What are the "must haves" for a NEW tree care service?

[newsawtooth]

Marketing

Marketing on the inter-nets is not realistic for most small operators. It is complex and unless you have the skills you have to pay someone to build a good site, for SEO optimization, maintenance, and site content. The prices I was quoted were 4 of 5 grand and then yearly and monthly maintenance fees for a site that was as stripped and utilitarian as possible. Most business for tree companies comes from referrals, prepare for some lean years before you stop hemorrhaging money.

 

[BC WetCoast]

Now that's a town I can get behind. Have you guys been staying busy? Looking forward to the Olympics? I wish they would let me immigrate, alas I have no skills that you guys are short on. I get up around 15 stories without a belay and I am useless.

We're steady but not rocking. Some of our younger guys are getting short weeks.

Everything around here is Olympics stupid. The anti-Oly people tale pride in finding projects that are a dime over budget or how deadbeats will be forced to move around. The paranoids are worried about traffic. And everyone else is getting ready for a big party.

The key to immigrating is to be a refugee, or claim refugee status.

 

[ForTheArborist]

It all pays you back if you are living a good honest life and not trying to rip people off or living the life of a lush or overly self important.

Just my 02

I copied that whole post, and saved it in a file somewhere in my computer for some day when I'm fuddling around in there for some inspiration.

TreeVet's post was a good one.

There are tricks to the web that have to be utilized. That is how I'm seeing it. It goes beyond just having an official website. I'm going to do all of the testing on this theory personally before I start blathering about how good it is though.

TreeVet, what do you mean about taking it on the road? Does that mean going outside of your region to take on big jobs for weeks at a time? If that's it, how do you get your team on the list of companies to appraise jobs like that? I can't imagine any other way except good advertising online and word of mouth. I just couldn't see those forms of ads as being the finger for touching that kind of business out there.

Yeah, I definitely have to say equipment and a team to put into the equipment is the only way otherwise WTH would you do with all of those years besides picketing for beer? I had not estimated the power of the equity thing for buying power. Edge of town? That is where I'll do some checking.

NewSawTooth, lean years is my middle name. If you can't take this pain, you can't make the big name.

 

[treevet]

Thanks for the kind words.....What did I mean by taking it on the road? I meant it is time to move your family, your business to a lucrative location.

People get stuck in a comfort zone and don't take chances sometimes.

I have said this before...Sam Kinneson used to say to the starving people of India...."Move where the food is (think Sam screaming lol)".

If you gonna complain about cheap clients and hacks and no work and getting paid too little, move to the big money area and sell your wares. They are used to paying more when they take their Beemers and Benzes in etc. They just want the top dawg and are willing to pay for it.

 

[ForTheArborist]

They just want the top dawg and are willing to pay for it.

Lucrative

 

[crashagn]

Thanks for the advice. I've got some ideas to work on now.

After this thread, I want to go get a cert. for climbing and rigging. I hadn't really thought much of it before until now. The biggest trees I'm taking on are 90ft palm trees.

Used to be a member of this site i think called Ekka. I remember him making some really good videos of his work taking down palm tree's. I havent seen him post for a long while but iam sure he would have some insite

 

[timberwolf tree]

NOT A GOOD TIME TO START A BUSINESS

WORK FOR SOMEONE UNTIL WE GET OUT OF THIS ECONOMIC DISASTER

I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE YOU WANTED BUT GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT

THIS IS THE WORST YEAR I HAVE HAD IN 10

 

[ForTheArborist]

Crashagan, I'll check out that site.

TW Tree, I think you're right about this economy.

This is my business knowledge about tough economies or market disruptions. When it the shik hits the fan, everyone starts running a little faster and ducking for cover to stay in business or they don't. Some keep it together even if they don't make adjustments. Some fall out of business. I don't think it is tough enough to fall out of business yet, but the thing is to start thinking small if it does get tough. If you can minimize even your personal expenses, and cut costs here and there in the company's logistics and such, you are going to remain a competiter with those that can't do this. Those that can't down size it all from the personal life style back up to the overhead costs will not get the hires, and the consequences are inevitable.

The thing is that if you manage it all right through the tough spell, when it's all over, you will be one of the few left in your market in your region. As one of the few, you will be in high demand. This is your opportunity to expand, and consume major percentages of the market if that is what your desire. You might be able to bolster up the outfit enough to earn a cut for the next three years that might let you retire. Maybe not that much, but you could pocket the majority of the sale profit of the business, and out fit yourself just enough to keep a small, part time opperation just for your health and assured income instead of retiring. I'm sure there's options we've never heard of.

That is not what I've done, but that is a rational theory.

Me myself am fascinated with business not just the work in the business. I live very inexpensively in order to assure my certain climb to being well off. I'm going to stick it out, and be a DIY die hard. Then again, I kind of want to join someone else's crew for a while, take orders, and take a get a look at another skipper's play book so to speak. Paid education.

 

[BC WetCoast]

Crashagan, I'll check out that site.

TW Tree, I think you're right about this economy.

This is my business knowledge about tough economies or market disruptions. When it the shik hits the fan, everyone starts running a little faster and ducking for cover to stay in business or they don't. Some keep it together even if they don't make adjustments. Some fall out of business. I don't think it is tough enough to fall out of business yet, but the thing is to start thinking small if it does get tough. If you can minimize even your personal expenses, and cut costs here and there in the company's logistics and such, you are going to remain a competiter with those that can't do this. Those that can't down size it all from the personal life style back up to the overhead costs will not get the hires, and the consequences are inevitable.

The thing is that if you manage it all right through the tough spell, when it's all over, you will be one of the few left in your market in your region. As one of the few, you will be in high demand. This is your opportunity to expand, and consume major percentages of the market if that is what your desire. You might be able to bolster up the outfit enough to earn a cut for the next three years that might let you retire. Maybe not that much, but you could pocket the majority of the sale profit of the business, and out fit yourself just enough to keep a small, part time opperation just for your health and assured income instead of retiring. I'm sure there's options we've never heard of.
.

As you may have figured out, there is a very low barrier of entry into this profession/business. Therefore, there will be a very very small window of opportunity between the time when the economy turns around and "Two Crackheads and a Pickup" start up again.

Selling a tree company is a legitimate exit strategy, but remember the majority of the value of your company is in the goodwill, client list and trained employees. Equipment has little value especially if you are selling to one of the larger companies, because they probably have better stuff that they can get cheaper due to volume discounts. So if this is your exit strategy, it behooves you to build up the company name as a perveyor of quality service and upgrade your client list.

 

[ForTheArborist]

It's called a "key start business."

Upgrading the clients is likely the only resolution.

 

[arbor pro]

It's called a "key start business."

Upgrading the clients is likely the only resolution.

Do you mean a "turn key business"?

 

[ForTheArborist]

Do you mean a "turn key business"?

Heh, yeah. Of course.

 

[BC WetCoast]

Heh, yeah. Of course.

No, its not. A turn key business is like a franchise where all you have to do is turn the key and you're up and running. This is just an industry with a very low barrier to entry.

If a tree service was required to have someone on staff who was certified/trades qualified/journeyman/registered (pick your description) then the barrier to entry would be much higher.

 

[BlackenedTimber]

ForTheAction...

I am not sure where to start.

I think depending too heavily on the net to generate sales will dissapoint, and potential bankrupt you. When I started, I got 1000 business cards from staples. I think they were 65 bucks. When I completed a job, I asked the customer if I could leave them a couple of extra cards, should a neighbor, relative, or friend require my services. In many cases, I would soon get a phone call... "I got your card from..." and the new client would already have a level of comfort with my business and abilities, as they were directly referred to me from someone that they trusted. Word of mouth is about the most powerful advertising you will find. If you do quality work at fair prices, and follow the tenets of Legal, Moral, and Ethical in everything you do, the work will find you, not the other way around.

I also think that having a certain amount of business savvy is a necessity, but more so is the ability to complete the job in a professional manner, even though you back hurts, or the chipper blew a hydraulic line, or the truck got a flat, or the saw threw a chain, or your groundie got pissed off and walked, or whatever... Tree work is for strong people, and by that I mean Mentally, Physically, and Emotionally.

If your looking to make a nice lump of cash, sell off your accounts and equipment, and live off the profits, you may be let down in your endeavor. You really need to L-O-V-E sawchips in your pockets, pine pitch stuck to your forearms, and the constant threat of the wolves outside the door. Even with the best business model and effective advertising, nothing is guaranteed, certainly not in the tree biz. Yeah, I've got some shiny toys, some yellow iron, and a roof over my head, but I doubt I will ever ascend beyond the middle class, and I am OK with that. I am a young man, and my back is a wreck, both of my shoulders are garbage, I have fractured my sternum, and sometimes my left knee bothers me... It's a price you pay when you make your living holding a chainsaw 24/7/365.

Now, I dont know you, and I am not sure of your intentions, so I won't bash you for what might be considered flippant comments earlier in the thread. I will say that you are atleast taking a step in the right direction by getting involved with AS. Beyond that, I think getting some certs is another good avenue. There are members on AS that have many many years of knowledge and expertise, and I would value their input highly.

So what do you NEED to start a tree company:
Insurance
Money
Knowledge
Equipment
Determination
Not necessarily in that order.

Best of luck, and stay safe.

T

 

[ropensaddle]

Deep very deep pockets is required to successfully enter the biz, run forest run :rant:

 

[tree MDS]

Deep very deep pockets is required to successfully enter the biz, run forest run :rant:

Not really true rope...about 17K and a person could set themselves up pretty good. thats assuming they can climb - and I mean really climb, not internet climb. This is where putting your time in pays off in my opinion.

 

[ropensaddle]

Not really true rope...about 17K and a person could set themselves up pretty good. thats assuming they can climb - and I mean really climb, not internet climb. This is where putting your time in pays off in my opinion.

Then comes bucket, then a few years later grapple truck, stumper, skid steer and on and on then you bid against younger bucks entering the biz with 17k pricing back in the sixties, oh well; something for you to look forward to

 

[tree MDS]

Then comes bucket, then a few years later grapple truck, stumper, skid steer and on and on then you bid against younger bucks entering the biz with 17k pricing back in the sixties, oh well; something for you to look forward to

Thats why we need that stuff rope, to whip up said young buck, and still make a good day rate. I figure if we keep buying/learning/getting better he'll never catch up. Heck I've always taken down whatever comes my way, but every year the trees STILL get bigger, and my jobs are bigger, but get done faster and more efficient. This game really aint for the complacent...I've seen whats become of the guys that were major players when I was coming up, and let my just say they should just get out at this point.

Well, most of em anyways.