Starting a tree-trimming business is a great way to make money and care for your family. Too often, we overlook skills we have acquired during our lives. In this economy, we must be creative and think out of the box to make money. My husband started doing tree work in the summers as a teen.
As an adult, he took those same skills to start working for himself in the tree care industry. If you are the type that can stand sitting behind a desk or wants to be their boss, consider tree work.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6 Steps to Starting a Tree Trimming Service
Starting a Tree Trimming business
Want to create a tree-trimming business? Consider starting a tree care business if you’ve worked for a trimming company for a few years and would like a new challenge. Tree felling is a skill that is always useful.
When you drive down any street, look to the left and the right, and what do you see? You will see trees!  And trees mean customers. Eventually, most of those trees will need pruning or cutting down because of wear and tear or weather damage.
If you have done tree pruning for a company for about three or more years for, a reputable tree care service, and are:
- An A-1 climber
- Well-versed in knots
- Tree rescue techniques
- Working with hazardous trees
- Understand pressure cutting
- Chainsaw usage and maintenance and,
- How to properly dispose of wood and brush
Why not consider starting a lawn care or tree business?
Use Existing Skills to Start Tree Trimming Service
A tree trimming service will entail everything from trimming limbs, removing trees, and removing tree stumps to planting trees. It might be worth considering if you have worked for another tree company or been a climber. You have taken down trees, pruned and dead-wooded trees for years.
You have worked hard, risked your neck for other tree companies, and realized the financial potential if you could get your tree work. Now you are thinking about starting your own small business.
Granted, it is a big step from working on a tree crew and starting your tree care service, so let’s look at the steps you need to take.
Create a Business Plan
When you develop a small business idea, you will want to draw up a business plan as this will be the road map instructions for writing a business plan. Decide if you want to be a limited liability company (LLC) or a sole proprietorship. Get certification as soon as possible because all education leads to a better professional.
Before starting a small service, receiving small business consulting help from the SBA/Small Business Association is advisable. If possible, take steps to become a certified arborist. Credentials matter
The SBA can help you will all aspects of starting a new business, and their site has beneficial video training. Take time to determine how you want to start your tree-trimming business and where you want it to go.
Trademarking your Business Name
Another good idea is to do a Federal Trademark search to ensure the name you choose does not belong to someone else’s business. Trademarking is a good idea later if you build on the name or sell franchises. A 50-state Federal Trademark is available. But it will be much cheaper if you plan to work in one state.
It’s best to hire an attorney to interface with the US Patent and Trademark Attorney because they will only guide you through the process if you make a mistake. Setting up your business gives you an excellent foundation for growth and expansion. So, start small but think about the big picture.
Register your Tree Service
Register your tree business with your county. Make sure to register your business name with your state. It takes little time to register your business and is inexpensive.
With your state: A business license gives you the legal right to work in your state. Many people will ask if you are a licensed tree care service when they are looking to hire you for work.
Get an EIN. Go online or call the IRS to get an Employee Identification Number. You will use this number as your business identification number and will use it to open a business account at your local banking institution. You can register by phone within a week to ten days; you will receive your certification in the mail.
Tree Climbing Equipment
- Safety Equipment
- Cutting Equipment
- Climbing Rope
- Helmet
- Logging Saw
- Clips
- Bull Rope
- Eye Guard
- Climbing Saw
- Wedges
- Climbing Boots
- Ear Protection
- Pole Saw
- Oil Can
- Saddle
- Orange Cones
- Wedges
- Ladder
Insuring a Tree Trimming Business
Business Insurance
Insurance will be necessary to protect you from liability in damage to yourself, workers, and the client’s property. The minimum insurance will cover you for about $1 million in damages. You can also purchase insurance against you, or your workers get injured.
While you can get away with working without insurance, you will get more jobs when homeowners know you are insured. Your tree-trimming business will gain a good reputation, and the word will spread that you are professional. Also, consider signing up with an International Arborist Society.
Promote your Business
Advertise your Small Business
If you have been doing tree trimming on the side, you probably already have some clients, Invest in professional business cards and print out flyers to passing out. You can also advertise your tree care services in your neighborhood penny saver for about $25.
Once the word gets out, word of mouth will begin to spread through the community that you are available for tree work. Ensure you have professional-looking business cards to hand out to contacts when you meet.
Get your tree trimming business listed at Google Local Business Center for free. You can write a blurb about your company, create coupons and provide direction to your business.
Finding your Tree Trimming Crew
Hiring Climber and Ground Crew
Independent contractor: A skilled and highly trained tree crew will keep your tee trimming business running smoothly, with little or no incidence of accidents.
If you have been doing tree work for a while, you may have friends in the business who are looking for extra work. I have found placing an ad in Craigslist’s “general labor” section very effective in finding people to do tree work.
Screen them and place them in the areas of their strength. Keep the workers that you work well with and are good hard workers. Eventually, you can employ your tree crew full-time as you get enough work.
Getting Business Leads
Some services provide leads for your tree care company for a small fee. Service Magic is one of the companies that provide this service. They also offer a profile of your business that prospective clients can view.
So if you don’t have a lot of contacts, this may be a consideration for a while. Service Magic will bill you at the end of each week.  When you have a small tree care business, it is essential always to be networking with other people in the industry.
You can get tree referrals from lawn care professionals, and when you find someone who needs lawn work, you can refer them. Twenty-five percent of this business is referrals.  Ask friends and family if they or someone they know needs tree work. They can be your first positive referrals when you do a good job.
Selling Wood
During the busy months of tree work, you may think little about piling up wood, but during the winter months, selling wood can be a great way of making extra money at $150 a truckload of timber with stacking and cutting.
Keep a record of clients with fireplaces and may consider buying a half or a whole truckload of wood for you. If you don’t have a wood splitter, consider partnering with someone who does and split the profits.
*previously written for Hubpages @2015. This is my original content.
