Major Decision

Well that's crappy news Steve , sorry to hear, but as you know your always welcome
To come hang here on my
New addition !
23490465230d3c68d0d2175df15d54ab.jpg
80e0655455a08ea997b10fe7a18180cc.png

I do have a bit of a line up to ride but I'm sure I can move you to the head of the line !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Is your work all in Suffolk?

Why don't you go someplace bigger in the cities nearby to the east? Got to be reputable companies in that area, no?


I say GTFOut of that place. Go on your own. Tree care. Build you business history. Get prepped. Feel out the market for buying a lift. I saw a guy I know locally with an 82' that fits a 36" gate.

Remember that there are tax advantages to own a business, too, and figure that into your number crunching.

I haven't really paid for gas out of my personal pocket in 10 years, unless out of town. I don't have a personal vehicle or personal auto coverage.

You know all this, though.



What could your do differently that your last round in business?

You have lots more insight now, right?

Who's going to get the really dead trees now that the guy OD'd and was fired?


Good luck, Steve.
 
I don't do any work in Suffolk. All my work is in Norfolk (pop 200,000) and Virginia beach(pop 350,000). There are plenty of things I have insight on that would make a huge difference in owning my own BIZ for sure. One thing I can't change is employees. The second thing would be the amazing amount of time needed to run a biz. To be able to make sure I get off in time to get my son from school I'd have to reserve a weekday of just estimates. I ran my marriage ragged with the business venture. Billing, books, estimates, dump runs, maintenance on and on, you know the drill. Really the only way I could have my cake and eat it too would be to just do small removals and tree care. We are largely a removal market and the pruning and care is usually an add on to the removals being done on the properties we work on. I think about contract climbing all the time. The issue with that is getting every shit tree and working for guys who think when the suns out, you keep working, Not too many people are gonna pay me $350 to $375 a day when I have to leave at 4pm. Especially when the contract guys around here work for under $300, have no insurance, and work to support an end of the day habit. There are a ton of those.

I have insurance quotes, a tool box system for my truck and all the behind the scenes stuff prepared for contracting but am just gun shy of pulling the trigger. As far as companies to work for. There are 3 I'd work for. Unfortunately they would pay half of what I'm making now. At that rate, it's not even worth my fuel expense to get there. I'm pretty much settled that i'll have to move but based on my situation and various factors, I can't. There isn't a day that I'm not brainstorming an exit strategy. It could be worse. I worked 4 hours and got paid for 8 yesterday. The boss loves me when we agree on stuff and he takes care of me most of the time. I spent 3 years before this working for an absolute train wreck. I just need something to fall in my lap. Someday it might. Unfortunately being a single dad of a 8 year old narrows my choices a bit. Now if I was a single man, I'd have a camper and I'd travel the states working for as many of the awesome guys on here as I could.
 
I would go into a holding pattern if you can, the wind always changes and you are ready when it does. As much as I despise our current POTUS, things could work in your favor in the next few months. Right now the banks are holding their cash because they don't know what crazy national change that orangutan is going to tweet out each day, but some of the deregulation that is happening will help the banks get richer as they nickel and dime us with fees and interest again unchecked, this extra money will loosen their purse strings and loans like the one you need will be easier to get.

So push pause on that dream machine and stick it out if you can.
 
You'll get that dream, Steve. Can you contract climb for your boss now? It'd be a start. If I remember correctly ya need to show 2yrs of business banking?
 
I've thought about that. Since he pays me through payroll I don't know if it would be something he'd be willing to do. I couldn't really up my rate but I'd need to to cover the insurance.
 
96coal449 said:
You'll get that dream, Steve. Can you contract climb for your boss now? It'd be a start. If I remember correctly ya need to show 2yrs of business banking?
Click to expand...

^^^^
This is not a bad idea, becoming a contractor changes the relationship in good ways for you. Keep in mind that as a contractor he no longer has to pay for your insurance, workman's comp, etc. And pay someone to do all the paperwork that goes with an employee.

In short, yes, your rate should increase because those burdens are shifting off your employer and his life gets easier.

Now you might be worried that they shift onto you... and you would be right, however, so do a lot of important perks. Not only are you running your own company for the banks to see, but now you can start to deduct everything, all work mileage, home office (part of utilities and house payments, or pay yourself rent), truck payments, all equipment, those insurance payments, etc.

Your tax rate would drop from, 22% down to almost nothing for the first few years if you work it right. So even if you only get a small increase in your rate you still come out ahead. This is something to explore in your situation.
 
Steve Connally said:
thought about the compact lift. Just not sure I could bill it out when there are climbers who'll climb dead shit day in and out. .
Click to expand...

Steve have you operated a bucket/lift? I don't recall...

I've been coming across so many more opportunities for a tracked lift around me as I look.

Another thing to think about, used tracked lifts are rare and also hold their value rather well, so if it did not work out you should be able to get rid of it rather easy for not a terrible loss.

Yea we got junkie craigs list climbers round here too, they do help set us apart. If you don't recall, I climb and have a 60' rear mount bucket. I like using the bucket, but I don't like owning one or driving on peoples lawns with one. We are now getting a tracked lift, I think I might be able to justify another one in a year or two. I was a climber who said I'm never getting a bucket truck...lol I actually almost bought a 80' rear mount palfinger then instead bought the 60' rear mount bucket. I learned enough about the cranes to not want one, yet... The bucket was going to be a stepping stone. I see a tracked lift being the next stepping stone towards the mack daddy crane in 5 years. I'm 42 with two young kids looking 15 years down the road here.


I struggle to get $100/man hr when we end up doing full clean up. I regularly get $200+/man hr just getting trees on the ground. The people are happier too cause they can't believe how cheap it was. This trend is happening so much for me, I'm considering running a separate operation for clean up under ag exempt/farm status..."harvesting (urban) forestry products". It's not a stretch as we do own a farm. The clean up crew (grapple truck) would be so cost effective it would be cleaning up for other treeservices/landscaper/diy's...then we'd sell them back their waste in the form of mulch and compost.. The take down crew would role in with a one ton loaded with gear and tracked lift and mini skid steer on flat bed trailer, get it down and move on to the next job, keeping those high dollar employees and equipment doing the thing that makes the most money...not raking! Do you want to rake? Of course not, that's why you wanted a crane.

Have one employee (at a min) who drives the truck and lift to the job, sets up, holds ropes...you show up on your bike after seeing your son off to school, slam out a take down job, take off on your bike to do a bid or what ever, meet up with your guy slam out another and take off to be with your son.
 
Steve, I feel the parenting thing. Mine just turned five and in 2 year kindergarten full time.

You're boy is going to become more and more independent.

Jobber is a real help.

I would love to get a part time office assistant, and need to, but am having trouble keeping all the ball in the air to think it through. Did you try to do two people's jobs on top of the FD?

Hiring things out, like house cleaning or laundry is easier than hiring an office assistant. A P/T domestic assistant could help with cooking and cleaning... like a stay-at-home-mom who wants to make some extra cash.

I Uber'ed for the first time today, having to shuttle a vehicle. It cost me $9 plus tip. $12 out the door. Driving my own rig with an employee to conduct the shuttle would have cost me at least as much.

Were you the maintenance/ repair mechanic as well? Can you outsource things like that, too?
 
frashdog said:
Steve have you operated a bucket/lift? I don't recall...

I've been coming across so many more opportunities for a tracked lift around me as I look.

Another thing to think about, used tracked lifts are rare and also hold their value rather well, so if it did not work out you should be able to get rid of it rather easy for not a terrible loss.

Yea we got junkie craigs list climbers round here too, they do help set us apart. If you don't recall, I climb and have a 60' rear mount bucket. I like using the bucket, but I don't like owning one or driving on peoples lawns with one. We are now getting a tracked lift, I think I might be able to justify another one in a year or two. I was a climber who said I'm never getting a bucket truck...lol I actually almost bought a 80' rear mount palfinger then instead bought the 60' rear mount bucket. I learned enough about the cranes to not want one, yet... The bucket was going to be a stepping stone. I see a tracked lift being the next stepping stone towards the mack daddy crane in 5 years. I'm 42 with two young kids looking 15 years down the road here.


I struggle to get $100/man hr when we end up doing full clean up. I regularly get $200+/man hr just getting trees on the ground. The people are happier too cause they can't believe how cheap it was. This trend is happening so much for me, I'm considering running a separate operation for clean up under ag exempt/farm status..."harvesting (urban) forestry products". It's not a stretch as we do own a farm. The clean up crew (grapple truck) would be so cost effective it would be cleaning up for other treeservices/landscaper/diy's...then we'd sell them back their waste in the form of mulch and compost.. The take down crew would role in with a one ton loaded with gear and tracked lift and mini skid steer on flat bed trailer, get it down and move on to the next job, keeping those high dollar employees and equipment doing the thing that makes the most money...not raking! Do you want to rake? Of course not, that's why you wanted a crane.

Have one employee (at a min) who drives the truck and lift to the job, sets up, holds ropes...you show up on your bike after seeing your son off to school, slam out a take down job, take off on your bike to do a bid or what ever, meet up with your guy slam out another and take off to be with your son.
Click to expand...

I've got plenty of hours in a bucket. That's an interesting perspective on the situation. I read your post a few times to make sure I took it all in! Great thought provoking ideas.
 
southsoundtree said:
Steve, I feel the parenting thing. Mine just turned five and in 2 year kindergarten full time.

You're boy is going to become more and more independent.

Jobber is a real help.

I would love to get a part time office assistant, and need to, but am having trouble keeping all the ball in the air to think it through. Did you try to do two people's jobs on top of the FD?

Hiring things out, like house cleaning or laundry is easier than hiring an office assistant. A P/T domestic assistant could help with cooking and cleaning... like a stay-at-home-mom who wants to make some extra cash.

I Uber'ed for the first time today, having to shuttle a vehicle. It cost me $9 plus tip. $12 out the door. Driving my own rig with an employee to conduct the shuttle would have cost me at least as much.

Were you the maintenance/ repair mechanic as well? Can you outsource things like that, too?
Click to expand...

Yep, FD and tree service. I did minimal maintenance, usually sourced that out to a mobile mechanic. I have had a cleaning lady for years. It's so worth it!!! Ubering is a great idea!
 
Looked like an military 5 ton with with k boom on the back and a tracked lift ......... what I seen was a ton of guys standing around ....... far from the one man show your looking for however those 5tons are a usually Lotta truck for cheep tho and fairly well maintained like almost new but 20 or so years old most I've seen have auto Trans too

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom