Seasonal vs per-push snow contracts: who carries the weather risk?

Side by side

When seasonal makes sense

Seasonal works when you know your area’s historical snowfall well, can absorb a heavy year, and want cash in hand before you buy salt and fuel. Price from several years of local history, not last winter alone. Consider a cap on the number of events or a per-push charge beyond it, and say so plainly.

Collecting the full seasonal amount up front, or before service starts, is what makes this model safe for a small operator. In PlowPilot, a seasonal contract only becomes active once the full payment is recorded.

When per-push makes sense

Per-push suits customers who travel, low-snow areas, and operators who cannot afford a bad heavy-winter bet. It requires more billing and good records. Customers will ask how many times you came, so timestamps and photos per visit matter more here.

What to write down either way

• Trigger depth

  For example, service begins at 2 inches of accumulation, and how it is judged.

• What one push means

  Driveway only, or including walks and apron? Do return trips for windrows count?

• Long storms

  How additional passes are counted and billed.

• Blocked access

  What happens when cars or gates prevent service.

• Damage

  How and how fast customers report it.

• Season dates

  Start and end dates, and how early or late snow is handled.