As winter hits, landscaping and lawn mowing businesses may fear a steep drop in jobs. After all, grass doesn’t thrive under snow or ice. To sustain or grow your business throughout the year, you must prepare for winter weather and market yourself as a four-season business. To maintain a successful company throughout Missouri’s winter, you should also prioritize insurance for lawn mowing business operations.
Diversifying Services for Winter Revenue
As you prepare for the winter season, brainstorm different services you could offer throughout the winter. For example, many people need snow plowing and ice management services to help clear driveways, private roads, and corporate parking lots.
Consider landscaping projects you can perform during winter. For example, adding ornamental grasses can help you create a winter garden. Instead of dying in the winter, it becomes dormant, standing straight and turning a straw color. Patio landscaping and mulch installation can also occur during the colder months.
In addition to landscaping, consider offering holiday lighting services. Many people need help with their holiday displays, and you can capitalize on that demand by ensuring safe and efficient lighting installations.
To offer winter services, start marketing in the summer and fall when people are searching for lawn care to make people aware of what you have to offer.
Managing a Seasonal Workforce
To maintain your staff, you may have to cross-train them. Training for winter services will allow you to keep many of your permanent employees throughout the year. Make sure you offer enough training and preparation for snow-related tasks. If you have seasonal employees, you may need to hire a winter staff or offer flexible hours throughout the winter.
Insurance Considerations for Winter Operations
All small businesses need adequate insurance to protect them against various liabilities. As you begin offering more winter services, review your current insurance policies to ensure the proper coverage. For instance, your typical lawn mowing liabilities may differ from those of stringing holiday lights. Whereas mowing a lawn could accidentally cause a rock to shatter a window, holiday lights can cause electrical and fire damage.
Identify any gaps within your insurance for the lawn mowing business, and update it for winter services. Not only do you need general liability coverage, but you should also consider property insurance, equipment breakdown coverage, and commercial auto. If you have employees, workers’ compensation will help cover work-related injuries or illnesses. Independent lawn mowing insurance should be tailored to your business.
Implement new safety measures to help avoid injuries and reduce liability risks. All winter staff members should have proper training on safety equipment and gear.
Embrace Winter Landscaping and Protect Yourself With Insurance for the Lawn Mowing Business
As you begin offering more winter services, you should proactively plan so your company can adapt to the cold season. Before you start offering new services, contact us for a free quote. Our insurance professionals will help you find tailored coverage.
About Sine Insurance
At Sine Insurance Group, we are dedicated to providing you with custom-tailored insurance policies to protect your assets. Our comprehensive packages have been expertly crafted to serve St. Louis and the surrounding areas for the past 25 years. For more information about our products, contact us today at (855) 700-0889.