protecting myself when bidding jobs.

[treeninja49]

Starting up some of my own Insured residential tree work and need to learn some basics on the business side in regards to the quote/contract stuff. Apologies for the dumb questions....

What is the current best practice for protecting myself here ? I plan on sending free estimates either verbally or through quickbooks/jobber then once agreed upon I give them a written quote electronically from quickbooks/or jobber. and an invoice from the same software when complete. But do any of these serve as a contract of any sort that protects me from games customers could play? How should I be thinking about this or approaching this? Is there a step I am missing?

Thanks !

 

[ClimberBusinessman]

Get a contract with all the proper terms that you need to include. Then include a section in the contract toward the top of it, and list exactly the services you are going to do for that customer, for instance:

• Prune sugar maple tree located to the left of house, removing dead branches 2" in diameter and larger, and 3 branches over roof. Haul branches away for disposal.
• Remove the dying Colorado Blue Spruce tree located in backyard. Tree will be cut down to stump level (approx. 3-8" from ground level), and stump left in place (no stump grinding). Haul logs/branches away for disposal.

Total Price: $XXXX plus sales tax ($XXXX total).

If you provide it in person, have them and you sign it, but if you email it, have them respond to the email with their name and approval. Tell them "Below is the contract. To approve it, just respond to this email with your name and approval". Ideally you get an actual digital signature like Docusign or something similar, but email approval is better than nothing. You might wish to talk to a business attorney so you can get a specific contract for your state.