Getting started?

[ratherbclimbing]

What were the steps you guys took that have insured the success of your business? How did you start? What gear did you have? How many employees?

Thinking about getting everything ready to start my own business. I have several check and wish lists right now.

I know the basics getting a business license, insurance, proper IRS forms and that jazz.

Im looking to start a thread to see what secrets for success you guys really want to share and pass on to the next genereatio. What do you attribute your success to?

 

[treesandsurf]

If you really want it, just go for it! No matter what you're going to make mistakes, so learn from them and keep growing. Good luck!

jp

 

[islandarb]

Start small and keep your overheads low, make sure you have workers comp and liability insurance and above all insist on PPE and create good safety habits early on, leading by example. Build a very good repeat customer base and make sure to leave all yards a tad bit tidier than you found them. Form a good customer relationship. Have good maintenance schedules and follow them it will help you save money on needless repairs. Gear check. Just a few tips.

 

[frashdog]

Target your talents/skills and a niche you wish to fill. Know what your idealish clients are. You want to be special right? Or just another tree guy with a truck and chainsaw? .

Do you want to compete for trees that every swinging dong with a bucket truck can clean up and begone before you have the tree on the ground and the customers only care about cost probably not right or....target market waterfront homes and backyards where no big equipment can get too and skill is the only solution. Small trees are a niche too. Lots of people have young trees that need pruning that most tree guys do not want to deal with. Many tree guys around here do not even have handsaws and snips. Some days I can make as much money pruning small back yard trees as I would risking my life to remove a big tree every other guy wants to cut and shove into their big chippers. Go into neighborhoods with big homes and big trees, not trailer parks. Get a brochure and cards market to banks, estates, property managers ect...befriend other tree services and landscapers and builders, work with and for them. It is an evolution of continuous improvement. Know where you stand and can fit now, then know where you want to be aim and pull the trigger. It's ok to constantly adjust your sights just always have a target. Equipment and clients will come.

Learn how to sell yourself, no matter what your pushing
Take off your sunglasses, make eye contact and smile when you greet customers with a climbers hand shake, not a limp fish. Life is good and you are the party. Sounds simple right? I know of shady characters wearing sunglasses on cloudy days, winter hats on hots days (can be a sign of mental illness), not making eye contact at all during the entire sales pitch. Customers see this. When delivering the estimate step up and look solid, shake hands when deal is made.

High end pruning (big and small trees) and technical climbing removals. Good way to make decent money with out buying a bunch of equipment.

some good info for equipment here
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=317316&an=0&page=1#317316

 

[moonfarm]

Accept that the biggest myth is that you are working for yourself. You're working for everyone that hires you...

 

[actree]

Treat and speak to people the way you like to be treated and spoken to. Give honest feedback to their questions. Don't do any work without a signed contract or email confirmation. Get involved in the community. If you are interested, I would be more than happy to share some of the ways we have become involved.

 

[ratherbclimbing]

Thanks for all the replies...

And Ace any and all suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

I would love to hear from "X" anybody that can pay a ground guy what most companies around here start climbers at has got to be doing something right. Seems like you have a top notch outfit Driver. Whats your secret?

 

[AboveTheLines]

Hire Fox for $15 an hour haha.

 

[guymayor]

Good tips from ac and esp. moon--self-employment is no bed of roses. If you are with a company now, maybe finding a way to make it work better for you is a better idea than bailing.

If you want to be an arborist, you have to understand and work with the bottom half of the tree: the roots. Without that holistic focus, you are an aerial vegetation manager.

 

[whiz]

When I had my small gig in Michigan I made friends with everyone in the industry. Sometimes it blew up in my face and it hurt but I made long lasting relationships too. Some of them are strong to this day. Befriended many customers too and those relationships last also. There's not one I can't look square in the eyes.

 

[treecareinc]

[ QUOTE ]

I would love to hear from "X" anybody that can pay a ground guy what most companies around here start climbers at has got to be doing something right. Seems like you have a top notch outfit Driver. Whats your secret?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know X, but I'm sure he works his azz off. He does it every hour of everyday... For years on end... After years of working his azz and making hundreds of right decisions(One serious wrong decision can end it all)... He has seen some success... (I am guessing here, but it's an educated guess).

[ QUOTE ]
Good tips from ac and esp. moon--self-employment is no bed of roses. If you are with a company now, maybe finding a way to make it work better for you is a better idea than bailing.


[/ QUOTE ]

It took me 5 years to make a wage equal to the job I quit. There is a definite hump to get over. I am glad now I stuck it out, but at 4 years in... I wasn't very happy! I am now at 13 years and hope that I can keep it up for another 30.