Thoughts about 2010

[sharkfin12us]

Just wanted to get some opinions and the new year to come.2009 was not as bad as i thought it was going to be.Im working 300 to 400 hundred dollars cheaper on jobs then i have in the past but was able to make ends meet.Things have slowed as is normal for january.Just hoping will pick up in march.I purchased used truck and financed it so that has added 1000 to my monthly bills.Febuary bills paid for half of march thats it.I get anszy when i have time to think.Im hoping 2008 was bad 2009 was not as bad as i thought hope 2010 will be much better any thoughts thanks.

 

[mndlawn]

Ya, I'm hoping 2010 will be a good year, and I think it will. We grew last year so I can't complain. It is a little slow right now, but thats normal.

 

[mckeetree]

My gut tells me the first two quarters of 2010 will be pretty slow. I hope I am wrong.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

We're working the heck out of our newly formatted client data base program and it doesn't seem like this year is going to start out with a bang. I'm watching every penny and considering all options, career-wise.

 

[treesquirrel]

As is normal for me I will see a surge in biz when tax refunds come in then a drop for a while and hopefully steady after that.

 

[mckeetree]

We're working the heck out of our newly formatted client data base program and it doesn't seem like this year is going to start out with a bang. I'm watching every penny and considering all options, career-wise.

What kind of program are you using? Considering options here as well. This business ain't what it used to be.

 

[groundsmgr]

I sure hope it is better. getting tired of putting things that i realy should do on the back burner.

 

[MattB]

It's been tough this year. Storms and rain have caused me to postpone more work than it has created. I've started doing more advertising to bring in business but with less work and thinner margins it's a bit of a balancing act.

I'm hoping some of the stimulus money will translate into help for small businesses, getting loans for equipment has been impossible.

 

[WSTREE]

Here in michigan pick up truck guys are giving work away. Even customers who normally would not hire a non insured company are now. The problem is prices go down faser than they come back.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

What kind of program are you using? Considering options here as well. This business ain't what it used to be.

The program is: Mail List V 4.0.1.0 by Avanquest Publishing USA, Inc.

It came in the "Smart Business Pack" available at Office Max.

It's pretty bare-basic, but considering I worked off of scraps of paper and my proposal sheets, before, it's a great improvement. It does allow you to do split-second sorts by any field you have included in your entries. So you can arrange by Last Name, Zip Code, last date of work for client, etc.

 

[Live Oak]

Here in michigan pick up truck guys are giving work away. Even customers who normally would not hire a non insured company are now. The problem is prices go down faser than they come back.

Yes that's true but they will weed themselves out. The companies that do good service & business 4 there customers will stand through these times.

 

[WSTREE]

thats true chris but aren't you hearing ridiculously low prices? if someone pays $500 for a $1,500 tree this year how much do you think they expect to pay for a similar tree next year? just because they can't get a hold of the $500 guy they still think is's a $500 tree.

 

[Mikecutstrees]

I'm hoping for a good year here. We have some "new" equipment and are looking forward to staying busy and making some money. Last fall was very good with the bucket and dingo and we hope to continue that trend. We have a little work now in jan/feb to do. Not today though because it's snowing pretty good. It was warm last week and impossible to get on most lawns. Looking forward to doing some work...... Mike

 

[Live Oak]

winter brings out the worst pricing. money is difficult 2 come by, so people work 4 nothing. Ash borer brought with it everyone & their mother's brother into the biz. I've been watching this 4 5 years now & i honestly believe this season we will see a change. stay confident in your pricing;keep your head up & shoulders back. let someone else lose their :censored: on the job & walk away smiling. works 4 me.

 

[sharkfin12us]

prices

winter brings out the worst pricing. money is difficult 2 come by, so people work 4 nothing. Ash borer brought with it everyone & their mother's brother into the biz. I've been watching this 4 5 years now & i honestly believe this season we will see a change. stay confident in your pricing;keep your head up & shoulders back. let someone else lose their :censored: on the job & walk away smiling. works 4 me.

I did an estimate for eastern cottonwood tuesday i looked at the tree for awhile and i try to give the lowest price that i can do it for.When you have been doing tree work for a decent amount of time you just know especially medium tree or smaller are easier because you know almost 95% how long it will take its the big trees that usually are a little more difficult.This tree i thought was 550 in decent times but i could do it for 450 which is what i did it for removing the tree base was about 2 foot or less top not alot of branches any way i told the customer and he said to me can we talk price i informed him that was the price and reason why workmans comp liability and rest he said he would probably do it and got back to me that night with a yes.Those people doing ridiculously low prices will realize slowly or fast they need to adjust.We have all screwed up in the begining pricing jobs.Experience for me i can say now i feel confident about my prices.Im not the lowest and not the highest i consider my prices reasonable.Depends on the area you are in too.Im not in a rich area and not making profit just surviving and paying my bills.I would not even want to bother with that tree if i went lower and the guy doing it lower will learn of fade out.

 

[Golf]

Talking about Rate. What is the rate for a 2 man crew per hour on job nowaday? When I left commercial tree work 7 years, the rate here in Toronto, was between 100 to 150 per hour for a 2 man crew in the high season. I also realize that certain areas there are certain rate.