Surviving The Winter Months

[TomCat1]

Hey All,
I've been doing tree work for a long while, and just got around to starting my own service. Business is a'boomin right now... but as it is getting later in the year... I find myself thinking about the coming Winter months. This will be our first rainy season.

Now granted, I'm in California, SF Bay Area region, so the extremes aren't too bad. Mostly just the rain we have to deal with. But just the same, customers are not usually thinking about having trees done in Winter unless they're worried about something falling on their home.

Guess I'm mostly fishing for advice on how best to keep my new business afloat until business picks up again in the Spring. My experience is predominantly with the actual work, very little concerning the business end. We are learning that as we go.

Thoughts on this appreciated,
~Tom

 

[Mikecutstrees]

I give a little discount in the winter which helps. I try to defer people in no rush untill the winter and I put away some money for a month of no work. To that end I sell firewood this time of year which is extra money which I save for the winter. Good luck, some winters are worse than others..... Mike

 

[BC WetCoast]

We do a lot of cedar and laurel hedges in the winter.

 

[TomCat1]

Deferring non-urgent jobs is something we were considering for when the time comes. Discounting is an idea worth trying.

Unfortunately we do not have much of a yard... storing firewood is not an option for us at this time. That would be a good Winter income.
Some day.

I appreciate the posts!
~Tom

 

[treeman75]

Try to pay everything up or save money, easier said than done sometimes! Live a little cheaper cut back on going out and buy cheaper beer! I always find a way to keep the bills payed.

 

[BC WetCoast]

Deferring non-urgent jobs is something we were considering for when the time comes. Discounting is an idea worth trying.

Unfortunately we do not have much of a yard... storing firewood is not an option for us at this time. That would be a good Winter income.
Some day.

I appreciate the posts!
~Tom

Is there a firewood market in the SF area?

 

[Ambull]

Is there a firewood market in the SF area?

Until the economy improves, there should be a good firewood market just about everywhere.

 

[TomCat1]

Is there a firewood market in the SF area?

Most definitely. We're actually located in the East Bay Area, across from SF. I have a long list of people wanting firewood. But since I have no place to split and store it... we just give it away. Un-split and cut to length. Saves on dump fees though.

 

[TomCat1]

Try to pay everything up or save money, easier said than done sometimes! Live a little cheaper cut back on going out and buy cheaper beer! I always find a way to keep the bills payed.

I'm sure that will be the case. Just getting the jitters I guess.

 

[Rftreeman]

15% of weekly gross income to savings helps also.....then ya got a little bit to fall back on..

 

[beowulf343]

This is why most of the small outfits around here do more than just treework. Snowplowing in the winter is popular here (though that doesn't help you much.) But i know several outfits that do custom hauling or dump truck hauling to get them through the slow months. One tree guy i know has contracts for three different villages to do their christmas lighting and another guy who does sign installation over the slow months.

 

[TomCat1]

I'm just a stupid ex-utility line clearance Hack that knows nothing so I say..."Don't Top it-Just Drop it"

Love that...
I spent 7 years, way back in the day, with Davey Tree line clearance division.
Who'd you do your time with RF?

 

[Rftreeman]

Love that...
I spent 7 years, way back in the day, with Davey Tree line clearance division.
Who'd you do your time with RF?

I have time with Davey, Asplundh and Nelson..

 

[treeclimber101]

I cut the prices and hustle to get and retain work around christmas , everyone does it even big stores have some crazy sales from time to time , you won't make money, you'll turn money on one hand and out the other real quick , but the plus is people still see the trucks on a regular basis and thats great advertising it also reminds them that tree season is still open ....Good Luck