Manage the unpredictable

The most unpredictable hurdle – and also the reason there's a snow-and-ice-management industry in the first place – is weather. For Joseph Walton, CFO of Glenhaven Snow Systems in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, knowledge and preparation are keys to success.

"Aside from debating the validity of climate change and its cause, there is not much you can do about the weather," he says. "It is what it is. And many times you won’t know what it is until you know. The most important thing is to be aware."

A snow-removal contractor needs to constantly monitor both short-term and long-term forecasts and Walton suggests using multiple sources.

"Although it may seem expensive, engaging a professional meteorological firm can be a tremendous asset for making the right decisions while in the midst of battling a winter weather event and many times can lead to actual cost savings,” he says. “Weather forecasting is not a black-or-white situation. You can look at five different sources and get five different forecasts in some cases. As a snow-removal professional you should have more than a rudimentary understanding of weather forecasting in order to come to your own conclusion. There is a tremendous amount of information on the Internet that can be used for self-education. There are also weather forums used by both amateur and professional meteorologists to discuss weather forecasts and they are a great source of information. When it comes to winter weather, plan for the worst, include flexibility in your game plan and stay on top of changes in the forecast."

A snow-removal contractor needs to constantly monitor both short-term and long-term weather forecasts and use multiple sources when making business and management decisions.

Matthew Snyder, president of Snow Hill in Alfred, New York, takes a different viewpoint on weather.

"Weather is obviously the biggest factor in the snow-and-ice-management industry," he says. "Without it and all of its challenges there would be no industry to speak of. However, it is the immense variability and inconsistency that can be the end of many snow contractors. I have learned (and am continuing to learn) that I have to view snow-and-ice-management services not so much as the actual work performed in any given day, but rather as an 'insurance' that the work will be performed. If we as an industry can begin to look at it from this viewpoint and market it as such to our customers, I believe we will be much better prepared to reap the opportunities the weather provides by preparing and being capable of handling the worst, but also being financially viable in the no-winter seasons."

Embrace Mother Nature’s unpredictability and enjoy the benefits.

"The challenge of weather will most likely be the constant that we deal with," says Stephanie Snyder, CSP, President of Sauers Tree and Landscape Services in Dresher, Pennsylvania. "While there will be shifts and trends, whether toward warmer winters, more major storms with less smaller storms, or any other combination, ultimately the weather is what provides the opportunity for business and those [who] embrace that and structure their business to work that to their advantage will continue to thrive."

With so many weather outlets available - some better than others – Sauers recommends narrowing your focus on where to gather information.

"I’m sure technology will continue to help meteorologist analyze weather and patterns, etc.; however, it’s so easy for anyone to start a weather webpage or social media page and confuse everyone," she says. "It’s hard to tell what to trust sometimes. I think it’s important to choose two-three reputable companies/news pages and stick with them and not get caught up in some of the beginners trying to cause drama."