I am looking to get started in the business. I have 100,000 cash to invest and need all the help and pointers you can offer. I have taken classes on tree climbing, chain saw safety and have read many books on trees. I have always been interested in the business but never have the opportunity to get started now I have the money and am thinking about giving it a shot what do I spend my money on?? I am located in a Philadelphia suburb. And need advice on every thing from what equipment to just how to get my business started and how to make it successful
lookin to get started
- Thread starter cphily21
- Start date
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Mr_Brushcutter
ArboristSite Operative
Business plan.
Insurance.
State arborist licence (if required).
Would be the big three things to get sorted before looking at buying any equipment.
Insurance.
State arborist licence (if required).
Would be the big three things to get sorted before looking at buying any equipment.
RandyS
ArboristSite Member
Business courses can't hurt and more courses on trees and safety.
How good are you at dealing with customers? Maybe a course on public speaking or something that will help in dealing with them. Being able to talk to a customer confidently and knowledgeably is a big thing.
Talk to the local SCORE chapter, they're retired executives that would love to help you.
Maybe working for someone else would be a great thing for a while.
You're local town hall might have some answers on what licenses you need.
Good luck and let us know how you're making out.
How good are you at dealing with customers? Maybe a course on public speaking or something that will help in dealing with them. Being able to talk to a customer confidently and knowledgeably is a big thing.
Talk to the local SCORE chapter, they're retired executives that would love to help you.
Maybe working for someone else would be a great thing for a while.
You're local town hall might have some answers on what licenses you need.
Good luck and let us know how you're making out.
darkstar
ArboristSite Guru
no
Dont do it start another buisness.:deadhorse:
Dont do it start another buisness.:deadhorse:
Mr_Brushcutter
ArboristSite Operative
TreeCo said:
Very true are you after removals, formal pruning, restoration, forestry and land clearance? Going to grind your own stumps or sub it out? Do you have a place to get rid of wood and/or chips?
BlueRidgeMark
Addicted to ArboristSite
cphily21 said:
RandyS said:
I'm not in the tree business, but I'd say this is good advice for ANY line of business. It's not a franchise - you can't just buy in and go. You have to learn how before you can run a business. Unless the tree business is very unlike the rest of the world, you won't learn how just by taking some classes. That will get you a knowledge foundation, but it won't teach you the business.
Mr_Brushcutter
ArboristSite Operative
After insurance your next big expense is going to be a truck stump grinder and a chipper. One local guy gives away his chips and logs to a local environmental charity and the local council despite owning his own land to dump on.cphily21 said:
As for gear you'll need:
PPE-chainsaw trousers, helmets, gloves, boots and maybe sleves too.
2 full sets of climbing gear - one for you and one for resuce
Spikes-for removals only.
Rigging gear
Chainsaws
Aproved fueling equipment
Pruning equipments- loppers secatures handsaws, long reach pruners, pruning knife.
Clean up gear- blower, rakes-lawn and earth, brooms etc
1I'dJak
ArboristSite Operative
hey man... i'm planning on starting my own show too... but slowly...I'm working for a company now...i'm learing how to climb (unfortunately i'm teaching myself to spurless climb), how to feel confindent when high up and perform... how to operated chipper and how to service it.... how to back up a chip truck and chipper down a driveway, how to estimate...how to do things and how not to...i think this approach is best...plus i've accumulated gear thru working too...cutting pants, helmetandmuffs, lanyard, secateers, ascender etc...i'm educating myself...plus i can see that where i'm working is not the place to start cuz there' s lots of competition...these are important things to know...but this is just my opinion and i know diddley
1I'dJak
ArboristSite Operative
yup...i was going to school and needed some work... i'm a small town boy and have worked in the woods for a long time so a i figured i'd fone the tree service companies... it was fall which is a busy time here in victoria....suprisingly i got several calls back.... started as a groundsman, feeding the chipper and trimming hedges (which really sucks but is a big part of the work here)... then the boss asked if i wanted to climb... i said yes... then he sent me up a 30' cedar tree overhanging a building for removal...there was a bus stop right by and people always stare at a man up a tree with a saw...so i've been at it less then a year, i've been as high as almost 200'...much of what i've learned i've learned on the spo... and now unlearning... i think most companies here use spurs unless its an gary oak tree (which you'll get fined for spiking up)... i didn't know any different about spurring up trees till i started reading some literature and visiting this website...
1I'dJak
ArboristSite Operative
we'll i'm in canada... i think i started at 12/hr...mind you it was part time for cash... i think a competent ground worker here gets 15/hr, climbers get 18-25/hr...i know my boss keeps saying its best to be small or big... small less costs... big, economies of scale... he's middlin so he says he gets screwed... but that could be our tax system... and i think he does alright...but i know he has a hard time getting good groundsman and keeping them which sucks... my eventual plan is to just have a small show... me and a buddy....pay well, even perhaps a percentage...i could be dreaming but i like that idea... i've done piece work in the forest and percentage out fishing.... keeps you happy and the day goes quick... i just sometimes our boss pushes to get jobs done... plunks in my hand when the day's almost over and says, this is just a small one...take just an hour, which it mostly doesn't...and that makes the crew crabby (plus we don't get overtime) but if someome was getting a % then it would be worth their time to push it a bit...spread the love... keep the crew happy...then they stay, then you've got a tight team...but what do i know!
legendrider
ArboristSite Operative
business
if your planning to go out on your own, why would you want to start working on the ground for somone else. i was assuming you were adept at climbing allready being that you were going solo? how are your Tree ID skills, pest knowlegdge etc. there are so many truck options out there, chippers you will get many opinions on. I like the bandit 250xp basic truck chevy 4500 with chip box. i cannot offer any opinon on grinders because i havnt used enough to gather an opinon.
if your planning to go out on your own, why would you want to start working on the ground for somone else. i was assuming you were adept at climbing allready being that you were going solo? how are your Tree ID skills, pest knowlegdge etc. there are so many truck options out there, chippers you will get many opinions on. I like the bandit 250xp basic truck chevy 4500 with chip box. i cannot offer any opinon on grinders because i havnt used enough to gather an opinon.
legendrider
ArboristSite Operative
liscense
i dont think you need a liscence in Pa if you are going to apply pesticides you will need an applicators liscence
i dont think you need a liscence in Pa if you are going to apply pesticides you will need an applicators liscence
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