ddhlakebound
Addicted to ArboristSite
Hello to all, and many thanks for the information and advice archived here. I've done a good bit of reading here, lurking and learning. Now I want to run an idea by you all, and develop a stronger strategy.
First some background.
My partner and I have been friends forever, have a similar background, and similar interests. We both used to manage fast food restaurants. (I saw treeminator once, trying to steal some of my crew) We also both ran a chainsaw off and on for most of our lives. Almost a year ago he started work with a local company, doing r.o.w. line clearance, mostly on 7kv single or three phase. I started a week later. We were not on the same crew, but both had competent foreman. All crews were outfitted similarly, and handled all types of line clearance, back woods and front yard, ground work, bucket work, climbing tree after tree after tree (with spikes mostly) when the truck couldnt go there. Pulling overhang was a common thing, both from the bucket and climbing.
Within several months I became a proficient climber, my partner adequate or better. (I say proficient and adequate based upon my experiences there, and understand how little I knew then, and how little I still know.)
Well we ended up on a crew together, with my foreman, and things start to go downhill. With the foreman that is. We end up doing 85% of the work, and put up with his crappy attitude and being treated like slaves. Toward the end we were both 95% sure he was using meth, and could tell from one day to the next if it was an Up day, or a Down day.
We were fed up. Fed up with our foreman, our company, fed up with making $9.50 and hour, and fed up with working for someone else altogether.
So we did what most of you have done at some point. We got a business license and a cool million of liability insurance. Two weeks later we quit. Now we are two months down the road. Its just the two of us, without employees at this point, and we are gambling as we don't have work comp ins yet. We havent made a killing by any means. But we have not lost money by quitting, and are accumulating gear. And customers. But we have had to run our butts off to keep jobs lined up.
Last week we made a deal to trade half a days labor and gas for 12 weeks advertising in a local classified paper. We get a 2x2 color business card ad, and a color logo reader ad each week.
My idea is to use the weekly reader ad as sort of tree tips section for homeowners/potential customers. In my humble and limited experience it seems that many people have no idea whatsoever about proper tree care, hazard analysis, root care, root/foundation interactions, limb/roof interactions, and sometimes lack common sense altogether.
So where should I start? What issues do you all find that homeowners are the most concerned with? What topics will get the largest/quickest response?
Some tree companies around here (S.W. Missouri) advertise topping services. Should I say in print that "only dummies allow their trees to be topped"?
What are some keywords that you all have found to get good response in advertising? In general, how do we get a backlog of work? We want to be able to afford, and need crew and work comp. And a chipper. Then a box truck. Pickups and trailers are fine, but we intend to establish a more professional image.
Our gear includes 2 full sets climbing gear and ropes. 5 husky saws that roll with us, 3 less useful saws at home. jameson poles, saw head, brush hook, corona pruner, limited rigging gear (thats what we're mostly buying now) and cleanup tools. We have a free dump site. We already have a customer base for firewood. At this point we have very little overhead, no debt, and fairly reasonable personal living expenses. If we can stay busy it would not be difficult to be able to spend a couple thousand a week on equipment to grow our business.
We always think safety first. We practice proper pruning techniques. We use PPE. We refuse to top trees. All trims are done spikeless. (I think its harder, but more fun.) We show up on time for all bids and jobs. When we're done you can't tell we've been there except for the stump and occasional divot. We are well groomed, I do have long hair though. We are very polite to customers and potential clients. In time I will get my ISA certification, but I am not ready, and don't meet the 3 year requirement for Arborist yet.
So help please, how do we develop a backlog of work? All advice and responses are appreciated.
Thanks, Dean Hudson, Tree Solutions
First some background.
My partner and I have been friends forever, have a similar background, and similar interests. We both used to manage fast food restaurants. (I saw treeminator once, trying to steal some of my crew) We also both ran a chainsaw off and on for most of our lives. Almost a year ago he started work with a local company, doing r.o.w. line clearance, mostly on 7kv single or three phase. I started a week later. We were not on the same crew, but both had competent foreman. All crews were outfitted similarly, and handled all types of line clearance, back woods and front yard, ground work, bucket work, climbing tree after tree after tree (with spikes mostly) when the truck couldnt go there. Pulling overhang was a common thing, both from the bucket and climbing.
Within several months I became a proficient climber, my partner adequate or better. (I say proficient and adequate based upon my experiences there, and understand how little I knew then, and how little I still know.)
Well we ended up on a crew together, with my foreman, and things start to go downhill. With the foreman that is. We end up doing 85% of the work, and put up with his crappy attitude and being treated like slaves. Toward the end we were both 95% sure he was using meth, and could tell from one day to the next if it was an Up day, or a Down day.
We were fed up. Fed up with our foreman, our company, fed up with making $9.50 and hour, and fed up with working for someone else altogether.
So we did what most of you have done at some point. We got a business license and a cool million of liability insurance. Two weeks later we quit. Now we are two months down the road. Its just the two of us, without employees at this point, and we are gambling as we don't have work comp ins yet. We havent made a killing by any means. But we have not lost money by quitting, and are accumulating gear. And customers. But we have had to run our butts off to keep jobs lined up.
Last week we made a deal to trade half a days labor and gas for 12 weeks advertising in a local classified paper. We get a 2x2 color business card ad, and a color logo reader ad each week.
My idea is to use the weekly reader ad as sort of tree tips section for homeowners/potential customers. In my humble and limited experience it seems that many people have no idea whatsoever about proper tree care, hazard analysis, root care, root/foundation interactions, limb/roof interactions, and sometimes lack common sense altogether.
So where should I start? What issues do you all find that homeowners are the most concerned with? What topics will get the largest/quickest response?
Some tree companies around here (S.W. Missouri) advertise topping services. Should I say in print that "only dummies allow their trees to be topped"?
What are some keywords that you all have found to get good response in advertising? In general, how do we get a backlog of work? We want to be able to afford, and need crew and work comp. And a chipper. Then a box truck. Pickups and trailers are fine, but we intend to establish a more professional image.
Our gear includes 2 full sets climbing gear and ropes. 5 husky saws that roll with us, 3 less useful saws at home. jameson poles, saw head, brush hook, corona pruner, limited rigging gear (thats what we're mostly buying now) and cleanup tools. We have a free dump site. We already have a customer base for firewood. At this point we have very little overhead, no debt, and fairly reasonable personal living expenses. If we can stay busy it would not be difficult to be able to spend a couple thousand a week on equipment to grow our business.
We always think safety first. We practice proper pruning techniques. We use PPE. We refuse to top trees. All trims are done spikeless. (I think its harder, but more fun.) We show up on time for all bids and jobs. When we're done you can't tell we've been there except for the stump and occasional divot. We are well groomed, I do have long hair though. We are very polite to customers and potential clients. In time I will get my ISA certification, but I am not ready, and don't meet the 3 year requirement for Arborist yet.
So help please, how do we develop a backlog of work? All advice and responses are appreciated.
Thanks, Dean Hudson, Tree Solutions
umpkin2:
