For a lot of trades, work slows when the weather turns. The bills do not. The contractors who get through winter comfortably usually start planning in October, while the phone is still ringing.
Collect everything you are owed first
The fastest cash you have is money from jobs you already finished. Go through every open invoice and follow up now. A slow January is a lot less stressful when October and November were paid in full.
Call your past customers
The people who already hired you are your best leads. A short text — "Booking winter work now, anything on your list?" — reaches people who already trust you. Interior repairs, maintenance, and small projects they put off all summer are good winter work.
Offer work that fits the season
- Indoor projects. Painting, trim, flooring, fixtures, and repairs that do not depend on weather.
- Seasonal checks. Heating, gutters, pipes, and anything that breaks in the cold.
- Spring bookings. Take deposits now for spring jobs to lock in the date and bring in cash.
Take deposits on future work
A deposit for a spring project does two things: it holds the customer's spot, and it puts money in your account during the slow months. Be clear about what the deposit covers and when the work starts.
Use the downtime for the business
Update your rates, clean up your templates, and get your year-end records ready. When spring hits, you want to spend your time on jobs, not paperwork. EZ Invoices lets you take deposits on Pro and Business plans and keeps every open invoice in one list so you know exactly what to follow up on.
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