Landscapers ?

[birddog]

I run a small lawn care service here in Massachussetts. Small because I am a full time firefighter with a rotating scedule of 2 days, 2 nights and four days off with a day of overtime in there some where. I have about fifteen accounts that keep me busy, but the money isn't that great, but OK. I started climbing trees last year during the winter months and picked up on it relatively fast and enjoyed it more. I was working with another guy who seemed to be undercharging and paying me peanuts($10per/hr). I decided to do some investigating and training on my own and discovered that this market is quite profitable with relatively low overhead and with my schedule it would be more profitable.

Without rambling on, how many, if any, of you guys were previous landscapers and saw the light ?

Also, at this time I have landscapers insurance and my insurance agent told me that as long as the tree work does not exceed 1/3 of my total income I'm covered. Is this suitable insurance for the customer to see ?

And finally, is it mandatory for tree workers to be certified or is it only for someone specializing in tree care i.e. fertilizing, pruning and planting ? I know it differs from state to state, but in general.

 

[Toddppm]

We do lawn , landscape + tree service. We make just as much doing Landscaping as in tree work! You're right about the lawn work, it sucks but pays the bills.
You need to get a new insurance agent immediately, unless you are doing only small trees <25 ft. or something like that you are not covered. The customer probably won't know the difference but one accident and you're gone cause you won't have coverage.
Anyone working with trees can call themself an arborist, some states like MD have laws that if you're doing trim work you have to be licensed by the state.
Good luck, read through the threads , you'll find a ton of stuff.
Gotta love those FD hours

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Our insurance has us go off the billing reciepts and claim a percentage of each type of work. So if 1/3 of the work is landscaping, 2/3s is tree work, that's how the workers comp. is broken down. Then sales and office personel are different too. Liability is just a minor thing a few hundred a year.

Having a landscaping background is a plus for several reasons.

 

[Goin]

In Denver, you have to obtain a tree license to perform tree work. The criteria for the license is: pass a written test, pass a practical test and keep a current copy of liability and work comp insurance on file in their office. The cost of the license is only twenty five dollars.

If they catch you working without a license, they give you a warning the first time and make you leave the jobsite. The second time they call the police and have your equip. impounded. I know this by personal experience(a long time ago tho).

This is the rule for five major cities in the denver area.

 

[sonny]

hear in cal. the landscaper comercal lanscape trade make much more $ than the tree trade.but then that is now. there is no more tree trade out hear.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Your agnt knows how the policy is writen. Just go through it to make shure that ehre are no hight limitations that Todd mentions.

You as a sole proprietor sole employee probibly do not need W/C, just liability. If you start doing removals and other work that could cause large dollar damages them make sure you have enough. I carry a mil. for 32k inprojected annual reciepts for Tree trimming, removal and cleanup. Costs me under $900 per year.

Licensing for tree work changes from state to stete, town to town. Some areas you need multiple lic. Here in S/E WI you need nothing.

When I was in KC last week they were ticketing people for no Lic and not wearing propeer PPE. "Whaduhya mean I gotta wear a hardhat?"

 

[DDM]

My Agent found a high risk company that covers the tree work as wel1 as landscaping it cost me about 100.00 my a yr.than just lawn mowing seems like it would be a lot more.I cary 1mill Liability. I have licenses in 4
local cities you would think we would need a county license too but suprisingly no. Yes I still mow lawns And your right theres alot more money in trees O BTW >Money can grow on trees< or well be harvested i guess.and soon i'll probably give up
the lawn mower.

Later,
David

 

[sgreanbeans]

we do both and a few assorted ather things, we carry a mil worth plus we have to have million dollar bond for each city we are liscensed in

 

[treeboy]

Over here in the uk you need £5 mill liability insurance to work about £300/year thats on a tree climbig turn over of abt £50-60k