Sub contract work for other companies?

fastbub

fastbub

New member
For all the guys that do sub work for other companies;

-How did you approach the subject with other companies?
-What services do you offer? (Just climbing, all your equipment, ground guy etc.)?
-Does it build a good relationship with other local companies?
-Is it mutually beneficial?

I guess I am just thinking as a small 1 crew company, this might be a source of work for us if another company could use additional help for a big job, or if they have a job that is too small for them to do profitably etc. I am also looking at it as a relationship builder and also an opportunity to learn from each other.

I am asking because I am not sure others always feel the same. You know, some guys wave when you drive by each other and some give you "the stare down"

So what are your thoughts on the subject from a business perspective?
 
I have some experience with this: Here are some answers to your questions!

1) The subject was approached when they came to me. Usually because they needed help with a job, a tree, or just straight up advice on an issue or problem.
2) I offer all services and custom build them to meet the needs of whatever the company is lacking in. So, just a few weeks ago I subbed out my bucket truck with an operator to prune three large apple trees. They needed to be reduced and this particular company did not have a bucket. So, by using us we were able to work with their crew, and get the job completed. I also do the same with the crane, chip truck and chipper...etc!!
3) Yes, absolutely yes it builds a very solid and good working relationship with other companies.....if, and only if, they are educated, knowledgeable, and understand what a good relationship is all about. Their are companies that I will not work with because they have very poor business sense. Business is all about making money! But that doesn't always have to be the driving force of every situation. If this relationship is going to work out you have to be honest with each of these companies, and they have to be honest with you. Sometime your going to bid against them and sometime your going to win.
4) In my experience it has been mutually beneficial. This next week I am working for a company that is very small. Two employees, 10" chipper with no chip truck. They do a lot of PHC and a lot of pruning and climbing work. They get asked about doing larger scale removals all the time. However, they are not set up for it....but also don't want to pass on the opportunity to make a little money. So, they sub out my entire crew for the day. I show up with Crane, Log truck, chip truck and chipper, Bucket truck and 4 employees. I gave him a set price that is slightly under what I normally make in a day with all my equipment. I do this so their is still some room for him to make money.....This benefits me because I do not have to look at the job, deal with the customer, or deal worth the logistics of the job. He takes care of all that...I just show up and crank out work for him...and then get paid. This particular guy has also just given me work when he feels its way too large of a job to feel comfortable putting a price on.

One thing that can be hard is helping to build your competitions business. I look at it, as they are not my competition. I am in my own world..marching to the beat of my own drum. I don't mind helping "good" people out. I think it betters the whole industry and gives me a chance to make new friends:)
This has been my experience with working with other companies.
 
Good points Royce!

I use to do a lot of climbing for a fair number of tree services. It was usually the difficult jobs with trees over structures that required a lot of rigging. I always showed up in my company's decaled truck and felt like I advertised myself as well, and didn't just advance their business.

Now I'm at a point where I have decent equipment but I'm not quite where I can send my crew out without me. So I only sub out my equipment and crew as a total package. If I climb only, not only does my equipment not make money but I have an employee who is not working for the day.
 
Fastbub, both Royce and tc bring up excellent points. I don't know where you stand in your business size but for me, I'm setting up for solo work. To do exactly what you are thinking, offer services to other companies. I'm planning on setting up with a 33k gvw chip truck and a BIG 20'' chipper with loader. I'm the only one in my area to have a chipper of this magnitude when I get it. Services with a large production schedule can benefit from such a machine. As long as they have the means to forward enough material for a hungry chipper. A crew that rents a crane for a day can get practically twice the jobs done in an 8hr period. In other words I'm planning on doing a lot of work with other companies. I'm thinking of breaking it down to $200 per hour for me, truck, and chipper. $150 an hour for me and the chipper. Either way my truck will still be there. Just depends on it's task for the job/s.
 
Coming at it from the other side, being me; myself and I. Smaller chipper and truck only I could not bid on certain jobs without the help of others. In my case that's usually @flyingsquirrel25 . The key is a good relationship that you can both profit from the jobs on. Well that and Mert is not a bad guy to learn from either.
 
monkeylove said:
Coming at it from the other side, being me; myself and I. Smaller chipper and truck only I could not bid on certain jobs without the help of others. In my case that's usually @flyingsquirrel25 . The key is a good relationship that you can both profit from the jobs on. Well that and Mert is not a bad guy to learn from either.
Click to expand...

That is kind of what I was hoping for. A combined effort when needed. We are small. Two guys including myself and a third part time when we need extra hands on the ground. We have a f550 chip truck, a 12" chipper, a mini with a BMG and a F350 with a 20 ft. Trailer for hauling the mini and logs. I generally don't bid on huge jobs that we can't handle, but I thought we could assist small or midsize companies on large jobs or do small jobs for the really big guys that don't want to roll out to trim back two limbs over a house. We will do a large removal if it is just one or two trees.
There are all types around us. Chainsaw and pickup guys, landscapers who try to do trees, one or two small outfits like us, some medium size guys and one bigger operation with a crane. Plenty of work to go around I think. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. We try to specialize in technical rigging and removals when there is no access for a lift. That and professionalism and neat appearance and cleanup set us apart. I,guess I am just seeing the opportunity to help each other out and learn from each other if the relationship can work for everybody to make a little green too.
 
I have some big companies around me but can't say I have ever approached them. Mert's setup is a lot like yours sounds. I know from experience that his values and work ethics are flawless with is why I never hesitate to give him a call. I would try looking at some of your local companies that are similar in size also but have different equipment or skills that they are masters at. At over 50 myself I still love to climb and I'm okay, but for tough or really big work the first thing I do is find a local climber. To me the cost of a great climber for the job is worth every dollar, and far cheaper than jeopardizing my reputation for a job done well. All my work currently goes from referrals so unhappy customers is something I can not have.
 
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