Side Jobs

[Froggy]

I really need to get some extra money. I work hard during the week, but I still need extra cash. There are three local news papers here and I've posted adds in all. Saying: Experianced Tree Climber/ Tree Treimming and removals/ gave them my home and cell to get in touch with me. This way if I did get a hit on one of the adds I could talk with them one on one. There's been quite a bit of storm dammage here lately. Then this week a ice storm. Hopefully I'll get one hit off it. The only draw back is no insurance, but for side work I don't think it matters. Usually you tend to stick to cut and leave or pile some where so someone can clean up. Sort of like a climber for hire. Please give me some input on what you all do or did when you wanted side work. For now I really need to get more side jobs. Work seven days insted of five days a week. You've got to do that as a young climber to make ends meet. Plus you get good experiance.

Thanks,BB:Monkey:

 

[Treeman14]

You NEED Insurance!

What happens if you get hurt, or cause some major damage? Or, God forbid, you injure someone else?

Picture this Scenario: You're pruning a large oak by yourself. No problem, just deadwood, nothing under it that can be damaged. But while you're up there, the neighbor's kid (or even their dog) wanders over and gets nailed by a chunk of wood. Just something to think about.

 

[Greg]

In my local classified ads there is always a section for "tree service" where about 8 companies will have very small 3 line ads, they all say basically the same thing, I have always wondered if they get any work from that. I just don't see someone going to the newspaper when they think "I need a tree removed", I think they turn to the phone book. Let us know if the ads work for you.

Find some 13yr old kids in your neighbor hood and give them $20 to distribute flyers to all the homes around you. That is a very low cost way of druming up wome work on a small scale.

 

[mikecross23]

Froggy,
I think you should look into getting insured. Here in Tallahassee, I was always afraid to advertise and try to get my name out before I had insurance for fear of the law throwing the book at me. Recently I aquired a small $100,000 liablility ins. policy and have been advertising and passing cards out. I realize now after purchasing this coverage that it is really not enough, but for this first year while things are slowly picking up it will sufice. Maybe next year I'll up the amount. I pay roughly $60 a month. $60 a month definately won't break me, and it allows me to advertise and mostly have the peice of mind that if I do mess up, my @$$ is covered.

I also used to loose a lot of jobs before getting covered. "No, insurance? Well, I was looking for someone with. . ." you get the picture.

Look at the bidding jobs thread, there were a few good ideas listed there to round up work.

I feel ya man! Gettin' work is hard, especially when we are new and trying to get our names out the first time. The way I figure, give it a year or two and hopefully all of this marketing I have been investing in will spread my name, and word of mouth referals will take over!

 

[Toddppm]

Get ins. 500k min. and pass out flyers. Shouldn't be hard to fill your schedule with 1 or 2 jobs a weekend.

 

[Crispin Hoar]

Froggy What do insurance guys always ask you? Do you have a couple of names of people that could use a "review" of thier insurance. They use your name to get in the door! Do the same!!! Tell everyone you know that you want work and could they think of someone that might need tree work. Network network network. All referalls are networking to increase you work. This really helped me! I now have too much side work. I am sending the overflow to a young up and comming climber that shows promise. Wish I could send ya some.

 

[NeTree]

Froggy,
Doing tree work without the liability is a big no-no. If (god forbid) something happened, YOU would wind up footing the bill. Can you really afford to work without it? I'd hate to see you lose all you are working for because of a freak accident. No matter how careful you are, something dumb WILL happen sooner or later! (See Murphy's Law!)

I hope all goes well.

 

[heartland]

Where does one find insurance?

Guys.... do you have recommendation on companies that insure people in our business? I'm with Nationwide on my home and cars and my agent practically spewed soda thru his nose when I asked him for a quote... to make a long story short, I never got a quote.

Do we have to go thru smaller insurance companies? Any "do's" and "don't" wrt insurance? Any "gotcha's" that I need to watch out for?

If this is better suited for a new thread, let me know and I'll post it.

 

[Froggy]

Insurance

OK, as I mentioned my adds in the news paper went out. I can always go get some insurance. None say weather I have it or not. Tomarrow after work I'll look into some. If anyone has some good referals. Please let me in on it. Also could you give me a ball bark figure on a price. It's hard to pay for insurance when you are barley making ends meet and don't know how many side jobs will produce out of this. I did a few big removals last year with out it. One more question will liability cover me or just property.
Thanks, BB

 

[treeclimber165]

BB,
Liability insurance is just that: It covers any damage you may do to other's property. The policy will also include a medical liability (usually $5K minimum) for any harm to others.

Back when I had my business, $300K was the basic policy. I guess they are at $500K now. If someone asked me why I didn't have more coverage, I asked them how much their house was worth and if they thought I could completely total their $90K house with the 20" oak they wanted removed.
A good agent is more important than which company they place your policy with, I think. I found a reputable independent agent who specialized in small businesses and paid about $800 per year for $300K liability. I'd prefer dealing with a responsive local agent than some huge corporation 1500 miles away and an 800 number (screw Hartford!).

Ask other people you know in the business who they use and how they like the agent. Ask your stump guys, other tree guys you talk to and know, even your boss if you have that type of relationship with him.

Crispin gave good advice on finding work. NETWORK! TALK with people! At the last place I lived , I used to come home from work and get on my bike and cruise the neighborhood (my first year there). When I saw someone outside, I stopped to say hello and introduce myself as their new neighbor. They would eventually ask me what I did for a living and I told them. Many times they would then ask about such and such tree. Within 2 years I was doing 75% of the tree work in my neighborhood! And I didn't even try to sell much, they used me because I was their neighbor and friend. Who knows, one of your neighbors might work for an insurance agent and need some work done.

 

[Climbing mike]

There is on company that has an ad on www.treetrader.com look at insurance services. Mabey they could help


Mike

 

[Dan Flinn]

I never even considered offering my services without liability insurance. The first year, we paid about $875 for $500,000. This year, my bill is $575 for $1,000,000. (Got to have that for the commercial contract) It really pays to shop around.

I agree that you should be happy with your agent. My last agent really had no clue about what my business is. My new agent not only asked what chipper I had, but asked"which model, the 200+ or the 250xp?" That was reassuring.

Also, make sure that they put you in the right category. There is one, you just have to make the agent look. I don't log, I don't landscape, I am a tree care company!! I do tree maintenance and pruning.

Good luck!
Dan

 

[Ryan Willock]

I have a $1,000,000 liability policy and I pay $550 per year with $5,000 medical included with that.

 

[TREETX]

If he doesn't have any money or many posessions, why the insurance?? Let them sue for all he has. Can't get blood from a turnip. You can't expect top dollar w/out insurance and certain jobs you should walk away from just out of respect for the client. The risk of a log on a sprinkler is different than a log through a roof.

If you go it without, you MUST tell potential clients.

Look into it. When it was just me, I was able to get 1 million for 2 incidents w/ a $500 deductible for around $75 a month. Add employees and it gets obnoxious fast. That is some pretty cheap CYA. It will also help you get top dollar and offer a top dollar service.

.02

Fire away

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Along with the general liability, get a bunch of biz cards made up. Let people know where ever you go in your area. If the subject pops up, pull out the card. "Discount tree work! I cut it, you clean it!"

Now what happens when your boss sees your home number in the paper

 

[Froggy]

Insurance......

I'm going to get insurance tomarrow. I just don't think it's worth it going with out. Side jobs are worth the insurance. It will give me a peace of mind and the ability to do any job I want to take on. As far as the boss goes. He said go for it. He did the same when he was working for someone else. Work seven days a week instead of five. My first priority is my job and my second will be my side work. I did a few removals on the side before, but with insurance, business cards, local classified adds,and word of mouth I should be able to land some work. I really hope!! You guys are great for advice. I see why I come here all the time. It's a sure bet you'll get possitive feed back and great advice. Above all I'll gain more experiance and get closer to becoming the best all around climber I can be.
Thanks again,BB

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

So now start thinking of it as the second job, your company, instead of "side job". Form many this term diminishes the value.

Don't bid too low, or you'll be killing yourself for a few c. You have to get up and go to work the next day.

Look at ornimentals, 30 bucks for a crab or pick pruning a shrub...

 

[TREETX]

Why not find a new job if the current one is so dissatisfying. That or just go it completely alone.

Your boss will see it as a conflict of interest. Trust me here. My old boss did eventhough I went through pain staking efforts to stay away from his clients.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I know how boss' can get, mine is a jerk.

Just ask Ryan, he met him last month. Big goofy guy with a scruffy goatee.

 

[Froggy]

Reply

all I'm trying to do is make a little extra money. I love my job, I don't know where anyone would think different. am the only one who trys to work a few weekends? Thanks BB