Snow plowing is the one facility service where a vague agreement can shut down your business. When a storm hits at 3 AM, what matters is what the contract says about when the plow shows up, not what somebody promised over the phone in September.
The first thing to define is the trigger: the snowfall depth at which plowing starts automatically, commonly two inches for commercial lots. Then response time: how long after the trigger, or after the snow stops, the lot will be cleared. And completion time: the lot should be open and safe before your business opens, which for most properties means an early-morning commitment.
Salting and de-icing should be spelled out separately. Some contracts plow only and salt on request; others include pre-treatment before a storm and salting after. For retail, medical, and any property with public foot traffic, sidewalks and entrances matter as much as the lot, so include them explicitly.
Finally, agree on where the snow goes. Piles that block stalls, cover ADA spaces, or bury fire hydrants create problems that last all winter. A walkthrough of the lot before the season, marking snow storage areas and any obstacles, prevents most of them. Book early: plow routes fill up by late fall, and the best operators are committed before the first storm.