Most landscaping contractors earn 70-80% of their annual revenue between April and October. That leaves 3-5 months where the crew sits idle, the truck stays parked, and the bills keep coming. Off-season landscaping revenue doesn't have to mean hibernating -- it means adding services your existing customers already need.

The Quick Answer

Here are 5 winter services landscaping contractors can add to stay profitable in the off-season:

Snow plowing: $45-160 per visit, $300-1,000 for seasonal contracts
Holiday lighting installation: $300-900 per project, $2-10+ per linear foot
Roof snow removal: $200-3,000 per visit depending on size and pitch
Tree and shrub winterization: $45 minimum, $50-100 per hour labor
De-icing and salting: $20-50 per application as an add-on

Contractors who offer multiple winter services average around $435,000 per year in total revenue. That's a meaningful jump from what maintenance-only operators earn. Here's how each service works.

Snow Plowing and Removal

Snow and ice management is the most established off-season service. The U.S. snow removal market runs $20.8 billion annually, and about 40% of landscaping companies already offer it. If you're not in it, you're leaving market share on the table.

Residential driveways run $45-160 per visit. Seasonal contracts (flat monthly fee regardless of snow events) average $300-1,000 for a residential property. Commercial lots pay $150-600 per visit, with monthly contracts from $500-2,000+.

The equipment investment is real -- a truck plow setup runs $3,000-7,000. But once you're set up, the per-job cost is low and customers tend to sign annual contracts that smooth your cash flow all winter.

Holiday Lighting Installation

This one surprises a lot of contractors. Holiday lighting earns 25-45% profit margins -- two to four times what standard lawn care generates. The average project runs $300-900, and if you supply the lights yourself (better option), you bill $2-10+ per linear foot.

The timing works well. Installation happens in November before the holidays, takedown happens in January. That's exactly when your mowing schedule is empty.

Start with existing customers. Send a simple email or text in October: "We're offering holiday light installation this year. Interested?" You'll be surprised how many say yes just because you're already someone they trust.

Roof Snow Removal

Ice dams and heavy snow loads cause thousands of dollars in structural damage. Homeowners in snow-heavy regions need this service and few contractors offer it. That means less competition and higher pricing.

Rates run from $200 for a simple flat-roof residential job to $3,000 for steep-slope or large commercial work. You need the right safety equipment and a steep-roof protocol, but the jobs are fast and the margins are strong.

This service works best as an emergency add-on. After a major storm, homeowners are desperate and willing to pay premium rates. Having a pre-built offer ready -- and a text list to send it to -- lets you capture those calls before competitors do.

Tree and Shrub Winterization

Wrapping burlap around evergreens, staking young trees, applying anti-desiccant spray to protect shrubs from wind burn -- this is straightforward work that takes 30-60 minutes per property and bills at $50-100 per hour.

Most contractors set a $45-75 minimum per stop. Bundled with a fall cleanup visit, it adds $75-200 to the ticket with almost no extra drive time. It's easy to present: "While we're here for the fall cleanup, want us to wrap those arborvitae before the frost?"

De-Icing and Salting

Salting is almost always an add-on to snow plowing, not a standalone service. Charge $20-50 per application per visit. On a $75 plow job, that's a 27-67% ticket bump for 5 minutes of work.

If you're plowing, always offer salting. It reduces slip-and-fall liability for the property owner and the repeat application keeps you on property more often. Some operators separate the salting invoice so customers see the value -- it also makes the upsell feel more premium.

How to Sell These Services to Existing Customers

Don't wait for customers to ask. Most won't. Send a one-page "Winter Services Menu" to your entire customer list in October. Keep it simple: list the service, a price range, and a way to book. Email and text both work.

The pitch is easy because trust is already built. You're not a stranger -- you're the person who's been keeping their lawn looking good all summer. That's the advantage maintenance contractors have over standalone snow crews. Use it.

Bottom Line

Off-season doesn't have to mean no season. Snow removal, holiday lighting, winterization, and de-icing all use your existing relationships, your existing truck, and your existing crew. You don't need a new business -- just a winter menu.

If you want to capture winter service leads faster with an instant quote tool on your site, try QuoteSnap for free. It takes 5 minutes to set up and lets customers get a price estimate before they even call you.

Off-Season Landscaping Revenue: 5 Winter Services Worth $500+ Per Job (2026)