Advice for Beginner (sort of)

[ADruery]

Hello all I am new to this forum.

I am looking to move forward with starting my own arborist business in the next year.

I have quite a lot of experience felling, limbing, and bucking tress working for my local parks department. But I am hoping to get into climbing since there doesn't seem to be a lot of local people who do that.

I am taking a class in October that will certify me for climbing.

What I would like to know is if I could get some advice about how much all of the gear will cost since I have basically none of it right now.

Also, I know that brand loyalty can sway many opinions, but I would like to know everyone's view points on the best top-handled in-tree saws.

I'm looking to slowly work my way into this business, so what does everyone think are the most important items to get first, aside from saws and safety gear?

Thanks so much!

Aaron

 

[Zale]

First thing I would do is get insurance. That way, when you start breaking stuff its covered. Budget $2-3k to get started on gear and saws.

 

[sac-climber]

This is a tough biz to break into and do properly without a large capital investment.

What's your budget? That would allow us to point you in a better direction as far as prioritizing purchase.

 

[ADruery]

I'm hoping to keep the initial investments under $5,000.

I am thinking of starting off with advertising for storm damage cleanup and pruning; using that to get a foot in the local market, which has a metro area of about 300,000.

Thanks.

 

[jefflovstrom]

I'm hoping to keep the initial investments under $5,000.

I am thinking of starting off with advertising for storm damage cleanup and pruning; using that to get a foot in the local market, which has a metro area of about 300,000.

Thanks.

Really? Do you want ketchup on your Spam?
Jeff

 

[KenJax Tree]

Mustard

 

[EcoTreeCo]

Get ready. It's not easy on the cheap. Buy what you can, rent what you must. Don't get cheap with your saws or PPE. Always be looking for sensible upgrades. Advertising is more expensive than insurance. Do good work and have your clients tell their friends. Referrals and repeat customers are you bread and butter.
There is a learning curve to bidding jobs. It's expected that you'll under cut other legitimate tree services some as you learn and grow, but don't keep that up. This is an expensive service we provide. It dangerous and it costs to have it done safely and correctly. Don't cut the throat of your competition. Stand out in the crowd. Be the best, and you'll do fine.

 

[sac-climber]

I'm hoping to keep the initial investments under $5,000.

I am thinking of starting off with advertising for storm damage cleanup and pruning; using that to get a foot in the local market, which has a metro area of about 300,000.

Thanks.

I was hoping you we're going to say something more like 20-30k....

What's you plan for hauling debris, at your budget a chipper or decent trailer are out? 5k is gonna get you ropes and a couple saws, more or less. Are you working alone? I think you'll find you won't want to do much storm work by yourself.

The bottom line is that this is a highly technical, expensive, and complicated field to just bust into with minimal planning and investment. I think you need to write up a real business plan. I'm not discounting your experience, I'm concerned that you want to do storm work on a 5k budget.

 

[jefflovstrom]

5K is gas money.
Jeff

 

[yarightdawg]

Serve the Lord with gladness is my suggestion , to starting a business

 

[chevybob]

If you have no experience actually working for a tree company then starting your own is definitely a very bad idea. No offense.

 

[pro94lt]

Honestly man don't think you can just throw 5k and start doing storm clean up and make it. If you want to be a Craigslist king and work all day for 100$ then dive in. If you're serious go drag brush for 2 years then work your way up learning climbing report back here and tell us how you like work. I'm small got one 2 man crew I've probably got over 100k invested. 5k in my opinion might cover chainsaws with no chains. I've seen to many local guys try and start off with a saw or 2 and a ladder always ends like this

 

[jefflovstrom]

He obviously was a spammer or FTA,,,
Jeff

 

[Pelorus]

I would think long and hard before giving up a job with a Parks Dept to transform into the non-profit embittered physical / mental wreck I have become.
You looked into getting disability insurance for your upcoming career change? Liability insurance to cover tree removal / pruning operations?
How much coin do you reckon you are gonna have left from that 5K?
I think $5000 would outfit you pretty good if you wanted to start a window cleaning business.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Spam

 

[Pelorus]

Eunice and Aaron are in cahoots?
One loves to climb rocks and the other wants to climb trees.
I sense harmony.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Mustard

Hot dog

 

[yarightdawg]

Keep your job, do your own thing on the side you can be more selective on jobs you are comfortable and able to handle, you can carve out a little niche for yourself but it's rough. Old equip breaking down in middle of a job, having to rent equip, take it slow

 

[ADruery]

No spam, I'm a real person. Haha.

I don't know who Eunice is but she sounds a little out of my age range.

Thanks to all of you for your insight. I should have been more clear in my op that I plan on keeping my job and doing selective work on the side, and going from there, as yarightdawg has just suggested.

It was good for me to hear your sobering insights on the field, though. There are certainly a few things I need to rethink.

For now I will write a business plan as sac-climber suggested.
In the meantime I've purchased a Dolmar 7910, already own a Stihl ms 180 ( not much to it, I know), and am now looking for a good-quality-for-the-money in tree top handle saw. Any advice? I have a very good local dealer that sells Echo (and Stihl, but they are so pricey), but have heard many say that Echo doesn't cut the mustard when it comes to commercial duty work?

Thanks.

 

[sac-climber]

Just get a 192, it will do all you need.