What does it cost to be a tree surgeon?

[Rupe]

mine stays pretty much the sam eeach year, if that's waht you mean.

 

To get a significiant increase I would have to run as three man crew more often, thats all. We do too many 2 man half day jobs which I would rather turn down but I can't.

[Albedo]

top replies from everybody. I do domestic work close to home base like you jonathan. From some of my other posts you might get how small an operation I am.

 

figure can include with or without wages, both are interesting (mesterh I think)

 

I'm stuck on page 2 by the way, my computer wont turn to page 3 at the moment so maybe posting this will kick the but of my lap top into going there.

 

having not read the posts past page 2 it seems that a lot of people are pointing out that it depends on loads of variables. Big or small? is a question that arises, and what you may have to start with, yard etc.

 

Hopefully if I post this it will take me to page 3

[Johny Walker]

then the expence of a third man starts eating in to your money ,i had 4,full timers once NEVER again !!!!!!!!

[jonathan hall]

Yes, your right. I'm starting to see improvements even though actual turnover wa sdown last year.

 

Another point though is that % is irrelevan too.

 

Would you prefer 10% of 300k or 30% of 80k ? Even though the first option is higher, I bet that would be a far more stressful existance.

 

50% of 60k sounds like a far nicer existance than 10% of 300!!!!

 

damn straight, the works hard enough without sending cheaper quotes out, there just so you can forefill more contacts, for not alot more money.

[Albedo]

Yes, your right. I'm starting to see improvements even though actual turnover wa sdown last year.

 

Another point though is that % is irrelevan too.

 

Would you prefer 10% of 300k or 30% of 80k ? Even though the first option is higher, I bet that would be a far more stressful existance.

 

50% of 60k sounds like a far nicer existance than 10% of 300!!!!

 

Good point, I'm not busy all the time, if I was my % overheads would be, lower, unless I employed more help, got a bigger truck etc, then vice versa

[Albedo]

Quite true, once you factor in all the "benefits" of being your own boss and all the stuff that the business pays for that otherwise you would have to you're far better off.

In 1998 I was working in london in the city and getting £36k I feel far better off now and I only pay myself £12-15K.

As far as running costs go, if you have second hand everything and no finance then overheads will be lower, however you will loose working time due to breakdowns and less efficient kit. Or you can have brand new everything and work flat out all the time to pay the extra overheads. In todays market the first option is probably the better one, when things are really busy the second is better. In reality most of us are probably somewhere in between.

 

Good post Tom. Although I've been in tree work 15 yrs, I've been on my own for 2, so I've only ever known the recession in terms of own business. Small does seem to be good at the moment. I have a good relationship with my competitors as I used to freelance for them. We work together on jobs I can't handle on my tod. And talking to them they seem to back up what your'e saying

[jonathan hall]

Good post Tom. Although I've been in tree work 15 yrs, I've been on my own for 2, so I've only ever known the recession in terms of own business. Small does seem to be good at the moment. I have a good relationship with my competitors as I used to freelance for them. We work together on jobs I can't handle on my tod. And talking to them they seem to back up what your'e saying

 

ive been in this for 14 years and on my own for 5 years.

my business is small too, i have mates with 1 man or 2 man operations localy, who jump in and out with each other from job 2 job, grounding, climbing or being brash monkey.

it sounds like your operation isnt too far away from my own.

 

its a generalisation but, i think its a great time to be small and flexible.

it does take the stress out of running a business at the mo, well some of it.

 

with respect to the bigger operations, i wouldnt want to be one at the mo.

but i think i never would.

[Mesterh]

This thread still seems a bit screwed up to me the pages dont add up or I cant view them:confused1:

[Albedo]

Excellent post mesterh, this thread probably is a bit screwed up!

 

now you mention it, it is still doing the extra page thing, don't think your'e missing anything.

[TREE-SURGEON-ESSEX]

To much is what it costs and now theres to many companys so im guessing the average day rate will become 200 a day scary thoughts.