[RHayden]

That will always be one of your major problems in a seasonal business. We also got out of the snow business a few years ago simply because it just doesn't snow that much around here anymore.

We postpone all large tree planting until as late in the season as possible. This allows us to usually work pretty steady until just before Christmas and the ground is usually frozen enough we can run the skid steer around without doing any damage.

I also begin looking in September to persuade some clients to wait to begin their projects during the colder months. This has to be the right kind of project like a retaining wall or patio and you have to use all of your sales skill to persuade these people to wait and to convince them to be patient as the weather may let you work a day or two and then shut you down for awhile, but it does provide a project or two to work on during the colder months. I work the process in reverse as calls come in over the winter to try and get back in the field usually around mid Feb.

We also let our key people come in and work on equipment etc a few hours each week.

Combine all of the above and the guys are usually able to accumulate enough hours to turn in a few each week which along with their unemployment benefit allows them to make close to what they do during the rest of the year.