How's the work flow?

[evo]

How flows the work for you folks? I'm slower than I can remember in 10 years. I'd like to blame the greater economic situation but must admit my enthusiasm for the biz is down in the last few years. Don't think that's helping. More tree companies in my area and less trees. I saw this coming but didn't really do anything, back to street fighter mode I guess! a few months ago I decided to be rid of any clients that were the least bit troublesome and now there's not many left

I’ve gone from a 3-5 month backlog to weeks. Glad I don’t have a lot of payments for the business, but kinda worried

 

[data farm 26]

I’ve gone from a 3-5 month backlog to weeks. Glad I don’t have a lot of payments for the business, but kinda worried

Same here, no payments thankfully but already dialing back the lifestyle a bit, just in case.

 

[Merle Nelson]

Same, from 6 to 8 weeks out since Covid, even though I would have liked to be only 2 weeks out, to now current and shy of work. I will start calling clients which I prefer not to do.

And most of my work is with moneyed clients. People are on edge.

 

[data farm 26]

will start calling clients which I prefer not to do.

I'm in the same boat, time to see what I can shake out.

Pretty much everyone I work for is also moneyed. I guess they've been watching their stocks go down and skipping the tree work.

 

[Mick Dempsey!]

Dying on its arse.

 

[VenasNursery]

Definitely slower than the last 6 years but staying steady struggling to stay 3-4 weeks out and phone is not ringing like it should be even with more advertising than ever.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

Same. Overall economy is broken in our area, esp post Helene, and everyone and their cousin started a tree company after the storm. Calls are more essential hazard mitigation for middle class folks rather than maintenance / restoration prunes for the wealthy.

 

[Matias]

Man, this is only adding to my survivors guilt. I just got hired a month ago and told that they continue to be booked 6-8 weeks out, and I just had to turn down two side jobs this week because they were time sensitive and I am just too busy. I have never been so flush with work.

I do live deep in trump country, and I hear lots of people talking about how this is just momentary, and things are gonna be great again soon, so I hope that they just continue spending money like it doesn't matter. We'll see.

 

[data farm 26]

Don't feel guilty, bro! Feast! While you can

 

[Serf Life]

We're plump, but always stressed that it won't continue.

 

[Matias]

We're plump, but always stressed that it won't continue.

It's always easier to tell someone else than to remind yourself, but you can't do much about other people's tomorrows. Just gotta keep at your today. Glad to hear you're still cruisin'

 

[oceans]

We’re pretty busy. Schedule is penciled out 8 weeks but still doing a fair amount of estimates on top of it. We’re coastal, and there’s definitely a mixed political basket for whatever that’s worth. I’m feeling like taking the @levi r approach and steer just to the stuff I really want to do. Unfortunately that’s quite a wide range of activities!

 

[cory]

8 weeks is rad. I usually hated being out more than 6 weeks bc so many things often change by the time you get to those who have waited 2 months. Plus, most people won't wait that long ime.

 

[macrocarpa]

Slower than normal for this time of year. Almost caught up on my spring PHC, and by this time a lot more pruning and planting has usually trickled in. I’m starting to worry people aren’t spending money on trees right now and other companies might be bidding lower than normal?

I’ve got some irons in the fire that hopefully shake out. Usually the first couple weeks of warm weather when everything starts leafing out, the phone is ringing like crazy.

 

[oceans]

Slower than normal for this time of year. Almost caught up on my spring PHC, and by this time a lot more pruning and planting has usually trickled in. I’m starting to worry people aren’t spending money on trees right now and other companies might be bidding lower than normal?

I’ve got some irons in the fire that hopefully shake out. Usually the first couple weeks of warm weather when everything starts leafing out, the phone is ringing like crazy.

Like you say, weather warms up and the phone rings. This Winter was mostly chiseling away at the back log but then late March/early April we were back to looking at lots of new work.

It all shows the best business strategy is to store away in busy times to prepare for the lean times. More easily said than done! I’ve always got small repairs or little modifications on the list. In Winter I always say I’ll clean all the equipment nicely in Spring and then suddenly it’s Winter again!

 

[southsoundtree]

Too busy to get to bids quickly.

17 years in the same market.

Haven't heard back from 2 bids from previous customers that I thought I'd hear something, but both are larger, elective jobs without a pressing time frame.

 

[macrocarpa]

Some stuff has already trickled in this morning. I think I’m usually about 5 weeks backlogged this time of year and I’m probably 2 maybe 3 weeks right now. People seem to need a little extra persuasion this season which I’m not good at. Hopefully it’s just a slow start and things shape up for everybody!

 

[oceans]

I believe COVID ignited a lot of new start up companies around here. Legit and on the level outfits or not, I don’t really know but I have seen more and more little temporary road signs and lettered up pickup trucks than before.

 

[evo]

I believe COVID ignited a lot of new start up companies around here. Legit and on the level outfits or not, I don’t really know but I have seen more and more little temporary road signs and lettered up pickup trucks that I before.

Same here, that and a good number of folks left companies and started their own gigs. Legit or not we are at the saturation point. Not a time for equipment payments in my area

 

[southsoundtree]

If I could find a competent "right hand", I'd upgrade equipment and start to advertise (currently all word of mouth new, hyperlocal, customers along with lots of stable, repeat customers).