Going from part time to full time

Thanks guys for all your input here. It brings a clearer reality to my situation. I do most customer com via email and was planning a fall tree work special to my past clients, free soil samples for any booking, do you think it's prudent?
 
It's prudent if you remember to sell paying work! The whole point of offering free anything is to get in front of and SELL to prospective clients!!!!

Have fun!
 
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I do most customer com via email and was planning a fall tree work special to my past clients, free soil samples for any booking, do you think it's prudent?

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What's a free soil sample? Are you giving a little box of dirt to each customer?

In the likely case that you mean a free soil analysis, you'd be better off building racing cars out of dog sh*t to hand your customer's kids. As a promotion, it is lunatic and insane, and they will probably hate you for it . . . but that is a hell of a lot easier to deal with than having to hate yourself if you make that ridiculous offer. After five people take you up on it, you'll wish you were in a box of dirt.

Save the soil analysis for the real work of high-end PHC, and only when you really need it. I can make four hundred dollars doing quality pruning in less time than it takes to make sixty bucks profit on a soil analysis. If you really need a promotion, offer them 5% - 10% off something. You'll be sorry you did, but you can live with that.
 
Join local business organizations. They will expand your network and "salesforce". Im a member of Letip which is an international organization and probably has chapters in your region.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What's a free soil sample? Are you giving a little box of dirt to each customer?

In the likely case that you mean a free soil analysis, you'd be better off building racing cars out of dog sh*t to hand your customer's kids. As a promotion, it is lunatic and insane, and they will probably hate you for it . . . but that is a hell of a lot easier to deal with than having to hate yourself if you make that ridiculous offer. After five people take you up on it, you'll wish you were in a box of dirt.

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Awesome post!
 
Tom, my story was to illustrate that no matter what business one is in they are still in business. Fundamentals come first, success naturally follows. Enjoying whatever VEHICLE is to that end is a secondary benefit. No matter how much you enjoy or are passionate about something you will be a failure in business if you think you can overcome the fundamental rules of the marketplace. I should know I spent fifteen years chasing my passion in the restaurant world before becoming an Arborist. We are all exchanging time and skill for money, let's make sure that we are sqeezing the most from it daily or you are definately selling yourself and your loved ones short. Don't feel sorry for my friend he is not only the wealthiest person I know but he leads one of the most fulfilling and inspiring lives of anyone I have ever met. I learn from him every time we speak I hope that anyone who reads this has someone like that in their own personal universe. Try and see the world through that lens and only good things will come from it.
 
I don't want to derail this thread, but if I hated trees and working with them, I wouldn't be in this business. Perhaps your friend hating paint is the equivalent to a tree business owner being afraid of heights, but not actually hating trees or tree work. Your friend probably loves the process of the whole business, just hates the paint itself, I get it. It just came across a little odd, that's all.

-Tom
 
It's called the "E-Myth". Michael Gerber wrote a book about it. The main idea as quoted from the new version, "The E-Myth Revisited", is:

"The E-Myth, or Entrepreneurial Myth, says that most new businesses are not started by entrepreneurs who set out to build a strong business but by technicians who enjoy the hands-on work themselves. Because of that natural bias, most business owners focus on working in their business when really they should be working on their business."


Probably a good book to read and follow when making the transition from part time to full time business!
 
Best move I made was two years ago. I stopped trying to run my business from the tree, hung up the saddle and started running my business like an owner instead of a climber. At this rate I may one day actually get paid!! :)
 
New Jersey, its been a while. I got and read the E Myth book, also go a web site started. I am kicking off the full time business in three weeks. Thanks for the earlier suggestions, to you and the others. mark
 
[ QUOTE ]
It's called the "E-Myth". Michael Gerber wrote a book about it. The main idea as quoted from the new version, "The E-Myth Revisited", is:

"The E-Myth, or Entrepreneurial Myth, says that most new businesses are not started by entrepreneurs who set out to build a strong business but by technicians who enjoy the hands-on work themselves. Because of that natural bias, most business owners focus on working in their business when really they should be working on it

[/ QUOTE ]Legit!
We are technicians In many realms.

After 7 years as climber/owner/operator I just grew into a sweet bucket truck and a crew this season to try and keep up with demand.

I think I just hired my 1st foreman capable of making me $ hope to have two crews crushing it next season.

When people ask how business is, I tell them," as long as trees keep growing, so will I !"
 
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