- Location
- Indiana
how to keep a good climber.
how to get work
- Thread starter absolutetree
- Start date
treehumper
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Ridgefield, NJ
Definitely one in the same thing. If you get work then you'll be able to keep a good climber going and they won't be thinking of jumping ship.
- Location
- NJ
- Location
- nj
you keep a good climber by paying well.A big thing is pay on raindays.If you can give benifits even if he or she pays part of it.
- Location
- nj
yes tophopper free beer is awesome at the end of the day to wash the sawdust down.
- Location
- Everywhere
What is the question? How to get work? How to keep a good climber? Both?
countryboypa31
New member
- Location
- PA
Good beni's. Constant work, and jobs set aside for poor weather; such as a large dropper or stumps, anything that you wont have to climb and can easily be done SAFELY in the rain.
I think that if you make sure you are working as hard as your employees as they are working for you that you should have no problem keeping work. Be an example on the job of a hard worker, and make sure your not sitting at home while they are out busting their butts for you on the job. Just cause calls aren't coming in or you don't have any estimates that day doesn't mean you can take it easy that day while your employees are working hard on the job.
Make sure you always provide 40 hours of pay. Sometimes even if they get done a little early, give them the extra hour or two to make the 40 hour check. Your employees will appreciate that you are taking care of them. And if they don't appreciate it, you can probably find better help. Cause your never going to be doing enough for them.
I think that if you make sure you are working as hard as your employees as they are working for you that you should have no problem keeping work. Be an example on the job of a hard worker, and make sure your not sitting at home while they are out busting their butts for you on the job. Just cause calls aren't coming in or you don't have any estimates that day doesn't mean you can take it easy that day while your employees are working hard on the job.
Make sure you always provide 40 hours of pay. Sometimes even if they get done a little early, give them the extra hour or two to make the 40 hour check. Your employees will appreciate that you are taking care of them. And if they don't appreciate it, you can probably find better help. Cause your never going to be doing enough for them.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
Get work by letting people know you're out there. KEEP getting work by being professional and giving customers their money's worth.
RogerM
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Louisville,KY USA
have an ice storm and hurricane remnant 5 months apart....That should be good for a call or two...
treehumper
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Ridgefield, NJ
I'd rather not see the boss on the job. That tells me there's no calls coming in and he doesn't have any idea of how to get work. I'd rather see him talking to the neighbours, door knocking. dropping flyers off. If they are the sales force then don't come and drag brush or run a saw. That's not an effective use of his time.
The last guy I worked for would spend his time at the shop cleaning equipment and on jobs. I could see the writing on the wall.
The last guy I worked for would spend his time at the shop cleaning equipment and on jobs. I could see the writing on the wall.
countryboypa31
New member
- Location
- PA
Here we have a difference in opinion. I like to see a boss that is willing to get dirty every once in a while. I feel that it reminds them how hard this type of work really is. Sometimes jobs don't go exactly to plan, actually i find things often change from the first time you look at it to the time your working on it. Its good for bosses to see this from time to time, instead of when you get done and they ask what took so long you could have done it this way or that way. When in actuality you weren't able to initiate the original plan for one reason or another.
treehumper
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Ridgefield, NJ
I don't disagree with you there Derrick except that it's just as hard to drum up business. If he' not constantly filling the funnel then there won't be enough work or money. If the boss forgets you can always remind him by tracking the work you do and the revenue generated each day.
I knew my bosses were willing to get dirty but, were they willing to go out there and get rejected and do the real dirty work of selling? I'm paid to do the hard work he's paid to generate that for me.
I knew my bosses were willing to get dirty but, were they willing to go out there and get rejected and do the real dirty work of selling? I'm paid to do the hard work he's paid to generate that for me.
countryboypa31
New member
- Location
- PA
I see your point. I've always worked for smaller companies, and by that i mean only one crew. So might opinion might be slightly different because of that alone.
I'm going to be starting with Arborist Enterprises Inc soon and they are a slightly larger and more organized. So i might take on a little more of your perspective with this company.
I'm going to be starting with Arborist Enterprises Inc soon and they are a slightly larger and more organized. So i might take on a little more of your perspective with this company.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
Selling the job is the hardest part of the tree business.
- Location
- Phoenix Arizona
[ QUOTE ]
Selling the job is the hardest part of the tree business.
[/ QUOTE ]
AMEN brother.
I do pretty well when they are seeking out my services from a referral.That has kept me fed and gathered all my equipment for the last 10 years.
Lately I have resorted to knocking on doors (LITERALLY).
The ball is in their court every time. You are one step away from begging and they know it. That stump or palm tree has been sitting there 10 years just waiting for a guy hungry enough to do it all for 30-40 per man hour. That is if I run balls to the wall through the entire job.
Last week I removed an ash tree that required rigging, and ground out the stump, along with another stump for 375.
It took me 2 days, filled my truck, and they don't have to pay for 45 days. Thats what it takes to sell here (for me) lately.
what a scumbag I have become.
Selling the job is the hardest part of the tree business.
[/ QUOTE ]
AMEN brother.
I do pretty well when they are seeking out my services from a referral.That has kept me fed and gathered all my equipment for the last 10 years.
Lately I have resorted to knocking on doors (LITERALLY).
The ball is in their court every time. You are one step away from begging and they know it. That stump or palm tree has been sitting there 10 years just waiting for a guy hungry enough to do it all for 30-40 per man hour. That is if I run balls to the wall through the entire job.
Last week I removed an ash tree that required rigging, and ground out the stump, along with another stump for 375.
It took me 2 days, filled my truck, and they don't have to pay for 45 days. Thats what it takes to sell here (for me) lately.
what a scumbag I have become.
- Location
- Bay Area, California
[ QUOTE ]
you keep a good climber by paying well.A big thing is pay on raindays.If you can give benifits even if he or she pays part of it.
[/ QUOTE ]
Oooo... I do not think pay on raindays is happening much anymore these days..
Benefits are great... some sort of retirement, partial health, vaca..
Plus, make a nice work environment. Make work a fun place. I have had the same guy for over 5 years, he is happy as a clam.
you keep a good climber by paying well.A big thing is pay on raindays.If you can give benifits even if he or she pays part of it.
[/ QUOTE ]
Oooo... I do not think pay on raindays is happening much anymore these days..
Benefits are great... some sort of retirement, partial health, vaca..
Plus, make a nice work environment. Make work a fun place. I have had the same guy for over 5 years, he is happy as a clam.
- Location
- Bay Area, California
[ QUOTE ]
Here we have a difference in opinion. I like to see a boss that is willing to get dirty every once in a while. I feel that it reminds them how hard this type of work really is. After a while it seems that a boss can forget how difficult this job can be sometimes.
[/ QUOTE ]
I think most bosses ( at least myself, and all my friends who run their own business) realize how hard the work is. After all, we worked hard enough to CREATE the business. The one thing that bums me out is how the employees do not (some of them) realize the amount of work that goes into getting work. You know that job you worked on yesterday? Well, your boss was already at that jobsite, selling the work. He fielded the call.. he wrote the estimate.. he scheduled the work.. he is suppling the gear...
Don't get me wrong, I work on my jobs as much as I can. But, it gets tough to work all day, then go and look at work after work. When it is busy, I am working 12-14 hrs a day. Also, if its a 2 man day, you throw the boss on the job and now you have 3 guys... the work gets done much quicker because he helped. Are you now really still expecting to be paid for a full day?
Just because the boss is not on the job does not mean he is taking it easy. Sorry, but that comment hit a nerve with me. Do you realize how hard it is to keep a business running? There is so much behind the scenes stuff going on, it just never ends. I lay awake at night with stuff going through my head.
Man, I hope my guys do not think I am "taking it easy" when I am not on the job. I am certainly not getting rich doing this.
Oh, and by the way: We are a very small company... I have 2 full time guys, one part time. I think that in a smaller company, there is even more work for the boss to do. So, don't assume he is at home, sitting on the couch "taking it easy" while you are at work doing what you are paid to do.
Here we have a difference in opinion. I like to see a boss that is willing to get dirty every once in a while. I feel that it reminds them how hard this type of work really is. After a while it seems that a boss can forget how difficult this job can be sometimes.
[/ QUOTE ]
I think most bosses ( at least myself, and all my friends who run their own business) realize how hard the work is. After all, we worked hard enough to CREATE the business. The one thing that bums me out is how the employees do not (some of them) realize the amount of work that goes into getting work. You know that job you worked on yesterday? Well, your boss was already at that jobsite, selling the work. He fielded the call.. he wrote the estimate.. he scheduled the work.. he is suppling the gear...
Don't get me wrong, I work on my jobs as much as I can. But, it gets tough to work all day, then go and look at work after work. When it is busy, I am working 12-14 hrs a day. Also, if its a 2 man day, you throw the boss on the job and now you have 3 guys... the work gets done much quicker because he helped. Are you now really still expecting to be paid for a full day?
Just because the boss is not on the job does not mean he is taking it easy. Sorry, but that comment hit a nerve with me. Do you realize how hard it is to keep a business running? There is so much behind the scenes stuff going on, it just never ends. I lay awake at night with stuff going through my head.
Man, I hope my guys do not think I am "taking it easy" when I am not on the job. I am certainly not getting rich doing this.
Oh, and by the way: We are a very small company... I have 2 full time guys, one part time. I think that in a smaller company, there is even more work for the boss to do. So, don't assume he is at home, sitting on the couch "taking it easy" while you are at work doing what you are paid to do.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
[ QUOTE ]
Last week I removed an ash tree that required rigging, and ground out the stump, along with another stump for 375.
It took me 2 days, filled my truck, and they don't have to pay for 45 days. Thats what it takes to sell here (for me) lately.
what a scumbag I have become.
[/ QUOTE ]
Damn Jesse. I wouldn't call you a scumbag... even if I thought you were one. But man, $375 for two days, a ground man and a full truck... that's working too hard.
Last week I removed an ash tree that required rigging, and ground out the stump, along with another stump for 375.
It took me 2 days, filled my truck, and they don't have to pay for 45 days. Thats what it takes to sell here (for me) lately.
what a scumbag I have become.
[/ QUOTE ]
Damn Jesse. I wouldn't call you a scumbag... even if I thought you were one. But man, $375 for two days, a ground man and a full truck... that's working too hard.
