Where do we (you/I) go from here?

[Sunrise Guy]

I'm getting very close to throwing in the towel. I don't care what is being said on the news. I know, very well, that our economy is limping along and may take another nosedive within the next year. Tree care is NOT a big priority to most, when everyone is worrying about their own incomes.

My question: If you were going to start up another business, what would that business be, based on where you feel there is a need out there that is not being met? Obviously we can all joke around on this, and, hey, that's cool with me, as long as some of you can come up with some business pursuits you honestly think may be the next "big thing."

Thanks, in advance. Hopefully business will pick up and I'll get out of my funk.

 

[Blakesmaster]

I'm getting very close to throwing in the towel. I don't care what is being said on the news. I know, very well, that our economy is limping along and may take another nosedive within the next year. Tree care is NOT a big priority to most, when everyone is worrying about their own incomes.

My question: If you were going to start up another business, what would that business be, based on where you feel there is a need out there that is not being met? Obviously we can all joke around on this, and, hey, that's cool with me, as long as some of you can come up with some business pursuits you honestly think may be the next "big thing."

Thanks, in advance. Hopefully business will pick up and I'll get out of my funk.

Bankruptcy attorney?

 

[pdqdl]

That takes at least 4 years of planning. Good idea, though.

Particularly for someone with first hand experience. I think I will be ready for that by spring.

 

[RVALUE]

So in your case, you don't want spring to come early.

 

[treeman82]

If I was mechanically inclined, I'd probably be looking into a small mechanic shop. I mean it's VERY hard to find a good mechanic. Odds are I'd already have a bunch of tools, shop space, and knowledge.

 

[ozzy42]

Auto repair ,if you have the tools and knowledge.
People are holding on to their cars longer.
They all gonna need fixin sooner or later.

 

[TreEmergencyB]

thought about buying into a office cleaning franchise..i mean from doing tree work to cleaning offices...sounds like easy money to me

 

[woodchux]

Pawnshop / gun dealer

 

[tree md]

 

[lxt]

Wow sunrise...hang in there!!

Ive heard selling domain names is the new big thing??? honestly I wouldnt know what to start & imagine all the College grads that will be looking for work here in 4-5 months!

sooner or later its got to turn around...hopefully sooner!

Hey ask the Govt. for a bail out, all joking aside a buddy of mine (home builder) has 4 employees for chits & giggles writes in asking for such due to very bad economical times.......they sent him grant funding info, he applied & got like $3500-$5000........not much but helped!

LXT.................

 

[jefflovstrom]

Yeah!, Hang in there!,
Jeff

 

[pdqdl]

Nice backup plan, tree md !

That will work nicely as an add-on to the existing business, and it allows for day & night shifts. Advertising slogan: "I trim ALL trees or bushes, regardless of difficulty or location".

You could even give tax deductible receipts for trimming whatever bushes that required servicing.


Question: will you be offering senior citizen discounts ?

 

[tree md]

Nice backup plan, tree md !

That will work nicely as an add-on to the existing business, and it allows for day & night shifts. Advertising slogan: "I trim ALL trees or bushes, regardless of difficulty or location".

You could even give tax deductible receipts for trimming whatever bushes that required servicing.


Question: will you be offering senior citizen discounts ?

I was gonna say keep a cougar on deck for a backup plan but at my age that's just gross! :hmm3grin2orange:

Hang in there guys, Prosperity is just around the corner...

 

[Tree Pig]

Someone rep him for me I cant and that cracked me up.

 

[Tree Pig]

Sunrise with your credentials couldnt you find a job with a municipality or a college or something. Tree workers are a dime a dozen but certified to your level are not that common. I would think someone would pick you up that would give you a half decent dependable income.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

Bankruptcy attorney?

Funny you should say that. One of my best friends is just that, in Chicago. He's currently carrying thirty cases at once.

Another one of my best buddies is on the other side, as actually in bankruptcy, as in busted, right now, in FL. I'm heading down to see him, Tuesday. We're going to see what we can come up with when it comes to new business ideas. This is a guy who has been on the cover of Money Magazine and Chicago Real Estate, back when he lived there. He flipped million dollar condos, two at a time. To see him now is going to be very odd. I can still remember cruising down Michigan Avenue in his convertible XKE with the top down and the stereo blaring. He dated a PB centerfold gal for two years. We used to rocket along the lake in his Cigarette. He had it all and now----???

These are tough times, my brothers and sisters, and I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel, at this point.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

Sunrise with your credentials couldnt you find a job with a municipality or a college or something. Tree workers are a dime a dozen but certified to your level are not that common. I would think someone would pick you up that would give you a half decent dependable income.

I was hired by one of the big boys a few years back, during a lull in my biz. Just after that, I got a ton of business rolling in and turned down starting the gig with the company that had hired me. Now they won't even take my application. Yeah, that bridge is burned.

I have tried the city, state and county listings, but not much is available. An urban forester job was posted, and I thought my chances were good until the final page of the online app. It asked if I had done at least three years with a municipality. As soon as I answered "No," my app was instantly rejected. It's the old Catch 22 crap. If you've been self-employed from the start, like me, some jobs just aren't open to you.

I am hoping that the calls come back, but these days I can sit around the office and NEVER hear the phone ring, from 8-5. Almost unbelievable.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

thought about buying into a office cleaning franchise..i mean from doing tree work to cleaning offices...sounds like easy money to me

I looked into the whole franchise trip, and decided I didn't need them to start another business. I actually considered the janitorial/office cleaning route, but I like being at home, at night, with the gf, too much to do that. I did clean restaurants from MN-5AM, in college, and then grab an hour of sleep to get up at 6AM and clean K-Marts from 6-8AM. Then I went to class. I was a zombie for a year. I did like the work, though. Driving a cab, night shift, in Chicago, was my favorite gig, as a kid. Here in Austin, cab driving is terrible. I tried it when I first got down here in '78, and it was way too boring. Chicago was an adventure, though. The stories I could tell----

 

[RVALUE]

I was hired by one of the big boys a few years back, during a lull in my biz. Just after that, I got a ton of business rolling in and turned down starting the gig with the company that had hired me. Now they won't even take my application. Yeah, that bridge is burned.

I have tried the city, state and county listings, but not much is available. An urban forester job was posted, and I thought my chances were good until the final page of the online app. It asked if I had done at least three years with a municipality. As soon as I answered "No," my app was instantly rejected. It's the old Catch 22 crap. If you've been self-employed from the start, like me, some jobs just aren't open to you.

I am hoping that the calls come back, but these days I can sit around the office and NEVER hear the phone ring, from 8-5. Almost unbelievable.

I've seen it so slow, you call your own phone to see if it's working.

 

[oldirty]

I've seen it so slow, you call your own phone to see if it's working.

are you a tree guy? do you climb? why are homeowners posting in the commercial tree forum?