Just Getting Started Full time

[nuzbee]

I've been cutting trees for about 15 yrs. off and on. About six months ago I started regularly on a p/t basis and made about 3,200 cash.
Within the next month I plan to go full time and get (legal). Can you tell me what steps I need to take besides getting a business license and insurance? What kind of insurance do I need and where do I get it, cost??
I have also been looking for a good used bucket truck, what's a good price & working height as far as the lift?
Can you guys give me some pointers on how to get my name out to get some bids?
Thank you all in advance for time.

The Nuzbee

 

[TREEWRK]

Can do

First thing you need insurance and don't be afraid to turn a job done if you can't handle it.Second get flyers or get cards made put them on store
bullentin boards things like that some times you have to under bid the others guys to get a job but don't do it alot it will put a hurt on you and do u have
to be certfied in your area first?

 

[TREEWRK]

more

The magazine called Arborage has used bucket trucks for u probably
55ft boom u can do most things

 

[ORclimber]

You need to find out what agency regulates tree work in your state. An insurance agent should be able to help you. I pay $130 a month for 500k liability insurance, $130 month for liability on a split dump, $115 a year for life insurance, $300 month medical for myself and 2 kids, need to finish paperwork for disability at $130 month.

I'd go with a 55'+ lift that goes over center, 10 year old used asplundh go for around $30k here. Check the treetrader, or traderonline for used equipment prices.

 

[tinman44]

anyone notice this guy hasnt even been on in almost three years? can you say old dried up post pulled from the bowls of the internet

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

anyone notice this guy hasnt even been on in almost three years? can you say old dried up post pulled from the bowls of the internet

Trewrk is new to the game and probably did a search, or looked at the links on the bottom of the page showeing "related" threads.

Comon mistake for new people, I remember the first time I did it and got flamed for not reading the post-date.

Looking down there there is a post from 2002 associated with this one.

 

[geofore]

It's not about how old the question is. Is it a question that ought to be answered? We get a lot of new guys and lurkers and they would ask this same question before they take the time to go back and read the archives of old questions. An old topic doesn't mean it should not be answered. ORclimber answered it, old as it is, it does warrant an answer. You'll have new guys "just getting started" as long as there are trees to care for. They get a heck of a jump on learning things coming here to AS. I came from the school of hard knocks and took a few knocks before I got it (right) up in the trees. If I'd had this site 30 years ago I'd not have imbarrassed myself so much out on the job back then. I'd have bought more PPE, better ropes and better equipment long before I did. I was lucky or smart enough to work with a guy that had 20+ years experience which is not that easy to find time for today. At least here there are a lot of guys with experience for peer review. You'll work safer and live longer if you take the time to read the threads here.
A lot of information that would take you years to find out on the job is here, free of accidents short of falling out of your chair. Just be careful, you can get hooked on tree care and climbing reading here and then collecting saws reading the chainsaw forum. Just remember to take it LOW and SLOW if you're new to the game.

 

[Tom D. Wilson]

i agree totally with you on that geofore, i'm just getting started in the industry, having only worked as a groundsman for a year before deciding to go back to collage to get my national diploma and tickets, and this sight is full of stuff that isn't covered on the course and also if you got a question you get input from a huge range of people with loads of different experiences which is only a good thing.