Northline Lawn & Snow: Snow Removal Contract Kit
0. Top Note (for the owner)
- What's in this kit: (1) a customer explainer comparing seasonal and per-push plans, (2) a one-page Service Rules Sheet, (3) a customer FAQ, (4) a contract outline for your attorney, and (5) owner notes on your capped-plan idea.
- How to use it: Sections 1–3 are written to hand to customers. Use them on your website, as a PDF with your sign-up form, or printed with invoices. Section 4 goes to your attorney, not to customers. Section 5 is for you only.
- Before anything goes out: search the document for "CONFIRM" and fill in or delete every placeholder. Also add your real contact details wherever you see [PHONE] and [EMAIL].
- About the capped plan: I did not put the capped plan in the customer materials, because it isn't final yet. Section 5 runs the numbers so you can decide.
- Assumptions I made. Each one is also marked in the text so you can find and fix it.
- A1. The two seasonal installments are equal: $287.50 on Nov 1 and $287.50 on Jan 1.
- A2. The seasonal plan is residential only. Commercial lots are per-push, quoted per lot. I wrote no commercial seasonal option.
- A3. Salt ($35) and sidewalk/step shoveling ($15/visit) are extra on both plans and not included in the $575 seasonal price.
- A4. Per-push residential customers use the same 2" trigger as seasonal. Nothing is billed for snow under 2" unless the customer asks for a visit.
- A5. A storm of up to 12" is billed once per event ($45 or $65), even if you push during the storm and come back for cleanup. Storms over 12" are billed $65 for each push, so a during-storm push plus a cleanup comes to $130. [CONFIRM: billing for 8–12" storms that get two visits]
- A6. The $25 late fee is charged once, when an invoice is still unpaid 30 days after the invoice date. [CONFIRM: one-time or recurring; counted from invoice date or due date]
- A7. The $25 staking fee is per property, per season.
- A8. Your contract outline instructions cut off after clause 5. I added the standard clauses a snow contract usually covers (clauses 6–21) for your attorney to keep or cut.
- A9. All winter push counts in the examples are made-up illustrations, not forecasts for Eau Claire or Altoona.
1. Customer Explainer
Seasonal vs Per-Push: Which Plan Is Right for You?
At Northline Lawn & Snow, we've been keeping driveways and lots clear across Eau Claire and Altoona all winter long. Every winter is different. Some bring a few light dustings, and others bring storm after storm. That's why we offer two ways to pay for residential snow removal. This guide explains both plans in plain terms, shows real math using our prices, and helps you pick the plan that fits your budget and your comfort level.
The Two Plans
Seasonal Plan: one flat price for the whole season You pay $575 for the season (Nov 15 – Apr 1), split into two payments of $287.50: one due Nov 1 and one due Jan 1. (See Assumption A1.) That covers unlimited pushes for every snowfall of 2 inches or more. You pay the same price whether it snows five times or twenty-five times.
Per-Push Plan: pay only when we plow You're billed each time we come out for a snowfall of 2 inches or more:
| Snowfall | Price |
|---|---|
| 2" up to 6" | $45 per event |
| 6" to 12" | $65 per event |
| Over 12" | $65 per push (big storms may need more than one push) |
Commercial properties: We quote commercial lots individually, usually around $125–$300 per push. Ask us for a quote.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Seasonal ($575) | Per-Push | |
|---|---|---|
| How billing works | Two payments of $287.50 (Nov 1 and Jan 1) | Invoice for each event or push; due in 15 days |
| Budget predictability | High. You know your cost up front | Varies with the weather |
| Cost in a light winter | Still $575 | Usually lower |
| Cost in a heavy winter | Still $575 | Can be much higher |
| What triggers a visit | 2" or more of snow | 2" or more of snow |
| Add-ons (salt, sidewalks) | Extra: salt $35/application; sidewalk/front steps $15/visit | Same: salt $35/application; sidewalk/front steps $15/visit |
| Best for | People who want one fixed cost and no surprises | People who'd rather pay only for what they use |
Worked Examples Using Our Real Prices
Important: The snowfall numbers below are made-up examples to show how the math works. They are not a forecast for any winter. Add-ons like salt and sidewalks are not included in these totals.
| Example winter | Pushes at $45 | Pushes at $65 | Total pushes | Per-push total | Seasonal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 6 | 1 | 7 | 6×$45 + 1×$65 = $335 | $575 | Per-push saves $240 |
| Average | 11 | 3 | 14 | 11×$45 + 3×$65 = $690 | $575 | Seasonal saves $115 |
| Heavy | 15 | 7* | 22 | 15×$45 + 7×$65 = $1,130 | $575 | Seasonal saves $555 |
*The heavy winter's 7 pushes at $65 include one storm over 12" that needed two pushes ($65 × 2 = $130). See Assumption A5.
The Break-Even Point
Where do the two plans cost about the same? Divide the seasonal price by the per-push price:
- If most storms are small ($45): $575 ÷ $45 = 12.8, which rounds to about 13 pushes. At 12 small pushes you'd pay $540 (per-push is cheaper). At 13 you'd pay $585 (seasonal is cheaper).
- If most storms are bigger ($65): $575 ÷ $65 = 8.8, which rounds to about 9 pushes. 9 pushes at $65 comes to $585.
In plain terms: if you expect more than about 9 to 13 plowable snowfalls, seasonal usually comes out ahead. If you expect fewer, per-push usually does. Nobody can predict the weather, so the real question is which risk you'd rather take.
How to Choose
- **Want one number for your budget?