[sandim]

We're looking for ideas for winter work other than pushing snow. Most of our clients live about a half hour away and it's a little crazy the way the snow works in that town. Down by the shore it can be rain, further inland, snow. We live in CT.
We do Christmas decorations, but that's only for a couple weeks.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated....it's tough to pay the bills this time of year.

[Malrex]

I was going to suggest Christmas decorations, but sounds like you are already doing that. I've thought to myself about what I could do during the winter. It's a little easier for me perhaps, since I'm a one man operation and have a rockin wife, but things I would look into are:

Construction. I'm in the process of building a new home and there is always alot of indoor work. Wallboard, plastering...hell, even sanding and staining wood (for log homes--been doing it for 6 weeks straight..not fun, and I'm sure other people would feel the same and want to hire someone, I know I wish I had a lil money to hire someone to do it--driving me crazy).

Ok, some weird ideas, but just throwing some things out there....
What about building some bird houses or even bat houses that you could sell during the off season. Learn about the benefit of birds and bats--sell that to customers, maybe even make a connection with a nursery to sell your items. Or maybe build some items that can be found in a landscape...benches, picnic tables...

Maybe get real crazy and do gift baskets...Get some items (jams, dressings, salsa, little things, and offer to make gift baskets..then deliver them. Put your business card in the baskets.

Maybe stock up on firewood and sell it...Xmas trees?

I don't know, winter is tough. For me, I plan to prepare for the next season, read alot of books, attend seminars, ect. If I had a crew, I would think about the above just to keep people busy...or think of ways that would get my name out there for adveritising..maybe even organizing a canned food drive or have your crew volunteer at a soup kitchen...doing the good deeds, getting your name out there.

[sandim]

Hmmm, some good ideas. I did get ready for advertising, but no money to do it! (always figures, if you've got time, you don't have money, if you have money, you don't have time)
We are trying to save up for next winter. Our biggest problem is we are a husband and wife team, so it's just us!
I do like the idea of getting your name out there via charity. It's something I've been toying with.
Who knows, maybe us non snow pushers will land some rockin' jobs this year that will let us save up.
Thanks for your input.
Good luck!

[GLAN]

I dunno?.....I'm thinking spring and summer activities right now.......let ya know in late fall

[AZTLANLC]

Last year I was thinking to do concrete benches over the winter and offer them to my local yard suppliers I even research on the molds and all but we got a little busy and didn't start the project.

[familyguy]

we finally solved that problem by prorating 2 of our large maintenance accounts over a 12 month payment cycle. one provides 2100 each month 12 months per year. one provides 4900 each month for 12 months per year. all of the other maintenance contracts have 10 month payment schedules with a heavy deposit in the spring to allow for those inflated spring cash flow issues.

I got really tired of the emotional stress caused by incosiderate clients being slow in the spring when my checking accounts were at a 0.00 balance. (business and personal)

I explained this situation to the folks who were alrmed by the "new" deposit system. I suggested they take their chances or watch me go out of business. (exagerration but you get the jist)

Solved 90% of our cash flow/poorness issues.

[starsandstripes]

holiday decorations, building picnic table to sell, Masonry/stone fireplaces, Snowmobiling...........

[BuenPatron]

One year I was gonna pressure-wash parking lots at convenience stores and gas stations, especially ones with car washes. They have drains that protect groundwater, and with a coupla guys and a coupla sprayers I figured it'd be a good way to supplement the plowing business. But then it snowed alot and I never got around to doing it.

-Bob

[sandim]

catch up on sleep! continuing education, business review. No money makers there but we try to save up enough money to just recoup over the winterl

[AZTLANLC]

I trowed away all my ideas and now I just plw snow if it snows and if not recoup my sleep

[Paco]

Well, this is my first year in business, and the tight economy caused clients to back out on the full list of projects, so I don't have the number of acorns squirreled away that I expected to. So, I'm looking at working for the Post Office or UPS until March. I still have some landscaping business going on, but not enough to cover rent, truck payment, etc.