tree care co. vs. tree removal co.

[6t56]

I was thinking about this after reading another post.Do you think it's easier,better,more profitable,etc. to be a tree care co. or a removal co. what are the pro's and con's for each?Personally i am a removal co. but it can be very competitive and seems about impossible to build a clientele of any size.But for me it's fun,i'm not to thrilled about swimming through a tree with a hand saw and a pruner,i like rigging and using big equipment,but that's just me.How about you?

 

[MTCInc]

I think you may have answered your own question on this one.

In my experience, people will usually shop around for the lowest bidder on the removal of a tree. After all, they just want the tree to be gone... I'm not implying that this is easy to do, but most homeowners seem to look past all the work it takes to get it down safely and professionally. So, they seem to go with they cheap guy.

I find that tree "care" is more profitable, and you will grow a much larger customer base. Once the tree is gone, that customer is gone... Tree pruning will have you back year after year, as long as you do a good job. I know we are more expensive then others, but my customers know that they are going to get a solid product in the end by using us, so we have a long term relationship with many of our clients.

I would say that it is easier to justify why you are more then the competition when you are doing pruning type work rather then removal type work.

Is it easier? Not to sure about that... running a good business in any respect is hardly easy. But, if you are not being the low ball on every job just so you can get it, I would think pruning type work will be more profitable in the long run.

Lastly, your body will hold up more in the long run if you get into pruning. I have no problem seeing myself pruning for many more years to come, but the thought of doing big, nasty removals in that same time frame seems crazy.

 

[DanielSon]

hands down tree care will always be more profitable in the long run.

how do you think literally ALL of the big companies got big?

One word----Long Term Contracts! (smile)

Plant health care (phc) is by far the most lucrative piece of any tree company (if they take part in it).

That is also why the big dogs have mandatory fertilization up sell requirements for their sales guys.

because they know that removals puts their clients in the grave yard.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

It's challenging to build repeat business doing removals. You loose a client every time you cut down a tree.

I found that the less debris I put in the ground the more I made. I could charge the same for pruning shrubs as doing removals. Getting more shrubs done was the key.

Less overhead to maintain too.

 

[TreeStuff]

[ QUOTE ]
Plant health care (phc) is by far the most lucrative piece of any tree company (if they take part in it).

[/ QUOTE ]

No doubt about it. I've noticed that PHC is seldom price-shopped (at least in comparison to trimming and removals). For the client it is more about finding someone they trust who won't screw them over. If they trust you... you can pretty much dictate the pricing (for better or for worse).

 

[jim454]

[ QUOTE ]
It's challenging to build repeat business doing removals. You loose a client every time you cut down a tree.










Tree planting keeps the ball rolling, rewarding too!

 

[Treespotter]

For a small company like mine with only small equipment it is very difficult to be competitive on the removals. There is no way you can stand out in it. All end results should be the same. Tree/No tree and no damage to property. I never liked being on spikes with an 088, so removals are only a small part of my daily routine.

To me the most rewarding is the pruning and the return in a garden seeing how the trees evolved during those last years. In treecare/pruning jobs you can make a difference and the pay is way better than the removals (where the lowest bid is the one who gets the job).

 

[GibsonTreeCare]

definitively, tree care, even my business name indicates it.

too hard to compete with removal companies and the big boom trunks, massive chippers, etc.

I tried in the beginning, not worth it.

Now I try and DO build a clientele.

this is where the $$$$ is and it is much more satisfying not having to stand in hooks.

I still do the odd removal, but only if it is a package deal with some pruning.

I like the simple gear that comes with my bizz, good ropes, good saddle, some hardware, blocks, porty etc...

a few nice Silky's of different sizes, a 192T, a 200T and a 260 are what i use 90% of the time

I love my bizz

 

[southsoundtree]

For removals, I think that you have an edge when you have a strong climber for tougher removal jobs inaccessible to bucket trucks.

If you can handle big, gnarly tree removals that some people won't trust to the low bidder, then you can compete better.

If you can prune some of their trees, and offer PHC advice or service while also removing some trees during the same job, you can have an advantage.

If there are a lot of valuable obstacles below (keeper landscaping, house, shed), you can have an edge if you portray and build a reputation around low-impact work.

Otherwise, I think that it is frequently a lowest, seemingly-competent bidder that wins.

Seems that it is good to be able to do both. At times, such as in lean economic times, of the diminished amount of jobs available, more hazard tree removals are sold than pruning and phc.

Storm work, if it happens locally, can be good money if you can do removals, and storm damage management pruning/ PHC. You can build in a structural re-pruning in a few years.

When storms come in strong, they bring in new removal companies for at least a few years. The removal market floods with new removal companies more than PHC/ pruning companies.

 

[surfarmer1]

personally I think the tree care industry is the way to go you can do alot of the work alone or with one ground man...and of course you will get the ocassional removal...my specialty is rigging large limbs off..good money...nice work..

 

[6t56]

So far this has been pretty one sided,I know theres other guys like me on here,who do mostly removals,lets here from some of them.

 

[Symbioun]

I love doing big nasty removals with tons of rigging, but I'm afraid the point has been made. Doing removals ALL the time cuts you out of a job. Once that tree is gone, you're not going to be coming back to that property for at least another few years (if they have any trees left).
While on the other hand a tree care company has a better chance at repeat annual visits to care for multiple trees on the property. And when a tree dies or becomes hazardous chances are that company is going to be doing the removal as well. I believe this has already been said and explained but it's hard for me to see how a purely tree removal company is sustainable.

 

[BostonBull]

I would say we do our fair share of removals. You have to be diversified to be on top. Prune, remove, spray, airspade, landclear, etc

 

[DanielSon]

[ QUOTE ]
So far this has been pretty one sided,I know theres other guys like me on here,who do mostly removals,lets here from some of them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just so I am balanced with my response here.

For 13 years I have done the removal thing.

However to tell you the truth, I am 100% SICK of it!!!!!!

I have had it up to my neck in removals.

They are fun and all, but I am so sick of working all day long and not making any money.

Litterally, In the last month, we have had 2 or 3 days where we did 3600 and I netted less than 500 bucks.

That sucks.

I REALLY need to figure out how to do phc.

In a matter of an hour or two, one man can bang out 5 hundo.

What if you were keeping THAT guy busy 40 hours a week??

Cmon wid it!

THAT is what Im talkin about!

(sorry,,,, getting a little redneck excited there).

Anyway, phc is really where I want to go in the future.

Or just continuing to create videos like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zOzcyrJWpM

 

[John_Paul_Sanborn]

[ QUOTE ]
For removals, I think that you have an edge when you have a strong climber for tougher removal jobs inaccessible to bucket trucks.



[/ QUOTE ]

This is where the market can determine things, in the PNW there are many more of these jobs then in the Midwest. Some of the big river basin cities have more of them. When i worked in VA and NC I saw more 90ft trees in a week then I do in a year in the entire MKE metro area.

 

[6t56]

I don't think it's true that a primarily removal company is unsustainable.Look at mike poor,i dont know the man personally but it sure seems to me that he's doing a ton of removals in order to justify his equipment,right?I agree that its harder to keep a clientele but other industries are similar in this respect.Roofers,a roof is good for 30 yrs. i dont think your gonna be back very soon!What about well drillers(water well,not oil)how many wells do you think the average person drills in a lifetime?How do these businesses thrive?

 

[macrocarpa]

We used to be strictly a tree cutting company, pruning & removals.

I expanded to being a complete tree care company a couple years ago and feel that since then have become a real arborist. So many trees that I did not get involved with why it was in a weakend state, why is the tree dying. Solving these problems and rebounding trees back to health to me is so much more advanced (and profitable)then "prune or remove it".

These days a rarely do any removals and have sold off my big high maintenance equipment. Another advantage to being a tree care service, less expensive equipment, much easier to maintain, easier on the spine. (I still enjoy climbing/pruning big trees weekely)

I realize that tech rigging/removals is a serious skill and art, but for me its not about the thrill anymore, its about keeping trees healthy, planting new trees and making a decent living.

 

[Toparboring]

In this area of NY there are tons of removal tree comps. There are not many tree care comps. Most of the time I run into the well the tree is doing this can you just cut it down thinking. Yes I have cut them down, I have also learned to give them the options to treat the tree. I do more prunings than removals. I think that if you want to stay in the industry of trees, you have to mend these two comps. together, times right now are tough and you will find out that you might be that tree removal guy to pay the bills. Always give the option of replant, bring photos along (people love photos ) to show them different trees that can be planted. The whole removal comp. being productive and staying in buss. noooo , have seen 6 comps. out in the last 2 years do to prices and not knowing PHC.

 

[peder-d]

I try to do more prunings than removals. Don't keep track, but I think I am over 50% prunings. Even though I do a lot of real challenging rigging/fellings, I like prunings way more! Dispite the fact that the tree is dying, there is still something "destructive" about removing old trees. Don't get me wrong, I really like technically removals, but pruning is by far more giving than removals.
In my area there is tons of removal/topping companies, but very few serious treecare comps. My business is really growing, when it comes to pruning-costumers!

My hope is, that costumers would demand certified arborists more in the future!

 

[williamd]

I agree. Removals are the most costly jobs in terms of wear and tear on body and equipment yet are the most cheaply priced. I've underpriced too many myself and have realized the futility of competing with the host of other companies who are too willing to do them too cheaply. You just end up with little to show for all of the risk and wear and tear involved. I'm suspecting that if you can build a client base by offering IPM/PHC you might have a higher percentage of loyal customers who trust your ability and professionalism, and will use you for that removal even though they know they could find some one else to do it cheaper.