Residential snow plowing route with a plow truck

Homeowners who want fast clearing, plus small landlords, small offices and strata or condo groups with small lots.

Seasonal contracts paid up front or monthly, plus per-push pricing for one-off customers. A dense route in a small area means more driveways per hour.

• Confident winter driving
• Operating a plow safely around cars, curbs and landscaping
• Route planning and scheduling
• Basic truck and plow maintenance

• Insurance that explicitly covers plowing, as a standard personal auto policy usually will not
• Damage to lawns, curbs, mailboxes and vehicles, so photograph driveways and mark edges before the season
• Check municipal bylaws on where snow can be pushed, and on night-time noise and working hours
• Check provincial rules on commercial vehicle use and WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire a helper
• Slip-and-fall liability, so keep service records with dates and times
• Income and workload depend on the weather, and a heavy storm means long hours

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on whether you already own a suitable pickup, the plow blade, a spreader and insurance. Your starting point makes a big difference.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,500 to $10,000, depending on the number of contracts, route size and snowfall. Workload and income depend on the weather, so treat these as estimates.

Check that your insurance explicitly covers plowing, as a standard personal auto policy usually will not. Also check municipal bylaws on where snow can be pushed and working hours, provincial commercial vehicle rules, and WCB/WSIB if you hire a helper.