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My DH has a plow. He "used" to do that for others but there is ALOT of liability involved so it's not as easy as most people think it is.
In my state, you must carry commercial insurance to be allowed to plow for others...even if there is no money changing hands...it's about the state requirements for vehicles.
So your family with a plow may not be able to just plow your drive if their vehicle insurance does not allow that.
Also, my DH incurred $1,000's in repairs and maintenance costs due to driveways he plowed that had loose or lifting pavement, the home owners had flower beds that had edges that protruded into the driveway or had left other items out that could be a hazard to the plow. Also placing large piles of snow in small tight driveway areas is difficult.
Personal plow trucks in my state are required to have a yellow blinking light if they back out or drive out onto ANY city street...even for just a few seconds...while in the process of plowing someone's driveway.
There is more to it but I just wanted to bring to light that there are lots of laws, reasons and restrictions that don't make it as easy as some people think it is. Because my DH does have a plow on his truck he is often asked if he could "help out" since it would be so "easy and quick" for him and when he says no (because of the restrictions) and of course gets a ton of angry people in return.
Also, it's kind of like what we do...my DH bought the plow $4000, has to do regular maintenance on it from the wear and tear of that HUGE plow hanging on the front of his truck (he had to fix the front end once @ $1500) so...
....just like there is so much more that goes into what we do as child care providers that it isn't as simple as bringing in $2 an hour per kid x's how many kids you have...it's the same for the guy who owns the plow
If it were that easy, we'd provide care for free.
If it were that easy, the plow guy would plow for free too
Have you ever offered to care for their kids for free?
In my state, you must carry commercial insurance to be allowed to plow for others...even if there is no money changing hands...it's about the state requirements for vehicles.
So your family with a plow may not be able to just plow your drive if their vehicle insurance does not allow that.
Also, my DH incurred $1,000's in repairs and maintenance costs due to driveways he plowed that had loose or lifting pavement, the home owners had flower beds that had edges that protruded into the driveway or had left other items out that could be a hazard to the plow. Also placing large piles of snow in small tight driveway areas is difficult.
Personal plow trucks in my state are required to have a yellow blinking light if they back out or drive out onto ANY city street...even for just a few seconds...while in the process of plowing someone's driveway.
There is more to it but I just wanted to bring to light that there are lots of laws, reasons and restrictions that don't make it as easy as some people think it is. Because my DH does have a plow on his truck he is often asked if he could "help out" since it would be so "easy and quick" for him and when he says no (because of the restrictions) and of course gets a ton of angry people in return.
Also, it's kind of like what we do...my DH bought the plow $4000, has to do regular maintenance on it from the wear and tear of that HUGE plow hanging on the front of his truck (he had to fix the front end once @ $1500) so...
....just like there is so much more that goes into what we do as child care providers that it isn't as simple as bringing in $2 an hour per kid x's how many kids you have...it's the same for the guy who owns the plow
If it were that easy, we'd provide care for free.
If it were that easy, the plow guy would plow for free too
Have you ever offered to care for their kids for free?
Actually, yes I do on occasion and just last week did. One of them only comes 2 days per week, so when she was on vacation one week and then missed a day the following week due to snow I did offer them a free day. I do this with my families at my discretion, they know that its not a given.
As for competing with centers (that Hope posted)… ALL of the centers here were closed due to the snow last week and will close or have delayed openings all the time for snow, I remain open but a parent will have to walk thru snow to get to my door (and they do) so I don't feel that's a "con".
HIring a sub or having someone come do it would be great but not affordable for me. I don't have to compete with many centers though. Actually most places here close, I'm one of the few that stays open. Its just an "at your own risk" thing. We go over it at the interview, at the start of winter and before the first big storm so parents are well aware. One of the dcd 's offers to shovel which is super nice of him, they are my golden family 
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