ok so do i really need to be certified to climb in this busness?

[voxac30dude]

Im kinda breakin off from the tree business i was working for and starting my own tree business and wondering do i need to be certified under the ISA to even work for myself? Am i allowed to work for private residence legally? commercial?

 

[treeseer]

Good questions--be legal--check with state and local regs re insurance etc etc.

Im kinda breakin off from the tree business i was working

Before you kinda burn all your bridges to your boss to a crisp, consider the benefits of regular employment vs. all the responsibilities of being the boss.

They are many and neverending! hone: :angrysoapbox:

 

[BlackenedTimber]

I am not certified and I climb all the time. However, depending on where you live/work there may be certain state and local regs that prohibit that sorta thing. I would check on that if I were you. You may not be able to take on certain projects (state/municipal/etc) if you are not certified, depending on the entities you are dealing with.

Also, like Treeseer said, being regularly employed has it's positive side. Like a paycheck. There's alot that goes into having a successful business, mostly dedication and personal sacrifice. If you are down with that, and willing to take on the exposure of being literally out on a limb with no one to pay your bills but you, by all means go for it.

Also Also, I say it all the time, but I mean it: AS is a wealth of knowledge, and I would encourage you to read all the threads you can and learn from all of the wonderfully knowledgable people on this site. There is a wealth of information here, and we are all constantly improving our game based on the experience and observations of other members on ArboristSite.

Being your own boss is an incredible thing, if you can make it work.

Good luck,

T

 

[Saw Dust Smoken]

own biz

Insurance is a must. Most asked question. Some city or towns require yo to be certified arborist to be bonded. Fee paid [once a year] to work in their city limits. You can work uncertified but will miss out on some sweet jobs. Just my 2cents.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

As soon as I got certified, the level of complexity of the jobs I took on increased, as people contacted me with trickier tree problems. The whole scene got more interesting, and municipal gigs, that I was cut off from, pre-certification, came my way. As others posted, check out the rules and regulations in your area, but know that certification does open doors, in many cases, but not all. Good luck!

 

[fishercat]

if you have a good employer stay there.

if you want to go on your won,knock yourself out.when you get to the point you need help you will find out how valuable that job with a good boss was.

 

[outofmytree]

Im kinda breakin off from the tree business i was working for and starting my own tree business and wondering do i need to be certified under the ISA to even work for myself? Am i allowed to work for private residence legally? commercial?

Can you stay employed and do work on the side to pay for your gear a piece at a time? Running your own show is like owning a house with a giant sink hole in the back yard. It will take everything you throw in and still want more. The more gear you have fully paid for before you go full time solo, the less pressure to earn you will be under.

As to training or certification, I suggest you get every piece of paper you can. You will climb better, cut better and definately sound better to your clients.

GL mate.

 

[newsawtooth]

Can you stay employed and do work on the side to pay for your gear a piece at a time? Running your own show is like owning a house with a giant sink hole in the back yard. It will take everything you throw in and still want more. The more gear you have fully paid for before you go full time solo, the less pressure to earn you will be under.

As to training or certification, I suggest you get every piece of paper you can. You will climb better, cut better and definately sound better to your clients.

GL mate.

That's exactly it. It feels like I am shoveling money into the chipper with a grain shovel sometimes. I am becoming more convinced that the GOV in the US at least, extols the virtues of small business not because they make money and hire people. But because they hemorrhage money into the economy. Of course I am a crappy business man, so my perspective is likely flawed.

 

[beowulf343]

As to training or certification, I suggest you get every piece of paper you can. You will climb better, cut better and definately sound better to your clients.

Hate to say it, but finally broke down and got my arborist certification a while ago. It didn't make me climb better, or cut better, but the homeowners seem to prefer it.

 

[Rftreeman]

Good questions--be legal--check with state and local regs re insurance etc etc.

Before you kinda burn all your bridges to your boss to a crisp, consider the benefits of regular employment vs. all the responsibilities of being the boss.

They are many and neverending! hone: :angrysoapbox:

:agree2:

 

[voxac30dude]

i know it's gonna be a long road but im hoping to take it one day at a time and hopefully in 10-20 years i have a big business with 5-8 employees and 2 trucks and a chipper and a fleet of saws and rigging gear. i know thats not gonna happen anytime soon but i sure as hell hope im a business owner to support my wife and kid/kids.

 

[zopi]

That's exactly it. It feels like I am shoveling money into the chipper with a grain shovel sometimes. I am becoming more convinced that the GOV in the US at least, extols the virtues of small business not because they make money and hire people. But because they hemorrhage money into the economy. Of course I am a crappy business man, so my perspective is likely flawed.

No..you are pretty much spot on...Used to be an optimist, but got tired of being wrong all the time...

always someone with their hand out..

 

[capetrees]

If being in business for yourselves is such a big problem and not something seemingly recommended, why are you all at the same time your own bosses? Why don't any of you work for someone else? Because at the end of the day, you take the profit as opposed to the paycheck. If it was or is so lousy, why stay in it for yourselves? I'm in it for myself and I love it. Lots of work and all at my pace. Only advise I can give is try to ease into it and always have a backup plan if things go south.

As far a certified, I'm not certified and not one of my clients have ever asked if I was. Most have no idea certification for arborists exists.

Good luck!

 

[jefflovstrom]

Depends on your client's. Easy as that.
Jeff

 

[beastmaster]

I left a really good job years ago to start my own business so I could keep all that money for my self.
Before I went into business I was making 200 a day working 6 hours. After going into business for my self I worked 10 to 16 hours a day, for every dollar I made it seemed 2 went out. It was non-stop stress, the headaches were one after another
. I know trees, but nothen about running a business. Im just saying its not as easy as it looks. I am much happier running others businesses. The truck brakes down, I go home at the end of the day, a job gets under bidded, I still get payed.
You should get cert. and anything else you can get, theres lots of competition out there and you need to be really good to stand out.
Good luck

 

[mckeetree]

As far a certified, I'm not certified and not one of my clients have ever asked if I was. Most have no idea certification for arborists exists.

It all depends on your clientele. The areas we mainly work in we get asked frequently about certification, credentials, insurance and so on as that. If I didn't have the answers a lot of those folks want to hear they would send us on our way. Of course they are plenty of spots around here they aren't going to ask for anything but I let somebody else work for them.

 

[mckeetree]

I left a really good job years ago to start my own business so I could keep all that money for my self.
Before I went into business I was making 200 a day working 6 hours. After going into business for my self I worked 10 to 16 hours a day, for every dollar I made it seemed 2 went out. It was non-stop stress, the headaches were one after another
. I know trees, but nothen about running a business. Im just saying its not as easy as it looks. I am much happier running others businesses. The truck brakes down, I go home at the end of the day, a job gets under bidded, I still get payed.
You should get cert. and anything else you can get, theres lots of competition out there and you need to be really good to stand out.
Good luck

Good post.

 

[capetrees]

Well, it finally happened.
A local landmark is looking to have trees removed from their property for a better view for an upcoming event. They are high on a hill and want the view back. They called for an estimate to remove the trees and brush in the way, not caring how they came down, drop 'em and leave 'em. Gave the price and they responded by saying they couldn't accept it if I'm not a certified arborist and I am not. WTF?! The trees are bing dropped, cut down and not trimmed or pruned. It makes no sense. Then they call and ask for a seperate price on a neighbors property, a tree is overhanging her house and she wants them to remove it. I give them a price for removing the tree and trimming other branches near her house and they accept it without a certification, the job that will need some brains on how to trim and prune correctly!!

 

[Brush Hog]

Yes, owning your own business is hard and I went back to work for someone late summer into fall and I now collect $50 a week from unemployment. I will be working for myself again in the spring. Could I have made more money on my own in the fall yes( I also do landscaping) but it cost me more in the end. The pay checks are bigger but they come less frequent(especially in this economy) when you work for yourself but your name is on the door. To me that's worth alot but don't ask my wife

 

[Dillweed]

I ran on my own for five years and grossed $250K - $300K/ year with one crew. I was miserable, slept little, drank and ??? a alot.

Now, I work for a small company and climb four hours a day for $25/hour. I am so happy. I love going to work, have fun, and sleep great. I'm smiling and laughing again.

As far as ISA certification, read the manual and you'll pass. Half the questions are from the manual, verbatim.