Hi, everyone I'm planning to start my own plowing business in West Michigan. This will be a new adventure for me and I'm in need for some pointers. Please help!

Serious Answer:
Good customer report seems to be the best thing for I-do-a-service-for-you kind of jobs. Knowing people’s first names, being friendly, being prompt especially.

People really love having information about time estimates- if they need you to plow their driveway and you can give them a pretty exact (15 minute window) estimation of when you will be there, and call with any updates (I am on this side of town and the freeway is closed because the city plows are not on their game, it’s going to take some time to get to your side of town).

When the phone company says “There will be a rep coming by between 9AM and 4PM that’s no good to me. But when they say “he’ll be there at 11AM exactly, and he calls at 10:45 to confirm, that’s awesome. I suddenly get my day back!

Perhaps email reports are a good idea- email your clients the night before with an estimate of when you will get to their house? or text their phones? It’s not as intrusive as a phone call, but good, honest information is always appreciated.

Keep meticulous records while you are out plowing. Don’t rely on your memory to figure out man-hours and salt usage later on. You will be exhausted when you are done plowing after a big snow.

Invoice the next day and state that you expect payment within 7 days. Don’t waste your time on deadbeats. Once fooled, forget them.
Ask customers for relatives, businesses that they could refer you to.
Mistakes happen if you are too rushed. You may find you have more work than you can handle especially if there is a really big storm or long storm that may require return to clean out drive. Be sure to ask customer if there is a minimum snow they expect you to do. Some people will tolerate a couple inch snow and don’t want plowing, others want you there for an inch or more. Ask if they have a priority need, like a doctor, pilot, etc that need to get out by a certain time. Some others may let you come later as they do not need to get out right away. Businesses often can be done overnight. Each storm may require a different priority order. Also if it is really big snow, let customers know that you will plow a path to get out and that you will be back later to clean off the rest of the pavement. Keep your rig in top condition. Carry water, food, warm clothes, shovel, cell phone; even the biggest 4 wheel drives get stuck or slide off road. Check out plow area before snow and note curbs, gutters, sidewalk edges, decorative rocks etc, even a two inch pavement drop can be like hitting a wall at speed with the blade down. Some will want to pay you at the time of plow, if you have time take their money then, have some change with you. Also let them know that you can only get within a foot or so of garage doors, obstructions etc. If they want you to shovel up to door, they pay for it. Lastly remember that 4 wheel drive gives traction but doesn’t let you stop faster, especially on ice or packed snow. I know, I once backed into a downward sloped drive to a garage and tried to stop and slid into the door and punched a hole through the door with my trailer hitch. The repairs made for that job being done free for the season. Good luck.