Asphalt fails from water. A hairline crack lets water in, the water freezes and expands, the crack widens, and by spring you have a pothole where there was a line last fall. Wisconsin's dozens of freeze-thaw cycles each winter make this the single biggest cause of parking lot damage, and the single easiest to prevent.
Start with crack filling. Every crack wider than a pencil should be cleaned out and sealed with hot-pour rubberized filler before temperatures drop. Potholes and alligatored areas need patching, not just filling. This is the work that actually extends the life of the pavement.
Sealcoating goes on next, ideally when daytime temperatures are still above fifty degrees and there's no rain in the forecast for a day. It protects the asphalt from water, UV, and oil, and it gives the lot a uniform dark surface that makes fresh striping stand out.
Striping last. Fresh lines, fire-lane markings, and ADA-compliant accessible stalls with proper access aisles and signage aren't just about appearance; faded or missing ADA markings are a liability. Once the lot is sealed and striped, put it on a sweeping schedule and lock in a snow plowing contract before the first storm, when everyone else is calling.