How to Make Money Plowing Snow and Spreading Salt
Snow and ice management businesses that only offer a plowing service may be missing out on the potential for increased profits. There is a growing trend towards providing full-service snow and ice removal, and many firms have found success upselling to existing customers or securing new business by becoming a one-stop shop for both plowing and salt spreading.
Expand Your Snow Removal Offerings and Watch Your Workload and Customer Base Grow
Salt spreading provides an efficient way of making money without a lot of extra effort. The spread-to-plow ratio in winter maintenance favors spreading: every time a contractor plows, he can plan to spread between four and ten times.
Not only can salt spreading be done more often than snow plowing, but it can also be done faster. Spreading can even extend the season for your business. Regardless of how much snow falls, ice management remains a problem all winter long and freeze-thaw cycles continue well into the spring in many parts of the country.
Adding salt spreading not only allows contractors to provide a more all-encompassing service, but it means they can appeal to local businesses by addressing an issue that is a serious concern: liability due to injury claims. According to the CDC, over 800,000 people are hospitalized each year due to slip-and-fall injuries. It makes sense for business owners to take every precaution – including de-icing their properties – to prevent this hazard.
Four Key Considerations Before Choosing Salt Spreading Equipment
There are three important factors to consider before purchasing salt spreading equipment for your business:
- Materials: Some spreaders do not handle certain de-icing products as well as others, so determine what salt product you will be using in advance.
- Size: Avoid overspending by matching the size of the spreader to the size of the job.
- Durability: The corrosive nature of de-icers makes durability critical, so stainless steel and poly-constructed units are usually a better choice than regular steel spreaders.
- Efficiency: When spreading salt with a pick-up truck, efficiency can help reduce marginal costs and increase profitability.
Increase Efficiency by Matching the Spreader to the Job
When it comes to snow and ice removal, improving the speed with which you complete each job means you can tackle others that much faster. Choosing the right spreading equipment can be the difference between making money and spinning your wheels.
For example, if you are new to salt spreading or service driveways and other small residential applications, a tailgate spreader is ideal. Western's 2500, 1000 and 500 low profile tailgate spreaders attach to a wide variety of vehicles. These high-density, single-stage, poly tailgate spreaders sit lower on trucks to deliver top spreader performance without affecting the operator's view from behind the wheel.
Tailgate spreaders do not handle bulk salt, so if you typically plow mall parking lots or other large commercial or institutional facilities, a salt hopper will allow you to get more done faster. If you’re looking to minimize waste and maximize profits, consider the ultra-durable Western Striker stainless steel hopper spreader. Loaded with the latest in snow and ice control technology, it features an innovative chute design that lets operators easily control salt spread.
For de-icing sidewalks and pathways, a salt spreader can also be mounted in a utility vehicle’s cargo box. The Western Tornado poly hopper spreader is built just for UTVs, with a sturdy, compact design that delivers many of the same features as larger spreader models.
Whether you’re looking to purchase new snow and ice removal equipment or need new spreader parts, Traffic Safety Direct and our sister site Plow Parts Direct are your one-stop shops. We stock hundreds of thousands of parts from Western and Snoway and offer complete installation and repair services. Give us a call at 201-327-6050 and let our experts help you find exactly what you need.