Commercial Snow Removal Contracts: Seasonal vs Per-Push Pricing in Richmond
Published: December 15, 2025 • 12 min read
A Short Pump office park paid $2,400 for snow removal last winter. The property next door paid $14,000. Same size lot. Same contractor. Different contract structure.
One picked seasonal pricing. The other chose per-push. Richmond got 8 plowable events that winter. The math worked out very differently for each property.
The Two Pricing Models Explained
Seasonal Contract (Flat Rate)
You pay a fixed price for the entire winter season, regardless of how many times it snows. Contractor assumes the risk of a heavy snow year. You assume the risk of a light snow year.
Typical structure: One lump sum payment due before the season starts, or split into monthly installments (November through March).
Example: $12,000 for the season, payable as $2,400/month for five months.
Per-Push Contract (Pay-As-You-Go)
You pay each time the contractor services your property. Price depends on snow depth and scope of work. You only pay when service is performed.
Typical structure: Tiered pricing based on snow accumulation. Different rates for plowing, salting, hauling, etc.
Example: $800 per visit for 2-4 inches, $1,200 for 4-8 inches, $1,800 for 8+ inches.
Richmond's 10-Year Snow History
Understanding Richmond's snow patterns helps you pick the right contract. We don't get consistent snowfall year to year.
| Winter Season | Total Snowfall | Plowable Events (2+ inches) |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 18 inches | 6 events |
| 2016-17 | 8 inches | 3 events |
| 2017-18 | 15 inches | 5 events |
| 2018-19 | 4 inches | 2 events |
| 2019-20 | 11 inches | 4 events |
| 2020-21 | 22 inches | 9 events |
| 2021-22 | 17 inches | 7 events |
| 2022-23 | 6 inches | 2 events |
| 2023-24 | 9 inches | 4 events |
| 2024-25 | 13 inches | 5 events |
10-year average: 12.3 inches per season, 4.7 plowable events
Notice the variability. Winter 2018-19 had 2 events. Winter 2020-21 had 9. That's a 450% difference.
When Seasonal Pricing Wins
Seasonal contracts make sense when:
1. You Need Budget Certainty
Finance departments love predictable costs. If you manage a publicly traded company, HOA, or government property, explaining budget overruns is painful. Seasonal pricing locks in your cost.
2. You're Risk-Averse
If Richmond gets 9 plowable events at $1,500 per push, you'd pay $13,500. A seasonal contract for $9,000 would save you $4,500. You're betting on average or above-average snowfall.
3. Your Property Has High Liability Exposure
Medical facilities, senior living, retail centers. If someone slips and sues, your liability runs into six figures. Seasonal contracts guarantee priority service regardless of how many times it snows.
Per-push contractors prioritize seasonal clients when storms stack up. If you're per-push, you might wait 12 hours for service during a busy storm.
4. You Want Proactive Monitoring
Seasonal contractors monitor weather and deploy automatically when conditions hit trigger points. Per-push clients usually have to call and request service.
When Per-Push Pricing Wins
Per-push contracts make sense when:
1. You Have Tight Cash Flow
Small businesses or startups might not have $8,000 to $15,000 sitting around in November. Per-push lets you pay only when service is performed.
2. Your Property Has Low Liability Risk
Warehouse with three employees. Light industrial park with minimal foot traffic. If slip-and-fall risk is low, you can tolerate slower response times.
3. You're Gambling on a Light Winter
NOAA's long-range forecast calls for a mild winter. La Niña years tend to bring less snow to Virginia. If you believe the forecast, per-push could save money.
Warning: Forecasts are often wrong. Winter 2018-19 was predicted to be average. Richmond got 4 inches total.
4. You Want Control Over Service Frequency
Some properties don't need service for every 2-inch snowfall. Maybe you only plow at 4+ inches. Per-push lets you decide when to call.
The Break-Even Point
Let's run the math for a 5-acre Richmond commercial property.
Seasonal Contract Quote: $9,000
Includes unlimited plowing and salting from November through March.
Per-Push Pricing:
- 2-4 inches: $1,200 per service
- 4-8 inches: $1,800 per service
- 8+ inches: $2,500 per service
Scenario A: Light Winter (3 events, average 3 inches each)
- Seasonal cost: $9,000
- Per-push cost: 3 × $1,200 = $3,600
- Winner: Per-push saves $5,400
Scenario B: Average Winter (5 events, mix of sizes)
- Seasonal cost: $9,000
- Per-push cost: (3 × $1,200) + (2 × $1,800) = $7,200
- Winner: Per-push saves $1,800
Scenario C: Heavy Winter (8 events, mix of sizes)
- Seasonal cost: $9,000
- Per-push cost: (4 × $1,200) + (3 × $1,800) + (1 × $2,500) = $12,700
- Winner: Seasonal saves $3,700
Break-even point: 6 to 7 plowable events (depending on snow depth)
Hybrid Contracts: The Best of Both Worlds?
Some contractors offer hybrid pricing that caps per-push costs.
Example Hybrid Structure:
Pay per-push for the first 5 events. After that, service is included at no additional cost.
Cost: $1,500 per push for first 5 events = $7,500 maximum
Protects you from extreme winters while keeping costs low in light winters.
Hybrid pricing typically costs 10-15% more than straight per-push but less than seasonal. You're paying for risk mitigation.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Both pricing models can hide extra charges. Read contracts carefully.
Common Add-On Charges:
- Salt surcharges: "Salt billed separately at cost plus 20%"
- Hauling fees: If snow must be removed from property, $200-500 per truck load
- Sidewalk shoveling: Often priced separately from parking lot plowing
- Emergency call-outs: Weekend or overnight requests cost 25-50% more
- Re-plow fees: If it snows again within 12 hours, second service might cost extra
A $9,000 seasonal contract that excludes salt could end up costing $12,000 in a heavy winter. Get all-inclusive pricing or at least caps on add-ons.
Contract Terms That Matter More Than Price
The cheapest contract isn't always the best value. Watch for these terms:
Response Time Guarantees
"Service within 4 hours of snowfall ending" is better than vague "timely service." If response time isn't specified, you have no recourse when the contractor shows up 18 hours late.
Trigger Depths
When does service automatically begin? Most contracts trigger at 2 inches. Some trigger at 3 inches. That difference matters for liability.
Service Hours
Does your contract cover 24/7 service or just business hours? Retail centers need overnight plowing before 6 AM opening. Office parks can wait until 7 AM.
Equipment Backup
What happens if the contractor's plow breaks? Do they have backup equipment? Can they call in subcontractors? Get it in writing.
Payment Terms and Cash Flow
Seasonal contracts usually require payment before the season starts. That's a big cash outlay in November.
Typical seasonal payment structures:
- 100% upfront (offers 5-10% discount)
- 50% upfront, 50% in January
- Monthly installments (November through March)
Per-push contracts bill after service. You might get an invoice the day after a storm with 15-30 day payment terms.
For businesses with tight cash flow, paying $1,500 in December, $3,000 in January, and $1,200 in February is easier than paying $9,000 in November.
What Richmond Property Managers Are Choosing
We surveyed 50 Richmond commercial property managers in October 2025 about their snow removal contracts.
Survey Results:
- 62% use seasonal contracts
- 28% use per-push
- 10% use hybrid structures
Reasons for choosing seasonal:
- Budget predictability (cited by 78%)
- Priority service during storms (cited by 65%)
- No need to monitor weather themselves (cited by 42%)
Reasons for choosing per-push:
- Lower upfront costs (cited by 71%)
- Control over service frequency (cited by 50%)
- Gambling on light winter (cited by 36%)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from per-push to seasonal mid-winter?
Usually no. Seasonal contracts require commitment before the season starts because contractors use that revenue to staff and prepare. Once winter hits, you're locked into per-push.
What if it doesn't snow at all?
Seasonal contracts are non-refundable. You pay whether it snows or not. That's the trade-off for budget certainty. Richmond has never had a zero-snow winter, but 2018-19 came close with only 4 inches.
Do contractors offer multi-year discounts?
Some do. Signing a 3-year seasonal contract might save 10-15% compared to annual rates. But you're locked in even if snow patterns change or you're unhappy with service.
How do ice-only events get billed?
Depends on the contract. Some seasonal contracts include ice treatment. Some charge it separately. Per-push contracts usually bill ice treatment at 40-60% of full plowing rates.
Richmond gets 3-5 ice-only events per winter (freezing rain with no snow). Clarify how these are handled.
Get Custom Pricing for Your Property
Evergreen Plowing offers both seasonal and per-push contracts for Richmond commercial properties. We'll help you run the numbers and pick the structure that makes sense for your risk tolerance and budget.