Surviving your first year in business is a challenge no matter which field you’re in. During that short twelve-month stint, most entrepreneurs come across all manner of challenges. The fact is that going wrong this early in the game can undo your efforts irrelevant of what you’re trying to do.

In some fields, though, that first-year hurdle is even harder to get right. Consider, for instance, a business which is based outside. What happens when winter rolls around? Too often, failure to consider this can freeze the success you found during those summer months. This applies to anything from gardening to window cleaning. Here, though, we’re going to look how you can get through your first winter with a construction company.

Say that you started up in the new year, and received your first commissions during March and April. By then, the weather was changing, and the frosts had thawed. Now, though, you’re looking down the barrel of at least five months of cold weather. That’s frightening, and you could find yourself snowed under by next spring. The good news is, there are steps you can take to make sure it doesn’t happen, and we’re going to look at them here.

Get picky about the jobs you take

At this stage, being picky with jobs may seem like the last thing you want to do. But, it could be the thing which saves you. You don’t have to turn work down outright. But, if a client wants you to build something up high in the middle of December, it may be worth postponing the work. Things only get colder the higher up your team go. As such, agreeing to jobs like these in the coldest months of the year is never a good idea. Instead, schedule indoor jobs, or at least work which allows your team to stay down on the ground.

Reinforce health and safety

It also pays to rethink your health and safety going into winter. This is something you should already be on top of to some extent. Every building site needs safety procedures and personal fall protection equipment at all times. But, these things become more pressing than ever in icy and cold conditions. Falls on building sites are far more likely during icy weather. Account for that by investing in even more safety equipment. Think, too, about increasing the number of breaks you offer. These will help you to avoid cold-related health problems.

Consider reducing work hours

It may also be worth shifting your work hours during the cold season. Working first thing in the morning and late into the night should be a no-go at this time of year. Instead, you may need to quote clients for work which starts mid-morning and ends before the sun sets. These reduced days aren’t ideal, but your team would be unable to work either side of this slot anyway. By explaining this to clients and allowing longer periods for jobs, your business shouldn’t suffer as a result.