Time

[Tom Dunlap]

I know a father and son arborist family who have built two different businesses.

One is full service. Prune/remove/cleanup/PHC. This one has a small geographic area that keeps him busy. Very little travel and a crew.

The other only does cut/run jobs. He has work all over the seven county metro in the Twin Cities. Small to no crew.

Both are successful and don't blur the lines of their business model.

 

[colb]

Partnerships can work, I know of several that do very well. One must be very careful entering one, be sure your partner shares your values and goals, and make sure one of you has a majority ownership and is given the final say - set these in place before you enter the partnership and you’ll have a much greater likelihood of success.

I think an exit strategy shared between the partners is the most important thing. If you can get out on good terms, you're more likely to stay in on good terms.

 

[Reach]

I think an exit strategy shared between the partners is the most important thing. If you can get out on good terms, you're more likely to stay in on good terms.

For sure, that seems to me like it would be a very important part of the plan, and I would want it spelled out in the partnership agreement.

 

[skew]

This is a subject I have experience with.
Buy new equipment. It is easier to finance.
When I started my biz in 92 my idea was to keep overhead low. Climbing big trees and cleaning them up takes a lot of time. If you want to balance your time go ahead and drop in on stuff that will save you time.
Chipper- go at least 12" . getting rid of waste wood takes time. Chips are easier to get rid of.
Aerial lift- essential to stay in the business long term. Climbing trees is necessary skill even if you have a lift. If you want to balance time a lift is critical- most lift jobs can be done in a fraction of the time that a climber can do them in.
Trucks. Buy new! I can't emphasize this one enough.
Down time and paying mechanics sucks.
Likewse on used chippers and lifts. You don't want to buy some one els's problems or neglected maintenance.
I bought a new Altec 75' foot chip rig 15 years ago- best business move I ever made. Followed with a vermeer 1500.
Now I also have a vermeer 725 mini loader that I use on 90% of my jobs.
I just bought an OMME 2750 that I think will further enhance my ability to more efficiently tackle jobs
All my equipment is pristine because nobody but me runs any of it. If there is a leak- I catch it.
If something takes a hit- I am right there to evaluate it.
I use to think I was going to be able to simply crush it by staying out of debt. Now the reality is that although I have business debt, I am able to charge top dollar( sometimes significantly more) for jobs than my competition because my clientele sees the level of commitment that I have to the business.
As well as I am able to focus on top flight work and let some of the more annoying service call work go.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

Trucks. Buy new! I can't emphasize this one enough.

This. I’m spending tons trying to keep an ‘86 on the road, not to mention issues with a second hand chipper that seemed like an amazing deal at the time. I wish the trucks I wanted were available but the market is bananas.

 

[southsoundtree]

There's new, used, and used-up.

A 1986 might be between the latter two.

 

[lumberjackson]

This is a subject I have experience with.
Buy new equipment. It is easier to finance.
When I started my biz in 92 my idea was to keep overhead low. Climbing big trees and cleaning them up takes a lot of time. If you want to balance your time go ahead and drop in on stuff that will save you time.
Chipper- go at least 12" . getting rid of waste wood takes time. Chips are easier to get rid of.
Aerial lift- essential to stay in the business long term. Climbing trees is necessary skill even if you have a lift. If you want to balance time a lift is critical- most lift jobs can be done in a fraction of the time that a climber can do them in.
Trucks. Buy new! I can't emphasize this one enough.
Down time and paying mechanics sucks.
Likewse on used chippers and lifts. You don't want to buy some one els's problems or neglected maintenance.
I bought a new Altec 75' foot chip rig 15 years ago- best business move I ever made. Followed with a vermeer 1500.
Now I also have a vermeer 725 mini loader that I use on 90% of my jobs.
I just bought an OMME 2750 that I think will further enhance my ability to more efficiently tackle jobs
All my equipment is pristine because nobody but me runs any of it. If there is a leak- I catch it.
If something takes a hit- I am right there to evaluate it.
I use to think I was going to be able to simply crush it by staying out of debt. Now the reality is that although I have business debt, I am able to charge top dollar( sometimes significantly more) for jobs than my competition because my clientele sees the level of commitment that I have to the business.
As well as I am able to focus on top flight work and let some of the more annoying service call work go.

In the last year that I've been running my own show, I agree with all of these points. I tend to be more mechanically inclined and don't mind working on equipment a few days a month. All my equipment and trucks are used, but I thoroughly inspected condition before I bought them and it has worked out well. I know the time I spend on equipment could be spent making money or not working at all, but I think as long as you are able to see that trade-off and determine what works best for you, then that's what matters.

Overall great advice from @skew

 

[skew]

To further elaborate:
Using my time tested techniques I have been able to :
Take three month long trips to New Zealand
5 week trip to France
5 weeks on Big Island
2 100 day ski seasons in Telluride.
Multiple 100 day ski means here at home.
Started a family at 50 and now I prioritize my family and work 20-30 hours a week unless Opportunity exists to make bank.
I have always prioritized my time as my main asset.