How much should I charge for shoveling snow as a kid?

As a kid looking to make some extra money by shoveling snow in your neighborhood, one of the first questions you’ll need to figure out is how much to charge. Pricing your snow shoveling services appropriately is important – price too low and you’re working for peanuts, but price too high and you’ll scare off potential customers. Here’s a guide on factors to consider when deciding how much to charge as a kid for shoveling snow.

Base Rate

The base rate for shoveling snow will depend on a few factors in your local market. Here are some considerations when setting a base rate:

• Going rates – Talk to other kids in your neighborhood and see what they typically charge for shoveling. This will give you an idea of the current market rate in your area.
• Snowfall amount – For a lighter dusting, you can charge on the lower end (say $15-20). For heavier snows, consider charging more ($25-35+).
• Driveway/walkway size – Larger areas will take you longer, so factor size into your base rate. A long driveway may warrant charging more.
• Your experience – If you’re just starting out, consider pricing on the lower side as you build up experience. Raise your rates as you become more efficient.

Given these factors, a reasonable starting base rate for an average sized driveway/walkway would likely fall around $20-30. From there you can adjust up or down based on the specific job.

Calculate by Inches

Another option is to charge per inch of snowfall rather than a fixed base rate per job. Here’s how it works:

• Establish a base rate – This could be $10-15 to start.
• Charge an additional fee per inch – For example, $5 per inch after the initial 2 inches.
• So for 4 inches of snow, you would charge:
  • Base rate ($15)
  • Plus $5 x 2 extra inches = $10
  • Total = $25

This allows you to factor in the amount of work to remove heavier snowfall. Make sure to communicate clearly to customers how you charge by inch.

Charge Hourly

Charging by the hour is another pricing model to consider:

• Establish an hourly rate – For basic manual shoveling, $10-20/hour is likely reasonable depending on your experience.
• Estimate the time required per job, and quote customers the total price based on your rate.
• For example, if you estimate a driveway will take 30 minutes and your rate is $15/hour:
  • 0.5 hours x $15 per hour = $7.50 total price

The benefit of charging hourly is it accounts for the actual time and effort required per job. Just be sure your time estimates are accurate!

Consider Discounts

You may want to offer discounts and deals to attract customers and encourage repeat business:

• Returning customers – Provide a small discount like 10% off if it’s someone you’ve shoveled for before.
• Referrals – Give a discount if an existing customers refers someone new to you.
• Group rates – Offer a small discount if you shovel for multiple neighbors on the same street or cul-de-sac.
• Senior citizens – Consider giving a discount to elderly residents on a fixed income in your community.

Just make sure to factor any discounts into your overall pricing so you’re still making money. Discounts help you be a bit more competitive as a kid.

Additional Fees

Depending on the job, you may want to charge additional fees for:

• Shoveling steps – An extra $5-10 for clearing steps.
• Treating icy patches – $5-10 for applying ice melt where needed.
• Shoveling excessively heavy/wet snow – Add $5-15 when dealing with dense snow.
• Deep snow (6 inches+) – Consider charging an extra fee with each additional inch over 6 inches.

Be sure to communicate any additional fees to the customer upfront before agreeing to a job.

Accept Tips

Many customers will offer an additional tip, especially around the holidays. This can add up and help increase your overall earnings. Here are some tips for making the most of tips:

• Do an excellent job shoveling thoroughly and completely.
• Be polite and respectful when interacting with customers.
• Express appreciation if offered a tip – a simple “Thank you, I really appreciate it!” goes a long way.
• Consider doing extra gestures like shoveling steps/porch, clearing around cars, etc.

Providing great service will make customers more inclined to offer a nice tip on top of your regular fee.

Payment Methods

You’ll need to determine how customers will pay you for shoveling. Here are some options:

• Cash – Most common and simplest option. Collect payment from customer when job is complete.
• Check – Customer writes you a check for the agreed upon amount. Cash it once snow is cleared.
• Venmo/Paypal – Customers can conveniently pay through these apps. Just set up an account.
• Gift card – Customer buys you a gift card to places like restaurants, Amazon, etc.

Discuss payment method when providing a quote/estimate so there’s no confusion. Cash tends to work best for one-off shoveling jobs.

Example Pricing Table

Here’s an example pricing table you can use to summarize your snow shoveling rates:

Driveway Size	2 Inches Snow	4 Inches Snow	6+ Inches Snow
Small (1-2 cars)	$20	$30	$40
Medium (3-4 cars)	$25	$40	$50
Large (5+ cars)	$30	$50	$60

Modify the rates and increments in the table based on your specific pricing factors and local market. This gives customers an at-a-glance view of what you charge.

Market Your Services

Pricing right is only half the battle – you also need to market your snow shoveling services to get customers. Here are some tips:

• Create flyers with your pricing info and place in neighbors’ mailboxes.
• Post on community Facebook groups and Nextdoor advertising your services.
• Ask parents and friends to spread the word about your services.
• Shovel for a few houses for free after the first snowfall so neighbors can see your work.
• Offer specials like “First time customer discount!” to attract new clients.
• Go door to door on your street introducing yourself.
• Make business cards with your name, number, and pricing to hand out.

The more people know about your snow shoveling business, the more calls you’ll get when snow is forecasted!

Set Policies

Having clear policies in place helps avoid confusion and handles customer expectations. Some policies to consider:

• Booking window – Require at least 12-24 hours notice to have enough time to work them into your schedule.
• Cancellations – Charge 50% if customer cancels within 12 hours of scheduled appointment.
• Payment terms – Payment due upon completion of work.
• Refunds – No refunds once work has been completed. Address any issues promptly.
• Volume discounts – Offer 10% discount if booking 5 or more shoveling appointments.

Having clear policies makes everything smoother and minimizes miscommunication. List your policies on any advertising materials.

Track Expenses

As your business grows, make sure to track any expenses you incur so you can deduct these from your earnings. Expenses might include:

• – Cost of printing flyers, business cards, etc.
• – Fees to create a website or Nextdoor/Facebook ads
• – Equipment like shovels, ice melt, snow blower fuel/maintenance
• – Paying a friend to cover jobs when you’re unavailable
• – Mobile app fees to accept digital payments

Keeping detailed records of business expenses ensures you don’t end up paying taxes on money that went back into the business.

Consider Incorporating

If your snow shoveling business really takes off, you may want to consider forming a basic limited liability company (LLC). This better separates your business and personal assets for legal protections. Steps would include:

1. Choosing an LLC business name and registering it with the state.
2. Drafting a basic LLC operating agreement.
3. Applying for an EIN from the IRS to handle business taxes.
4. Opening a business bank account to keep company money separate.
5. Using the LLC name on advertising, contracts, etc.

Incorporating can be worth it if you plan to grow the business over multiple years. Speak with a parent or guardian for advice if considering this option.

Invest Profits Wisely

As a kid, you have a great opportunity to generate substantial income during the winter from shoveling snow. Make sure to invest any profits wisely:

• Save a portion in a savings account as an emergency fund.
• Spend a bit to buy something fun you’ve had your eye on.
• Contribute some to a Roth IRA account that can compound for decades.
• Use some for further education or experiences.
• Donate a portion to a worthy cause.

Saving and investing early sets you up for financial success down the road. So make the most of shoveling snow while you can!

Provide Excellent Service

No matter what you charge, providing excellent service is crucial. Follow these tips:

• Arrive on time and work diligently without getting distracted.
• Shovel thoroughly – don’t leave piles or missed spots.
• Clear around vehicles, steps, and walk paths.
• Offer salt/ice melt if there are slippery areas.
• Double check that service meets their expectations.
• Thank the customer and confirm interest in future service.

Building a reputation for quality work and reliability will keep customers coming back season after season.

Stay Safe

As a kid, make sure to take proper safety precautions when shoveling:

• Dress warmly in layers and cover all exposed skin.
• Take breaks to warm up if needed – don’t overdo it.
• Hydrate with water to avoid dehydration.
• Use ergonomic shoveling techniques to avoid injury.
• Stop immediately if conditions become severely icy.
• Let someone know which driveways you’ll be at in case of emergency.
• Avoid shoveling alone – recruit a sibling or friend to join.

Don’t take any unnecessary risks just to earn a few extra dollars. Know your limits and listen to your body’s signals when shoveling.

Reassess for Next Year

After each winter, take time to review your snow shoveling business and plan improvements for next year:

• Analyze which pricing strategies worked best for you.
• Think about rates – do they need to be adjusted?
• Consider ways to attract more customers.
• Look for more efficient tools/methods to save time.
• Set new business goals to continue growing.

Consistently looking for ways to improve your business each year will help set you up for ongoing snow shoveling success.

Enjoy the Experience!

As busy as running a snow shoveling business can get, remember to enjoy and take pride in the experience:

• Pat yourself on the back for your entrepreneurial skills.
• Appreciate getting to work outdoors and get exercise.
• Use it as a valuable learning experience in running a business.
• Meet new neighbors and build community connections.
• Take a sense of satisfaction in providing a helpful service.
• Have fun in the snow and embrace the wintery weather.

Growing up shoveling snow for money creates great memories and shapes your character and work ethic. So make the most of it while you can!

Conclusion

Shoveling snow can be a cold but rewarding way for kids to earn good money during the winter. Taking the time to think through your pricing strategy, marketing tactics, and customer service will ensure your snow shoveling endeavor is a successful one. Charge reasonable rates based on your local market, provide excellent service, and keep safety top of mind. Approach the opportunity with both enthusiasm and practical business smarts. Your snow shoveling earnings can give you a nice head start on savings and teach you invaluable skills for entrepreneurship down the road. So bundle up and make it a winter to remember!