If you're a business owner or landlord with a small property and plowable area, any good plowing contractor (see this blog post about how to select one) should be acceptable. If you have larger properties, several tenants, or more upscale landscaping, you'll want to consider some other criteria.
Commercial contractors will have machinery designed to remove much more substantial amounts of snow and ice. This will include "pushers" (typically on a loader, skid-steer or backhoe) that help to avoid damage to your property while saving time for the operator.
Rather than relying on storm suppliers to gain access to sand, de-icing, and other jobsite materials, the commercial contractor will often stock these products in strategic locations ahead of time. This helps to ensure that these materials are available when they're needed and that they can be applied quickly and effectively.
Commercial contractors will typically be more experienced when it comes to the various chemicals used for de-icing. This may include organic liquid treatments, calcium chloride, sodium chloride (rock salt), magnesium chloride and others. Not only do these chemicals have different melting temperatures (the lowest temperature at which they're still effective), they have different environmental impacts as well. Some products are more caustic and will likely cause damage to surrounding grasses, etch concrete, or possibly contaminate ground water during runoff.
It's also important to select a contractor who's certified by the Accredited Snow Contractors Association. The certification assures that they follow industry standards for quality and safety.
