have a little less competition to face. Look forward to winters and accept the summer wishing you good bye so that you can say hello to winter and earn some nice income coming in to support your family and yourself financially.

Another thing is, no matter how rich and awesome the house may look to you, you are what you are and keep your character intact and straight. Charge only what you deserve, because there are many like you looking for work. Be good to the ladies because they stay at home and would be dealing with you. You’re in tough competition so keep it really good and do not mind if clients yell at you and scream at you for no reason.

Is it Legal to Shovel Snow for Money

New Jersey teens that shovel snow for neighbors in exchange for money is a time-honored tradition, but in some municipalities, kids could actually be breaking the law. That’s because it’s illegal to solicit snow shoveling services without getting a permit first in some municipalities across the state.

While most parts of the country view this as a harmless way for kids and teenagers to learn some great life skills and earn some cash, this was the first year that New Jersey finally came around.

It was only a few days before Winter Storm Jonas rocked the East when New Jersey lawmakers decided to lift a licensing requirement for shoveling snow – a requirement that stopped at least two teens from being able to find business last year when they were shut down by police.

While cases like these recall memories of police closing down the lemonade stand of little girls, these types of licensing requirements are part of a much larger national problem.

When government licenses are discussed, usually professions such as doctors or lawyers come to mind. These specialized professions may have been the few that required licenses back in the 1950s when only one in about 20 jobs required a government license.

Today, however, nearly one in three occupations requires a license from the government before any work can be done. For many states, this includes occupations such as interior designers, florists or hair braiders.

When government steps in and prevents individuals from using their skills and talents to enter the labor market by constructing arbitrary barriers to entry – occupational licensing usually the most costly and time consuming among them – everybody loses.

State policymakers should carefully consider whether an occupational license is legitimate consumer protection, whether it is reasonable to require a license to protect consumers from potential harm, and whether there may be a less onerous way to protect consumers, such as inspections or insurance requirements.

It is certainly true that there is a role for occupational licenses when it comes to highly specialized occupations, like doctors and lawyers. But when occupational licensing laws prevent florists or snow-shoveling teenagers from being able to engage in their work, something has clearly gone awry.

The American Legislative Exchange Council continues to work on ways in which state governments can re-examine the occupational licensing laws, where appropriate so that everyone with an entrepreneurial spirit can make an honest living.

Hire Someone to Shovel Snow

Removing snow from your home costs an average of $110 with a typical range of $48 and $174. Larger properties with longer drives, more sidewalks or requiring roof clearing can run upwards of $400 or more. Hiring someone to plow costs $30 to $50 per visit while sidewalk shoveling or snow blowing runs $25 to $75 per hour. Most companies also clear roofs for an additional $250 to $500.

Living in a colder climate inevitably means dealing with the snow. While it may look pretty and can be fun for kids to play in, it can be a headache – or backache – to deal with when it comes to your driveway or sidewalks. On average, 11,500 people go to the emergency room each year in the US with shoveling-related injuries – from strains to heart attacks. Hiring a plowing professional to take care of it can save a lot of time, hassle and pain.

How to make Money Shoveling Snow

Shoveling snow is a great side hustle if you need some extra money. And if you live in an area where it snows regularly throughout the winter – such as the upper Midwest or the East Coast, you can even turn it into a full-time, seasonal gig.

1. Get the Tools You’ll Need

Lucky for you, the basic tools you need to start your business are incredibly inexpensive.

The primary thing you’ll need is a snow shovel. Don’t skimp out on quality, here – you’ll be using this shovel every day for hours at a time. You want a grooved, deeply scooped snow shovel with a slightly curved handle. Heavy-duty plastic is usually the best choice. Metal is heavier, but can be more effective at scraping.

You can also invest in some road/sidewalk salt. You can get 40lbs for about $25, and offer salting as an additional service on top of shoveling snow.

That’s pretty much all you need! Make sure you have warm clothing, gloves, and non-slip shoes, and you’re ready to go.

2. Decide on a Pricing Plan

Pricing for snow shoveling is based on supply and demand. The higher the supply (the volume of snow), the higher demand is for shoveling. If snow is light, and only an inch or two deep, most people will happily shovel themselves, or just wait for it to melt.

However, deep snow that’s 3+ inches thick is harder to shovel – so you’re more likely to get customers. The more snow there is, the more you can charge. You should be charging around $25/hour at the low end, and $75+ at the high end, when snowfall reaches 10+ inches.

You can adjust this rate as you learn how long it takes you to shovel driveways and sidewalks of a certain size. Just remember that the more snow there is, the more you can charge – and the more people will pay.

3. Prepare Yourself – and Use Proper Shoveling Technique

Snow shoveling is hard work. Before you start working, warm up your muscles with some stretches. Make sure that you take breaks when you need them, and drink plenty of water while shoveling.

You’ll also want to use proper shoveling technique. Avoid piling up more than 6 inches of snow on your shovel at a time, and never lift the shovel above your waist.

Pile snow up in areas where it won’t drift back onto walkways. In addition, you should work from the top to bottom on slanted driveways. This minimizes your risk of hurting yourself due to overexertion.

4. Start Knocking on Doors

This is the best way to start getting work as a snow shoveler. Knock on doors when it snows, and ask if the homeowner needs shoveling service. Come armed with some flyers and business cards – that way, even if they don’t want your services now, they may keep you in mind when the next blizzard comes around.

You can also offer first-time discounts in exchange for email addresses or phone numbers. This is a great way to build up a list of potential customers.

5. Use SMS Marketing to Your Advantage

If you’ve been building a list of phone numbers, you can use DialMyCalls for SMS marketing – which is highly effective for snow shoveling companies. The night before a big snowstorm, you can send a message out to all of your customers, and ask them if they will need shoveling services.

Using DialMyCalls will help you get a list of people who need your services, and allow you to prioritize your shoveling accordingly.

6. Don’t Stretch Yourself Too Far

It’s tempting to shovel all day and keep making money, but shoveling is very demanding. You’re usually only going to be able to serve about 6 clients at a time. Figure in an average of 1 hour per job, and that’s 6 hours of labor.

If you work more than this, you risk hurting yourself due to exhaustion and over-exertion. You’re only human – so don’t expect to be able to shovel two dozen driveways and sidewalks every day!

7. Invest in Better Tools – or More Employees – as You Grow

If you have a lot of clients and you’re unable to keep up, you may want to consider partnering with someone else you know, or hiring another employee to help you deal with the increased workload. The more shovelers you have, the more customers you can serve!

You can also think about buying a snowblower. A good snowblower will cost you around $300, but if you have enough customers, it’s well-worth the investment. With a snowblower, you can clear a driveway or a sidewalk in minutes – while still charging the same fee you did for shoveling.

If you are serious about your business, you could even invest in a snowplow. You would need a truck that’s powerful enough and compatible with the plow. Usually, plows cost around $1,500.

If you get a plow, you can make money clearing parking lots for businesses, and you can even apply with your local municipal government to provide plowing services during snow emergencies, which usually nets you more than $20-$30 per hour.

How Much do you get Paid to Shovel Snow?

Whether you’re a kid looking to make some spending money, an adult picking up a side hustle, or are thinking of starting a snow removal business, deciding how much to charge for your services can be tricky. You want to receive the compensation you deserve for your time and effort, of course, but you also don’t want to deter customers by charging too much.

Snow blowing and shoveling services usually charge between $25 and $75 per hour. With a snow plow, you may be able to set your price at anywhere from $30 to about $100 for a single visit, or $350 to $450 for seasonal snow plow services to one customer (with a maximum number of visits in the seasonal contract).

Most single visits will take far less than an hour using a snow plow, so plowing offers the highest earning potential. There are several factors to consider when setting your price, which we’ve detailed below.

Experience

As with anything, the more experience you have, the more you’ll be able to charge. Your expertise will allow you to get jobs completed quicker and cleaner — something your clients will be willing to pay more for (if they have the cash to do so). If you can demonstrate that you have experience, either through referrals, knowledge, networking, or other methods, you’ll be able to charge more.

Location

Do you live in an area where it snows a lot? Instead of charging per visit, you may be able to charge per season, as many professional snow removal companies do. Doing so would lock in several months worth of making money and gaining experience! Note that if you charge per season, you may make less per snowfall, though that depends on how many times it snows in your area throughout the season and the limits you set for your contract.

Amount of Snowfall

The more snow on the ground, the more time you’ll have to spend shoveling. For example, shoveling three inches of snow may take an hour or two, while shoveling six inches may take twice as long. For very heavy snowfalls, you might need special equipment, like a snowblower or even a plow, to get the job done.

Driveway/Sidewalk Size

The size of driveways and length of sidewalks you shovel may vary considerably. Take into account the ground you’ll have to cover before setting your rate. A residential driveway for a two-car garage can be about 25 by 50 feet. If you’re charging by the visit, you should consider increasing your rate to above the average for driveways much larger than a standard residential driveway. If you’re charging by the hour, your time will take into account the extra size.

Equipment Used

Using a simple shovel takes longer than other methods of snow removal, not to mention being the most laborious method. That said, you probably have a shovel lying around, and if not, you can purchase one for under $20.

Snow blowers will speed up snow removal, but such machines will cost you a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. If you’re starting up a legitimate snow shoveling side hustle, it may be worth it to invest in a snowblower because it will help you complete large jobs. Since using a snow blower is faster than shoveling, you’ll also be able to work with a larger number of customers each snow day.

If you foresee much larger jobs in your future, a snow plow attachment for your vehicle may your answer. The attachment will likely cost you at least $1,000. This option is most suitable for professional use, so consider buying a plow attachment if you own a compatible truck and want to form a legitimate business or work as a plowing contractor.

Is it Better to Shovel Snow Before Ice

Whether you are using a snowblower or a shovel, a lot would depend on the amount of snow on the ground and how heavily it is raining. If there was only an inch or so of snow on the ground or less and it was raining moderately, you wouldn’t be concerned with the snow, assuming that it isn’t freezing rain. An hour or two of moderate rain is likely to melt the snow if it is only an inch or less deep.

If there were several inches of snow, you should remove it, even with moderate rain. Snow + rain = slush and slush can be extremely slippery. Also, if temperatures again drop below freezing, slush turns to ice. It is generally more difficult to remove ice than it is to remove snow and walking/driving on ice can be quite dangerous.

Where can i find Someone to Shovel Snow

The Toronto area has three apps currently on offer, with a fourth in the works, each one different enough from the other to make their battle for market share interesting.

There are other similar apps being launched elsewhere across the country — Plow Me Out in the Maritimes, We Do in Montreal, SnowTapp in Edmonton — and if their success leads to inevitable expansion, there could be even more competition here by next winter.

Each app has different features and pricing models, the advantages of which will doubtless become clear with each subsequent blizzard over the coming months, but here’s a guide to what’s available in the Toronto area, now and over the snowy horizon.

Jiffy

Summary: Jiffy’s snow-clearing service is just one of a suite of 23 year-round services you can purchase through this app, which includes everything from lawn care and barbecue cleaning to auto detailing and furniture assembly. Contractors working for the service need to have insurance and up-to-date certificates in addition to WSIB for employees and a consistent 4-star rating from customers.

Platforms: Apple/Android

Pricing: $75 flat rate per job or house, which includes a brush off of your car.

Rating & Reviews: Apple: 5 stars (“Extremely convenient. Love it.”) Android: 4.5 stars (“Affordable and reliable.”)

Downloads: 5,000+

Eden

Summary: Eden is a two-service app, offering snow removal now and lawn care in the season that isn’t winter. Customers will be served by professional contractors only — Eden insists that they’re not the UberX of snow-clearing apps. The app keeps you in touch with your contractor before they show up, and will send you pictures of your driveway and sidewalks before and after work has been done.

Platforms: Apple/Android

Pricing: $40 average for a two-car driveway.

Rating & Reviews: Apple: 5 stars (“Got the driveway done and added the sidewalk and walkway. Will use again.”) Android: 2.4 stars (“Should be more transparent.”)

Downloads: 4,000

TouchPlow

Summary: Just launched in the Toronto area, founder Ken Dale is happy to call it the UberX of snow apps, and is enlisting students to augment his professional contractors to pick up the slack when the pros are either busy with seasonal contracts or recovering from a major deluge. With services offered all over the country in 60 towns and cities including Brampton, Vaughan, Aurora, Newmarket, Oakville and Richmond Hill, TouchPlow’s added feature allows you to order shovelling done for family or friends.

Platforms: Apple/Android

Pricing: $25-40

Rating & Reviews: Apple: 3 stars (No reviews.) Android: 2 stars (“Good idea, but just not there yet.”)

Downloads: 12,000

SnowMowr

Summary: This Ottawa-based app is just about to launch in Hamilton, which is the closest it’ll get to Toronto, pending expansion here by next winter, at the latest. They’re selling their app as the simplest and most customer-friendly, but have also limited contractors to licensed professionals only. Watch this space.

Platforms: N/A

Pricing: N/A

Rating: N/A

Downloads: N/A

What is the Best way to Shovel Snow

Avoid Unnecessary Work

The basic idea behind the advice given below is this: The best way to shovel snow is to work smarter, not harder. Avoiding unnecessary work allows you to shovel snow more effectively. And always make sure you’ve picked the right shovel for the job. 

Do you park your car in the driveway (as opposed to in a garage, for example)? Then shovel a path to your vehicle first. Then start the car and begin defrosting the windshield. You might as well start this process right away, letting your defroster do its job while you’re busy shoveling.

By clearing a path to your vehicle first, you avoid packing down snow on the way. You would have to shovel that same snow later, anyhow, and packed snow is tougher to shovel than unpacked snow. So take care of it right from the get-go. 

Don’t bother too much about the remaining snow around your car at this point. Later, when you clear the snow off of your car’s windshield, roof, etc., you’ll be left with a ton of new snow all around the edge of your car. To be efficient, it’s better to wait and remove it all at once in one final “touch up” at the end of the project.

Remember, every additional scoop you make is extra strain on your body. Unless you’re in great shape and treating the project as an opportunity for a workout, you should be aiming for the conservation of movement.

Shovel snow somewhere else while you’re waiting for your car’s defroster to heat up the windshield. At some point after the snow and ice has been loosened by the heat, you can begin clearing it off of your car. After it’s all down on the ground, you can finish shoveling snow around the perimeter of your car, getting this part of the job out of the way once and for all.

Also don’t fuss too much right away about shoveling the snow where your driveway intersects the road. As snow plows go by, they’ll be filling that area with more snow. Reserve this area till you’re ready to pull out with your car, or till after you’ve gone inside for a hot chocolate break near the end of the project.

In fact, if you won’t be pulling the car out of the driveway at all that day, you may want to wait till the snow plows have finished plowing the road before tackling that part of your driveway. It can be frustrating to think that you’re done with the job, only to find out later that you’ve been plowed in again.

But when you do finally tackle this part of the driveway, be sure to take it in stages. This will be the hardest part of the project. The snow here is likely to be icy, and each shovel full will be heavier than a normal shovel full of snow.

Have a Plan Before You Even Pick a Shovel

In fact, the best way to shovel snow, in general, is to break up the job into smaller parts, resting in between. Try to clear your driveway in stages, rather than in one fell swoop. If the snowstorm has already ended, divide the workload into sections. If the snowstorm’s still in progress, do some initial snow shoveling, then go back to finish after the storm.

A lot of people make the mistake of creating huge snow piles all along the edges (sides) of the driveway, to the point that the driveway becomes a sort of tunnel. This is an example of what is not the best way to shovel snow. It’s better to throw each shovel full a good distance away from your driveway. Here’s why:

1. Some of the chunks of snow will end up falling back into your driveway if you don’t heave your shovel fulls far enough away, creating extra work for you
2. What happens when the next snowstorm comes? Those huge snow piles lining your driveway will be right in your way, making it harder for you to toss the new snow.

Another mistake people make shoveling snow is forgetting where walkways or paths are that provide access to outbuildings, compost bins and the like. For example, they’ll start out by piling snow from the driveway onto a path to an outdoor storage shed, only to realize later that they need to clear off that path. So they end up moving the same snow twice. If you accept the idea that the key is to avoid unnecessary work, this is not the best way to shovel snow.

Our Backs Aren’t Meant for This Kind of Work

You could follow all of the tricks above and still end up with a bad back the day after shoveling. That is why it is important to relate one more piece of advice, in conclusion. What is needed is a basic understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the human body. You do not need any special training to gain this understanding: simple common sense is enough.

You’ve probably heard it a million times when it comes to various other activities in life: “Lift with your legs.” It applies to shoveling snow, too. Keep your back straight at all times to avoid putting stress on it, and let your legs do the work.

To emphasize this point, let’s break down the process of scooping up a load of snow into two parts, namely, the way down and the way up. Here’s both what to do and what not to do:

1. On the way down, do access the snow by bending your knees, thereby lowering your body.
2. Do not try to get down to the snow by bending your back.
3. On the way up (that is, once you have a scoop of snow on your shovel), do use the muscles in your legs to raise yourself back up.
4. Also, do keep the load in close to your body. This will minimize the stress on your back.  
5. Do not try to stand back up with your arms stretched way out away from your body. When you do so, your back is lifting the weight of that snow on your shovel blade. Even if you don’t feel it right away, you may feel the pain tomorrow.

How Much Money Should You Get For Shoveling?

Snow blowing and shoveling services usually charge between $25 and $75 per hour. With a snow plow, you may be able to set your price at anywhere from $30 to about $100 for a single visit, or $350 to $450 for seasonal snow plow services to one customer (with a maximum number of visits in the seasonal contract). Most single visits will take far less than an hour using a snow plow, so plowing offers the highest earning potential.

Can You Make Money Shoveling Snow?

Shoveling snow can make you a little extra pocket money. And one big attraction about it lies in its flexibility, you can do this on either side of regular work hours, as well as during the weekends.

You can also turn snow shoveling into a small business as you can help others who are not ready or able to do this themselves, or those who are discouraged by the exorbitant charges from removal companies.

Shoveling snow is no way to get you rich quickly. Granted, you can and will make some money for that extra pocket allowance. Sure, it’s not an easy job by any means, it is back-breaking work and takes a toll on your body. But as they say, no pain no gain!

How Much Should I Pay The Neighbor Kid to Shovel Snow?

Of course, circumstances aren’t always straightforward, and any situation that involves money can be awkward for both children and adults. Sometimes, for example, kids are reluctant to set a fee for their services, and adults often end up over- or underpaying.

It’s better to agree on both the fee and the job upfront. We’d say that for shoveling snow, $10 to $20 makes sense as a starting point for most jobs. But be prepared to adjust from there depending on your expectations. Do you want the kids to shovel your driveway as well as the sidewalk? And do you want them to shovel to the corner or just to the end of your property line?

If the kids next door do offer to work for free, you can always treat them to cookies and hot chocolate afterward. Alina Tugend, a Times reporter, said that one of her neighbors later gave Tugend’s son a gift card to a sporting goods store in return for his shoveling efforts. That wasn’t necessary, but it was a nice gesture.

When Should You Not Shovel Snow?

If you have more than one medical condition or are over the age of 55, Dr. Laffin says it’s best to get someone else to shovel for you. It’s simply not worth the risk.

“Particularly people that have multiple medical conditions such as coronary artery disease or hypertension, or maybe they’re overweight or obese and don’t get a lot of physical activity – it’s not worth it to risk your heart,” he says.

“I think hiring the kid down the street to do it is a great idea,” Dr. Laffin says.

How to Start a Snow Shoveling Business as a Kid

Shoveling snow is a great side hustle if you need some extra money. And if you live in an area where it snows regularly throughout the winter – such as the upper Midwest or the East Coast, you can even turn it into a full-time, seasonal gig.

1. We recommend that you create your own snow shoveling company where you have more flexibility with your working hours, but the downside is that you will have to find customers yourself. That’s okay though, it’s definitely still possible. All you need to do is get a few customers who pay you to shovel when it snows, and ask them to refer your services to others.
2. As a snow shoveler, you are going to need some equipment to get your job done. At the very least, you need to have a snow shovel, but if you want to increase the efficiency of your business, you can spend more and get a snow plow, salt, ice scraper, or snowblower.
3. When first starting out, it’s best to speak with your neighbors and parents of your friends. If that isn’t enough people, you can try to find jobs on Craigslist, but make sure you speak to your parents first. You should also put up posters around your neighborhood and tell people to sign up for your snow shoveling service. Your service will shovel their snow every time there is large snowfall, and attach your email to the poster. Once it starts snowing, go around asking people if they need your service.
4. Congrats, you’re officially a teenage snow shoveler. It might seem harsh at times and miserable in the cold weather shoveling snow, but in the end, you will make a decent wage and you’ll officially run your own business. This will bring you very valuable experience in the future and is something to add to your resume.

Shoveling Snow For Money

People are very willing to give someone five bucks for a few minutes work, if they like you. How to make a good first impression is the key. To do that imagine yourself shoveling the walk – to a perfectly clean state, and the ease at which others will be able to walk up and down the sidewalk. It will be noticed when you speak, in the way you say “shovel the walk way” or whatever words you choose to work.

Imagine yourself shoveling the walk, doing a great job and enjoying yourself, and imagine the client being happy and grateful. All of this will add to your “likability” and the client will feel that you will do the job right, and that they are supporting an honest worker.

Help Shoveling Snow

Even for those who exercise regularly, shoveling snow is rigorous, physical work. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, shoveling is considered an intense activity that raises one’s blood pressure and heart rate. Here are some tips for seniors – and others – for shoveling safely:

• Dress appropriately. Wearing layers will allow for adjustment to the temperature outside. Be sure to dress warmly enough and cover the head, face and hands when outside for prolonged periods of time.
• Pick the right waterproof boots. Protect feet from the cold and keep them dry with waterproof boots. Non-skid boots help guard against falls on slick snow or hidden ice.
• Pick a small shovel. Depending on how wet the snow is – a shovel full of snow can weigh up to 15 pounds! Selecting a smaller shovel means lighter loads of snow, which can help prevent injury to the body by creating less strain.
• Stay hydrated. Water plays an important role when people exercise in the summer or winter. Having a water bottle handy just inside the garage and taking a few sips after every 15 minutes of shoveling snow will help guard against dehydration.
• Shovel frequently. If a big storm is forecasted, go outside and shovel every time the snowfall is about 2 inches. This will help lessen the load and make snow shoveling more manageable.
• Set a time limit. Shoveling snow is hard work, so take a break after 20 – 30 minutes of shoveling and resume after having rested.
• Lift with the legs, not the back. The legs have very strong muscle groups so make sure the legs carry the brunt of the lifting. Bend and straighten the knees when shoveling and make sure the back is not bending.
• Push the snow. It’s easier to push the shovel full of snow instead of lifting and throwing the snow.
• Separate the hands on the shovel. Creating space between your hands can increase leverage on the shovel to make it easier.
• Avoid caffeine and nicotine before shoveling. Caffeine and nicotine act as stimulants to our bodies by increasing the heart rate and constricting blood vessels, which puts more strain on the heart.
• Never shovel alone. Let a spouse or neighbor know you will be shoveling. That way, if a person does get into trouble someone will be looking out and can call for help quickly.

Best Snow Shoveling App

Here are the 5 top snow removal apps in the market:

1. Plowz & Mowz

Plowz & Mowz is perhaps the most popular snow removal app in the market and on our list. The app is super simple to use; the customers choose a service, give a detailed job description, answer a few questions asked in the app, and get a quote for the service.

The customer has to add some details about the service needed and select the preferred date and time. The company will send the best snow removal expert that is available for the job.

The Plowz & Mowz app offers a lot more than just snow removal services; you can get complete lawn maintenance services like lawn mowing, yarn cleaning, etc. The app is available for both iOS and Android device users.

2. SnoHub

SnoHub allows a very easy to access on-demand snow-removal service anywhere and anytime. The customers can book snow clearing service in advance so that you are not kept on hold in the service’s surge hours.

The app is very user-friendly, and the customer can track the job status from start to finish via the SnoHub application. The customers will get continuous updates via app notifications about job status.

Once the snow removal expert clears your driveway, he/she will provide a before and after photo of the location for the customers to review. When the customer is satisfied with the work, they can pay the professional through the app and also rate and review their work.

SnoHub is available for Android and iOS devices.

3. Shovler

Shovler is one of the most popular snow removal business brands in the market. The Shovler app provides a simple on-demand snow plowing service in the hands of common people, both customers and service providers.

This company has a new approach instead of the traditional snow plowing services. With their mobile application, Shovler connects people in need of snow removal with the neighbor willing to remove snow to earn some money.

Like all the other apps on our list, Shovler also provides a feature where the snow removal service provider can click before and after picture of the location and send it to the customers. Shovler is available for both iOS and Android devices.

4. MowSnowPros

MowSnowPros has some of the best lawn maintenance professionals. They are well experienced to shovel and remove snow as well as take care of lawns around the year in every season. The MowSnowPros services are active in cities like Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg.

The customers can relax at home or leave for the office and keep track of the snow removal job status via the application of MowSnowPros. This snow removal services brand is among the best ones in the market, and if you wish to have a relaxing winter this year, MowsSnowPros should be your choice.

5. TouchPlow

TouchPlow is one of the most professional snow removal services in the US. If you are a store or mall owner or own any other kind of commercial property, then TouchPlow should be your preference to remove snow from your property.

They also do residential snow clearing work, so you can also apply for their services for clearing your lawn or curb. TouchPlow has one of the best response times. They respond immediately after a snowstorm and clear your driveway and walkway within an hour of the storm passing.

It’s such kind of dedication towards serving the customers that makes TouchPlow one of the top snow removal apps in the market.

What is The Going Rate For Snow Plowing a Driveway?

The cost for snow removal service varies, based on where you live, how big the driveway is and the frequency of removal service. The national average cost ranges from $75 to $150. Removing up to six inches of snow from a standard driveway with snow plowing or shoveling costs most homeowners around $100 for professional hand-shoveling to remove up to 6 inches of snow from a standard driveway. Costs can be as low as $40 for removing six inches of snow with a blower or plow and can be as high as $600 for an annual snow removal contract.

Snow Removal Prices

Snow Removal Cost
National average cost	$100
Average range	$75-150
Minimum cost	$40
Maximum cost	$600

How do I Start a Snow Shoveling Business?

Here’s a plan outline for starting a snow plowing business.

Determine the Viability

If you’re not in an area where a lot of snow falls annually, it may be best to leave this notion on the table. Plows and equipment are not cheap, so you’d need to live in an area with enough snow to pay for the equipment.

Decide Whether to Go Big or Go Home(s)

No matter how ambitious you are, if you’ve only got one or two capable plow trucks, you should stick to securing work in residential neighborhoods. Plow-ready trucks, some shovels and a healthy budget for rock salt and ice melt are all you need to get started.

Contractor companies with multiple trucks are likely to be more ready to handle jobs like clearing the parking lots of shopping centers and office complexes. These jobs are typically awarded by contract ahead of the snowy season.

Get The Right License

Finding out about the licensing and regulations you’ll need to follow is critical. Normally these businesses are licensed. You can check with your city or town.

Compile an Equipment Checklist

Before you start looking for plow work, take stock of your current equipment and supplies. Determine what you’ll need to complete just one residential driveway or one storefront or small store parking lot.

Then take a look at the truck. If it’s not equipped for plowing, you’ll need to make an investment. Find out what the cost of backup equipment will be. Then do a status check on all equipment and supplies after every job to ensure you’re ready for the next snowfall.

Find an Emergency Backup

This is one area where you don’t want to anger your customer. Nothing is worse than dealing with irate snowbound customers suffering from cabin fever.

If for any reason you’re unable to commit to a customer you acquire — due to equipment malfunction, injury or illness — you need to be able to deliver your services. Fail to show up to plow out one person’s house and you’ll never work there again.

Advertise Locally — For Free

Before you develop any sort of advertising budget, take advantage of all the free local ads and online services. Consider the rise in popularity of “near me” searches. Set up a Google My Business account for your snow plow business. Do the same on sites like Yext, too. Don’t forget about Facebook and Craigslist, especially for local businesses.

Offer your first few customers a break if they help spread the word about your new venture. This is one service where someone asks someone they know who does it for them.

Business cards can be tacked up on community bulletin boards, too.

Price It Right

Not only do you need to find a good target market, you need to charge the right price.

Consider that list of materials, equipment and supplies and what they cost. Shop around for bulk pricing and where you can get the best deals on everything.

Establish Clear Service Offers

Your business can range from shoveling a sidewalk to plowing an entire parking lot. Be clear in your pricing structure what customers can expect and when they can expect them.

Find Good Insurance

Like most other businesses, whether you’re big or small, it’s a good idea to have some kind of insurance to cover liability. Reducing the premiums you’ll pay can often mean getting extra safety features like rear mounted cameras and extra backup lights.

Experts agree you can’t get away from having liability coverage to cover you for things like accidental falls in a parking lot.

Arrange for Payments and Offer Choices

The most important part of your snow plow business will be getting paid for your work. Have a process in place for accepting cash payments. You’ll likely get a lot of those.

Look into accepting credit cards and mobile payments, too. It offers a convenience to your customers and helps you keep track of payments without worry of misplacing cash payments you get while you’re busy plowing.

Develop an Off-Season Plan

Once snow is out of the forecast doesn’t mean your plowing business should end. Use the down time to maintain and fix any broken equipment. Have a plan for keeping good equipment in that same condition until the next winter rolls around.

Look for deals on winter supplies after the season is over. And most importantly, start securing work for the first snow of the next winter season.

Do You Tip Snow Shovelers?

Snow removal professionals say yes! Of the snow removal professionals interviewed 23% reported receiving tips for their services. How much should I tip a snow removal professional? The average tip for a snow removal service reported was $10.

Is Shoveling a Good Workout

If you’re shoveling snow properly, you’ll work your glutes, hamstrings, quads, abs, low back, upper back, and shoulders. “It’s the absolute best workout,” Lovitt says. Once you get into the swing of things and nail your form, you can really start to make it a double-duty chore and up the fitness factor.

“Do lunges or squats into each shovel of snow,” Lovitt says. You can also carry the piles of snow farther down the driveway to get extra steps in if you’re feeling ambitious.

As with any activity, your body needs time to warm up to work efficiently. Start off slow, and don’t hurry. Using a smaller shovel will reduce the chances of muscle injury. Alternatively, during large snowfalls, start shoveling early before it accumulates and do smaller amounts throughout the day.

For people who have heart disease, be aware of your limitations for activity. Wearing a heart rate monitor while shoveling is a good way to check how much work you’re doing. And if you need help, ask a family member, friend or neighbour. Likewise, if you live near someone who has mobility issues that make shoveling hard, be a snow angel and dig in.

Shoveling snow is an activity that will have to get done at some point each winter and it’s important to recognize that it is more than just a chore: it’s a vigorous activity similar to running and a great way to be active.

Do You Need Insurance to Plow Snow?

A general liability policy is needed to cover your snow plow operations. This policy will cover you for any bodily injury or property damage caused by your plowing. It will also give you “completed operations coverage”, which we’ll discuss more in a minute.

One thing that is important to note – you may already have a general liability policy in place for your contracting operations. Unfortunately, unless it is specifically endorsed to cover your snow plow operations, you would not automatically have coverage.

When you offer snow removal services, there are few specifics you’ll need to decide before you can find out what type of coverage you may, or may not, need. They are:

• Will you plow residential driveways, commercial properties, parking lots, residential streets/roads, or highways?
• Will you be charging for services?
• Will you provide additional snow removal services – like sidewalks, walkways, or roofs?
• Will you be sanding or providing any surface treatments?
• Do you want coverage for any damage to the plow itself?
• Will you be hiring new employees?
• Which vehicle will you be using to plow – personally owned or owned by the business?

Once you’ve ironed out the details of your snow plowing operations, by answering the questions above, you can begin to determine what type of coverage you have already, and what you may need going forward.

How Much Should I Charge to Plow a Parking Lot?

The cost of plowing your commercial parking lot will depend upon a number of factors; however, on average, the cost of commercial parking lot plowing is $138.80 per hour (low = $40.00 and high = $237.50). Keep in mind that sanding and salting may cost extra.

Here are some items that will factor into the cost of your project:

1. The size of your parking lot. The contractor will likely base their fee on the amount of time it will take to accomplish the job. The more surface area to plow, the higher the fee.

2. Do you want the parking lot treated with sand or salt? Sanding and salting may cost extra. Be sure to coordinate with the contractor in advance if you have concerns about children or pets or you require organic materials. There may or may not be an extra charge for alternative materials.

3. Do you want the lot cleared after a specific amount of snow, or do you want the contractor to wait until it stops snowing? The contractor’s fee may include repeated plowing after every so many inches of snow. This is often cost effective for the contractor because they are able to plow faster than if they simply wait for the total accumulation.

4. Do you need the snow removed or melted? The cost for snow plowing usually covers the labor for pushing the snow to the edges of the parking lot which may render some of the parking spaces unusable. There will be an additional cost if you require the snow be hauled away or melted.

5. Is there a cost benefit to pre-placing reflectors or snow markers? Gauging the area of the parking lot is often difficult without markers or reflectors. If the contractor is charging by the hour, the job may take longer if the contractor is slowed because the outline of the parking lot is not marked.

6. Do you have a snow removal contract? It is often more cost effective to have a seasonal contract for parking lot snow removal rather than simply calling the contractor on an “as needed basis.”

How Much Does Snow Plowing Insurance Cost?

While every business may have different exposures causing different prices, there is a pretty common amount that you can use for budgeting purposes.

Read Also: Should Young Kids have Jobs?

Keep in mind that things like claim history, your experience in the industry, whether this is your main operation or just an incidental part of doing business, number of employees, type of truck and plow used, and how much coverage you need are all things that will impact the pricing of all the insurance policies.

Also, keep in mind that different insurance policies are rated differently and use different factors. For example, a Workers Compensation policy will be rated on type of job and payroll, where a General Liability policy may be rated on either the number of employees or annual sales.

That being said, a typical General Liability insurance policy for a snow plow business can cost around $400 to $1000 per year. Commercial Auto insurance is around $900 per year. And a Business Owners Policy is about $400 annually. Be sure to get some comparative quotes.

Finally, shoveling snow is a good job and you will surely be able to do the job so don’t worry and you will be rewarded as you Shovel Snow In The Winter For Cash.

Shoveling Snow to Make Money

Target easy jobs that are close together and you can make more money. For example, nobody expects to pay less than $10 for any snow shoveling job, so a townhouse complex can be ideal. If there is only a front patio and sidewalk to shovel for each, you might do 20 of them in ten minutes each and make $200 in less than 4 hours.

Buy a push broom and use it for fast cleanup of light snowfalls. You can also offer a more meticulous cleaning for a higher price, sweeping after you shovel. A push broom is ideal for doing a wooden deck that might be damaged by a shovel as well.

If you decide you like the work (or at least the instant cash), spend $25 to have some basic business cards printed up, so your customers can call you when they have more work.

Shovler is a cool mobile app that caters to both snow-shoveling businesses and the clients looking for these services. It is free to download, but Shovler does get a cut of your fees (15% of it) at the end of a job.

This app makes it a breeze to find people within your community who need their homes or business places shoveled.

As a snow-shoveling business, joining Shovler allows you to accept credit card payments via the app, send you notifications whenever a new job near you is posted.

What’s great about Shovler is that the app computes rates for each job based on the amount of snow, the size of the area needed clearing, and other factors. In general, Shovler charges $2 per square foot.

Snow Removal Side Hustle

While snow is beautiful to look at, there are many people who would rather pay somebody else to clear snow from their property than do it themselves. This means that snow removal can be a source of income for someone who’s willing to brave the cold.

The average snow removal job will cost a home owner anywhere from $48 to $173 per clearing, depending on the size of the property and the amount of snow to be cleared, according to HomeAdvisor.

Some jobs can cost as much as$400, making this a great potential side gig for those who are young, physically fit, and don’t mind manual labor. It can be especially well-suited for landscapers or homeowners who already have equipment like snowblowers or plow attachments for their car.

Hire Someone to Shovel Snow

Having a snow removal plan is a must for any homeowner. Ensuring safe passage to and from your home, avoiding slip and fall accidents and even avoiding snow removal fines all make this a worthwhile endeavor.

When it comes to choosing the best strategy, one of the more tempting choices may be to not deal with it at all but rather hire someone to shovel snow. This is an option that many people go with and it’s been a source of income for many neighborhood kids throughout the years. While it may be a long-time and common choice with some definite benefits, hiring someone to remove snow also has some drawbacks to consider carefully before deciding to go this route.

Pros of Hiring Someone to Remove Snow

1. Getting it Done
   The first and most obvious benefit of hiring someone to shovel snow is that you don’t have to do it, and it gets done. As long as you have someone reliable and can rest assured that they’ll show up and do the job when they say they will, the peace of mind knowing that you don’t have to worry about this task can be worth the cost.
   
   
2. Avoiding Risks
   Snow shoveling is a difficult job and it has its risks, such as strain and injury to your back, slipping and falling and even heart attack. Hiring someone else physically suited for this tiring task means avoiding these risks yourself.
   
   Having someone shovel your snow also means avoiding risks associated with using other methods, like rock salt and deicers. Rock salt comes with a variety of problems, including damage to concrete surfaces, risks to pets, and harm to landscaping. Other deicers don’t come with as many risks but still may be damaging to surfaces and plants.
   
   
3. Supporting a Good Cause
   This may not apply in all circumstances, but in many cases hiring someone to shovel snow may mean contributing to a college fund or even supplementing someone’s income who needs it. In this case, it’s a win-win for both parties.

Cons of Hiring Someone to Remove Snow

1. Cost
   Simply put, paying someone to shovel snow means you’re doing just that — paying. Depending on the size of your property and the area around your home requiring snow-clearing, as well as the volume of snow that occurs in your area, shoveling away the snow could potentially be a big, recurring job requiring a lot of hours put in. That means that whenever the weather decides to deliver more snow, you’ll be shelling out more money and that can be a definite drawback.
   
   
2. Liability
   When someone is on your property they’re technically your “guest”, and therefore that puts you at risk should something happen while they’re there. Property around your home in the winter comes with a variety of liability risks including icy walkways, icicles and possibly cracked and broken pavement that could be the source of a slip and fall accident. Unless you’re using a professional company that provides their own coverage for such mishaps, having someone on your property to clear snow means that you’re potentially at risk for costly medical bills and legal issues.
   
   
3. Risk of Damage
   Lastly, shoveling snow can damage your property in some surprising ways. Some of these include chipping underlying concrete with a metal shovel blade, damaging landscaping, and possibly damaging irrigation and wiring around your property. Having someone else take care of this task increases this risk as they may not be aware of what’s underneath the snow they’re pitching their shovel into and may not be as careful in their efforts as you would be.
   
   When you weigh the cost of paying someone, combined with the potential cost of repairs to your property and liability risks, what initially seems like an effortless way to go begins to look more like a cost that doesn’t outweigh the benefits.

If your goal with a snow removal strategy is to “not have to deal with it”, as is the case for many people and one of the main benefits of hiring someone to shovel snow, then your most efficient and effective option is the use of heated snow-melting mats.

How to Ask Someone to Shovel Their Driveway For Money?

Some people are willing to pay to have someone shovel their drive, some are not. Money is tight for some, and if they think they can do it themselves, that’s probably the end of the story.

If you look like a nice teenager or younger, they might hire you just to help you out, so present yourself like a pleasant, smiling, clean cut guy who is working hard. Going around with a friend makes a nice impression. I honestly can’t tell you why a couple of friends shoveling snow together makes a good impression, but it does,

There are kids in my neighborhood who make the rounds every morning after a big snow. They knock on tons of doors. Some people hire them. Some don’t. They don’t try to make every sale; they just try to cover as much ground as possible.

Every neighborhood has some people like me who can’t , or don’t want to, shovel their own snow. The shovelers ring doorbells till find them. Then next snow, they come back to those houses. Sometimes they arrange to come back for regular shoveling. I’ve got a regular guy who shovels for me every time the snow falls.

Print some business cards on your computer with your name and contact info and give it to your customers for future snows. Only be aware, shovelers walking the neighborhood may get to them before they call you.

Try craigslist. After every snow there is a long list of people offering to shovel; it’s become the go-to place to find shovelers. You wake up in the morning, you see snow, you sigh and check craigslist. $15 for a driveway is a good price; put it in the subject line. Make SURE you specify what neighborhood you can serve, especially if you don’t have a car.

Please don’t try to engage people in chatty conversations to “sell them”. Imho,people know when they answer the door if they are willing to pay someone else to do their work for them. They’ve probably spent the whole morning thinking about how much they don’t want to shovel snow. You’re offering them a way out of that job. They get that already. Just smile and look like a pleasant, friendly person they would like to help out.

Look for neighborhoods with older residents. Shoveling snow is notorious for triggering heart attacks, and anyone of advanced age or in poor health is aware of that, and will probably welcome a chance to hire a young person to do the job.

How Much Should I Pay The Neighbor Kid to Shovel Snow?

Of course, circumstances aren’t always straightforward, and any situation that involves money can be awkward for both children and adults. Sometimes, for example, kids are reluctant to set a fee for their services, and adults often end up over- or underpaying.

It’s better to agree on both the fee and the job upfront. We’d say that for shoveling snow, $10 to $20 makes sense as a starting point for most jobs. But be prepared to adjust from there depending on your expectations. Do you want the kids to shovel your driveway as well as the sidewalk? And do you want them to shovel to the corner or just to the end of your property line?

If the kids next door do offer to work for free, you can always treat them to cookies and hot chocolate afterward. Alina Tugend, the Times reporter who interviewed me, told me that one of her neighbors later gave Tugend’s son a gift card to a sporting goods store in return for his shoveling efforts. That wasn’t necessary, but it was a nice gesture.

How Much Should a Teenager Charge for Shoveling Snow?

As a snow shoveler just starting, you can expect to earn between $10-$15 per hour, or you can just charge a flat rate for each house. The biggest issue with becoming a snow shoveler is that you will have a hard time finding a job. This is mostly because people shovel their driveways themselves, and there isn’t always snow on the ground. So, you have the choice of working as your own company or getting hired.

Both have their own pros and cons. Working at a company is more stable, but it is hard to find a job as one. If you start your own company, you have more flexibility with your earnings and working hours, but you will be responsible for finding your own customers.

How Much Should I Pay my Neighbor for Shoveling Snow?

The cost for this type of service varies, based on where you live, how big the driveway is and the frequency of removal service. The national average cost ranges from $75 to $150. Removing up to six inches of snow from a standard driveway with plowing or shoveling costs most homeowners around $125 for professional plowing to remove up to 6 inches from a standard driveway.

Costs can be as low as $50 for removing snow with a shovel from a driveway after a snowstorm and can be as high as $600 for an annual removal contract.

Snow Removal Cost
National average cost	$125
Average range	$75-$150
Low-end	$50
High-end	$600

How Much Money can you Make From Shoveling Snow?

Well, it really depends on how much you charge per driveway, how many clients you have, how fast you work, and so on. But, let me give you a few examples so you can get an idea of how much you can really make.

Let’s say you charge $20 per driveway. It takes me less than 20 min to do it, but for the sake of naysayers let’s assume it takes you an hour to do it. Right then and there, you are making more than the minimum wage. $20 an hour is a very good rate.

Now, let’s assume you can find 5 neighbors who agree to let you shovel their driveway. It would take you 5 hours to make $100. And that’s cash money. That’s way more than what millions of people earn working an 8-hour shift.

So, there is a lot of potential here, and the best part is that the only thing you really need is a shovel that may cost you less than $20 at the Home Depot.

Is Shoveling Snow Profitable?

The key to snow business profitability is to figure out a system that will help you better run your snow operations while also maximizing your profits. The snow business can be very profitable and it does have great margins, but if it’s not run with a good system in place, then it can be a whole lot of headaches for not enough profit.

Snow plow estimating software will also help you to be more profitable by allowing you to get billing out in a timely manner. That is absolutely huge when it comes to your clients paying more quickly for services. The quicker you can get your invoice out after a snow event, the more likely that it will be paid with no pushback. That’s because the event is still fresh in their mind, as are the services that you rendered.

In addition, in the future, the use of snow plowing estimating software will help you to be more efficient as you will not have to re-enter your contracts each year. You won’t be bogged down by duplicate data entry. Instead, you can spend more time evaluating which of your contracts were profitable and renew them based on that criteria.