When winter hits and the grass stops growing, the work doesn’t stop for most landscapers. In fact, the off-season is when you can expand your service offerings.
If you’ve ever wondered “What do landscapers do in the winter?”—or you’re trying to figure out how to keep your crews working and cash flowing—you’re in the right place.
Here are the most profitable ways landscapers stay busy during the cold months, based on what thousands of Service Autopilot members do every single winter.
What landscapers do in the winter starts with revenue generation. The U.S. snow removal market generates approximately $20.8B annually, which is an opportunity you can’t afford to pass up. Snow removal services transform your seasonal business into a year-round operation while keeping your best crews employed year-round.
Commercial properties need reliable partners with documented response times. The average snow removal business generates $152,000 in annual revenue, with multi-line businesses earning approximately $435,000.
Consider offering services like:
Many landscapers use their existing crews and equipment with minimal add-ons. Even better, snow contracts create predictable winter revenue when done right.
Pro Tip! Bundle winter services into annual contracts during spring negotiations. Clients get priority scheduling and predictable pricing, while you secure guaranteed winter revenue.
The global holiday decorations market is valued at $6.8B with projections to reach $9B by 2026. This is a high-margin service with minimal equipment requirements. Businesses adding holiday light services see profit margins of 25-45%, compared to typical lawn care margins of 10-15%.
Holiday lighting has rapidly become a favorite off-season revenue stream because:
Some landscapers even turn holiday lighting into its own standalone business.
Landscapers stay busy during the winter tackling:
Plus, many landscapers offer services like winterization or winter pruning and tree services during the dormant winter season to promote healthier spring growth.
These small but steady services keep revenue flowing until spring prep begins.
Preventive maintenance during winter prevents spring breakdowns when you need equipment most. What landscapers do in the winter for equipment care directly impacts peak-season productivity.
Schedule professional servicing for complex equipment during off-peak periods when shops offer better rates and faster turnaround.
Consider strategic equipment purchases during winter when dealers compete for sales. Research options now, negotiate aggressively, and time delivery for early spring readiness.
Depending on your climate, you can still book:
Even in cold regions, many landscapers switch to indoor work such as:
Winter becomes a natural extension of your existing skill set.
One of the most profitable winter activities Service Autopilot members do is selling early-season prepay programs:
Clients get a discount. You get cash in the slowest season of the year.
What landscapers do in the winter to strengthen their workforce creates competitive advantages that last all year. With 84% of landscaping businesses reporting labor challenges, use slower periods to build skills, improve systems, and reduce turnover.
Create standard operating procedures for recurring tasks. Document processes while you have time to think clearly, then train teams before spring chaos begins. Only 37% of landscaping companies have documented recruiting and retention strategies, giving you a significant advantage when you invest in workforce development.
Review your scheduling and routing systems. Identify inefficiencies from last season and implement solutions now. Service Autopilot's optimization tools help you analyze historical data to build better routes and maximize crew productivity.
Winter provides uninterrupted time for high-value planning that gets overlooked during peak season. With the landscaping industry valued at $188B in 2025 and growing 5.8% annually, what landscapers do in the winter for strategic planning sets the foundation for breakthrough growth.
Conduct competitive analysis while you have mental bandwidth. Mystery shop competitors, analyze their service offerings, and identify gaps in your market.
Update your business plan with realistic projections. Banks and investors take winter planning seriously when you're seeking growth capital.
Winter presents unique opportunities to deepen client relationships when your competitors are silent. What landscapers do in the winter to nurture client connections determines spring contract renewal rates.
Track all client interactions through your CRM system. Document preferences, concerns, and upcoming needs so your spring proposals hit the mark.
What landscapers do in the winter for marketing determines spring lead quality and volume. Build momentum now so you're fully booked when competitors start scrambling.
Create email sequences for different client segments. Residential clients need different messaging than commercial property managers.
Invest in professional photography of your best work. Quality visuals dramatically improve conversion rates across all marketing channels.
Technology improvements during winter compound benefits throughout the year. What landscapers do in the winter to streamline operations eliminates countless headaches during busy months.
Service Autopilot transforms operational chaos into systematic efficiency. Automate repetitive tasks, optimize crew schedules, and gain real-time visibility across your entire operation.
Clean up your client database. Remove duplicates, update contact information, and segment lists for targeted marketing campaigns. winter planning seriously when you're seeking growth capital.
Instant invoicing
Better scheduling
Manage your clients and employees all in one system
Successful landscapers recruit year-round, not just when they're desperate for help. With 25% of landscaping companies experiencing retention rates of 69% or less, what landscapers do in the winter for workforce planning prevents spring staffing emergencies.
Create compelling job descriptions that highlight career growth opportunities, not just task lists. Great candidates want to know their future with your company.
Develop clear compensation structures that reward performance and loyalty. Average landscaping wages have increased 11.6% annually from 2017 to 2022, making competitive pay essential for retention. Document expectations, advancement paths, and earning potential.
Yes—most offer snow removal, holiday lighting, winter cleanups, or hardscaping.
The most profitable winter services are snow removal, holiday lighting, storm cleanup, and selling early-season packages.
Absolutely. Many owners stabilize winter payroll by adding seasonal contracts, lighting installs, and winter maintenance.
Yes. Winter is when many owners analyze their job costs and update pricing before spring rush.
What landscapers do in the winter separates industry leaders from seasonal survivors. Successful companies use winter strategically to build operational excellence and competitive advantages.
The landscapers who treat winter as strategic preparation time consistently outperform those who simply wait for spring. Your winter decisions create summer profitability.
Turn your winter into a revenue-building season. Streamline snow routes, automate renewals, and prep for spring—all inside Service Autopilot. Book a demo!
Related: How to Get More Landscaping Jobs: Tips for Success
Originally published Nov 25, 2025 7:00 AM
Tags: Business Operations, Featured Post
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