New Business Minimum Requirements

[DTaylor]

Hey guys. Im planning on moving to the UK after having been away for 5 years, to start a tree business. Having not trained in the UK I have zero idea what insurances and licenses I will need. I will be starting out by myself at first bringing in a spare hand when needed. No chipper. Hopefully a trailer, pick up, saws and climbing gear. What would you recommend as the bare bones minimum requirements with regards to licenses and insurance. It would be great to have it all in one post. Im kind of lost right now. Cheers

[Ian C]

Think it depends where in the uk your starting but I would think of something else, the uk is swamped with small tree business all fighting over work and under cutting in price,

What do you need? In the domestic market, nothing.... and many don’t !

[Treeation]

NPTC's in the relevant fields (depending on if you are a climber or just groundy) & public liabilty insurance

[Con]

Employers liability is a legal requirement in U.K. (maybe not Ireland). NPTC relevant qualifications are strongly recommended. You won't get insurance with a lot of companies without them. Public liability insurance is also good practice.

I'd say that's the bare minimum for domestic work. If you're looking for commercial contracts you won't get them with 'the bare minimum!'

Edited March 14, 2019 by Con
Forgot

[Con]

I'd also echo what Ian said. Loads of people at it. I'm probably charging less than 10 yrs ago. 

[Mark Bolam]

I would have said a chipper was a minimum requirement.

[gary112]

I would say minimum requirement is a healthy bank account!                                                                        Oh and a good flask for the coffee          

[benedmonds]

If I were young and starting out I would just freelance climb. All you need is a climbing kit and a top handle saw. 

 

Many of the benifits of being self employed but far fewer of the negatives. If your foolish enough to want to start your own business you can slowly biuld kit over a few years..

[john p]

2 years ago I’d have said don’t bother, but reckon next 10 years could well be a gold rush (albeit in unfortunate circumstances) with Ash die back. Get your foot in the door now with a decent presence and kit and it might just work....

[Big J]

Forget tree surgery. Get yourself cutting and into forestry. Constant work and increasingly well paid.