How to Write a Snow Removal Contract (Free Templates)

What is a snow removal contract?

A snow removal contract is a legally binding agreement between a snow removal contractor and their client. 

This written agreement covers the services you’ll offer, when you’ll deliver them, and you payment terms. 

A snow removal contract also details any responsibilities your client may have to help you do your job—like moving their car to make space on their driveway. 

Whether you’re just starting your snow removal business, or have been operational for years, having your customer sign off on a snow removal  can help:

• Avoid arguments or confusion between you and your clients on the services you’ll offer or when you’ll provide them 
• Make it less likely your clients will pay late or avoid paying at all 
• Reduce your liability for property damage

4 types of snow removal contract

 The type of contract you choose will depend on how you price your snow removal services. These are the most common types of snow removal contracts: 

1. Per-inch contract 

 A per-inch contract (or a per-event contract) allows people to pay based on how much snow there is on their property. You may have different pricing categories based on how much snow has accumulated—such as 1-3, 3-5, or 5-7 inches. 

2. Per-event contract 

With a per-event contract, your clients only pay if snow falls. Clients will typically pay after a snow storm, before 24 hours are up. 

Many clients like this kind of contract as it means they don’t have to pay for services they don’t end up using. However, if it’s a large snow storm then they’ll often end up paying more. 

This kind of contract can be very profitable for you if there are a lot of heavy snowstorms one year, but it can mean you lose out if the snow is light. 

3. Per-push contract 

A per-push contract covers a fixed rate for every visit to your customer’s property —no matter how much snow there is or how long you spend clearing it. You can also cover what services they’ll get with each visit. 

Do you offer sidewalk snow clearing or just driveway and lawn snow clearing? What does your flat-rate cover and which services are paid-for add ons? 

This kind of contract gives you some predictability, you know exactly what you’ll make with each visit. In cases where there’s heavy snowfall, you could be charging clients for several days in a row and make a great fee. 

4. Seasonal contract

A seasonal snow contract gives clients a fixed price for the snow seasons and typically covers three-five years. Like a per-push contract, this kind of snow contract gives you some predictability as you’ll be able to see how much money you’ll make from each client over the next few years. 

READ MORE: How to run a successful snow removal business 

What should your snow removal contract include?

Every good snow removal contract should give clients enough detail on your terms and conditions, services, and payment terms. This helps you cover yourself in case any clients disagreements or legal issues come up and helps you to get paid on time. 

Here’s what to cover in every contract:

1. Business information

Make it easy for your clients to get in touch with you by adding your snow removal business information to the top of your contract. Put your: 

• Snow removal business name
• Contact person
• Email address
• Telephone number

2. Property address

Provide the complete address for the service location, including:

• Street number
• Street name
• City/Town
• State
• Zip code

3. Customer information

Include any information you may need to get in touch with your customer, such as:

• Customer name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Mailing address

For commercial properties, you’ll also want to include:

• Company name
• Business address
• Contact person name, email, and phone number

4. Terms of agreement

Terms of agreement legally hold you and your client to certain responsibilities, they make it clear who does what and when. 

For example, you might say you’ll clear a certain amount of snow for the next three snow seasons, including snow on the driveway and lawn. While your client may agree not to sue you if anyone slips or falls because of ice and snow on the property. 

To write your terms of agreement, add the length of the snow removal agreement by adding the start and end date of your services. Also add details on the specific services you’ll provide. 

Get specific. Make sure you clearly state exactly what’s covered for each job—such as how much snow you’ll clear and whether you’ll also remove ice. Also, add details on your add-on services and their costs.

5. Payment terms

Outline how much the snow removal services will cost, when payment is expected, and how payment can be made.

6. Description of the property

Include a description of the property areas you’ll be servicing, like parking lots or driveways, entrance ways, sidewalks, etc. Also note any areas you will not be servicing, such as areas that are too dangerous to access.

7. Scope of services

List in detail the services that are included in your snow removal contract cost. This may include:

• Snow blowing
• Snow plowing
• Shoveling
• Snow removal (removing snow from the property)
• Ice removal
• Salting
• Sanding

8. Terms and conditions

Clarify any additional details about your service guarantees, insurance policy, payments, and termination policy. Putting these things in writing can help make sure there’s no room for confusion.

Be sure to answer the following questions:

• When will you provide your snow removal services?
• Are there any added charges for snow removal? Such as for a large property or after a heavy snowfall?
• Are there any days you won’t clear snow? Such as Christmas day or New Year’s Day.
• What type of snow removal insurance coverage do you have? Such as workers compensation, liability insurance, or snow removal equipment insurance.
• Do you charge clients for late payments? How much? 
• How much notice does your client need to give to end the agreement?
• Are there any fees for ending the agreement?

8. Box for signatures

You’ll need to leave a space at the bottom of your contract for both you and your client to sign off on the contract to make it legally binding. Also add a box for printed names and the dates you both added your signatures. 

Pro tip: It’s important to remember that your snow removal contract is legally binding. That means that one of you could take legal action if the other doesn’t hold up their side of the agreement. 

Snow removal contract templates

It’s important to remember that your snow removal contract is legally binding.

Before you send your contract to your customers, always get a second opinion. Consult your attorneys, or a legal advisor to make sure your agreement is in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Here are a few snow removal contract templates you can use for your customers this winter.

1. Seasonal snow removal contract template

Contractors should include this seasonal contract template when sending quotes to any residential or commercial snow removal customers.

2. Residential snow plow contract template

Include this snow plow contract template when sending quotes to your residential customers.

3. Commercial parking lot snow removal contract template

Include this template when sending quotes to a property manager for commercial properties.

Difference between commercial and residential snow removal contracts

The biggest difference between commercial and residential snow removal contracts are the types of clients you’ll work with and how long your contract will run for. 

Commercial snow removal contracts

Commercial snow removal contracts are contracts made for businesses or community service providers rather than homeowners. 

 You may provide commercial snow removal services to:

• Hotels or resorts
• Retail stores
• Fitness clubs 
• Schools or educational institutions
• Office buildings
• Hospitals
• Government owned buildings

These contracts are typically annual or multi-annual contracts. Commercial clients typically care about two things: 

• Getting snow cleared and walkways salted as quickly as possible so their business or services aren’t impacted by the ice and snow 
• Avoiding accidents and lawsuits form dangerous snow and ice 

Residential snow removal contracts

Residential snow removal contracts are the contracts you give homeowners. For residential snow removal, you’ll be clearing homeowner’s driveways and walkways of ice and snow. These are typically seasonal or monthly contracts. 

A residential contract could cover: 

• Houses
• HOA communities

How to create a snow removal contract

A great template takes the guesswork out of contract creation. And when you use tools like Jobber and DocuSign you can automatically draft a commercial or residential snow removal contract that your clients can digitally sign. 

To create your snow removal contract, choose the basic contract template in DocuSign. Here’s how: 

1. From the Templates page in DocuSign, click NEW, then click Create Template
2. Wait for the prepare view to load
3. Type in your contract name and description 
4. Edit the template
5. When you’re happy with the template, click SAVE AND CLOSE

When you connect Jobber to DocuSign you can drag and drop your client’s stored property details into your template. Then save the document as a PDF file.

How to get snow plow contracts

With your contract in place, you’re ready to build your snow removal customer base.

Here are three tips to get you started:

1. Distribute snow removal flyers

Delivering flyers within local communities is a great way to attract new residential snow plowing customers. 

Drop flyers off door to door, or post tearaway flyers on community bulletin boards in grocery stores or libraries. Just make sure to ask permission first!

Make sure your snow removal flyers include:

• Your business name and logo
• A description of your services
• Detailed contact information such as your email, phone number, and website URL
• Time-sensitive discounts to encourage people to get in touch

A snow removal contract is important for setting client expectations, helping to make sure you get paid on time, and giving yourself extra legal protection. 

Set your snow plow business up for success this winter season. Use our free snow removal contract templates to set your customer’s expectations from day one.

Originally published in October 2021. Last updated on September 11, 2024.