What does it cost to be a tree surgeon?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

£2.5k a week to stand still !!! i think you need a new calculater mate, no wonder you went tits up

 

I dont know what you mean by stand still? that was wages for me and a groundie, new truck and chipper at five year intervals constant CPD and training, advertising, accountancy etc?

 

I went tits up because I threw everything I had into it, I was "avoiding" the critical thing to keep my costs down, tools cover and after getting hit four times for the saws and hedge gear blowers that stuff, I had maxed out on C-cards and all my stash. that was over a twelve 18month period, it was targeted because i had over three years sown my local area up pretty much and the "local camps" didnt like it! the last straw was the van and chipper from outside the house, finished me off.

 

during this period of being hounded, I was on/off then splitting with an abusive alchaholic GF, my elderly uncle whom I cared for and had lived with for ten years (learning Impaired guy/downes poss) contracted liver cancer and died within two weeks of diagnosis. I then had to fight my mother and her sister for possesion and had to mortgage the house to stay in my home.

 

I then walked into my docs broke down in tears and asked for a shrink before I went (already had!) completley off the rails.

 

My business was a raging succses untill these sorry unfortunate and life changing situations that all came at once, most people would have failed to keep fighting so i think i can be justifiably proud of myself for still being here, alive and well and looking at my career again!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

The cost of being an arborist? a LOT more than just money!

[Albedo]

If there is an argument in my thread the hit rate will be huge, especially involving me and hama, we both attract the car crash reaction.

 

I reckon Hama was just expressing his view from his experience, which is what was asked for, and we all know they got more money than sense down south anyway. (not you hama, the customers)

[gibbon]

Just shy of 90K last year for the pleasure of going to work

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Is everone also taking into account that there is really officialy only 48-9 working (five day) weeks in the year? bank holidays etc five weeks paid leave.

 

You have to cover that time to be running "properly"

[Albedo]

Just shy of 90K last year for the pleasure of going to work

 

Blimey. Presumably 90k is your costs - so what does this mean - Do you have a fleet of Mogs or summat

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I would also add that efficiency is a skill like any other, a quick and efficient climbergroundie combo is going to be able to outcompete a lesser crew, Whilst some of us can do 2 V/large reductions a day others will be pushing 1 maybe 1 and a half, they might have to charge 350 a day cos its going to take them the best part of two days, wheras a better crew will charge 600 for the one day and still be cheper!

[Albedo]

Thinking about it Gibbon its possible to be a 3-4 man outfit and have those kind of overheads, so as % turnover, would this be 60 plus ?

[Johny Walker]

I dont know what you mean by stand still? that was wages for me and a groundie, new truck and chipper at five year intervals constant CPD and training, advertising, accountancy etc?

 

I went tits up because I threw everything I had into it, I was "avoiding" the critical thing to keep my costs down, tools cover and after getting hit four times for the saws and hedge gear blowers that stuff, I had maxed out on C-cards and all my stash. that was over a twelve 18month period, it was targeted because i had over three years sown my local area up pretty much and the "local camps" didnt like it! the last straw was the van and chipper from outside the house, finished me off.

 

during this period of being hounded, I was on/off then splitting with an abusive alchaholic GF, my elderly uncle whom I cared for and had lived with for ten years (learning Impaired guy/downes poss) contracted liver cancer and died within two weeks of diagnosis. I then had to fight my mother and her sister for possesion and had to mortgage the house to stay in my home.

 

I then walked into my docs broke down in tears and asked for a shrink before I went (already had!) completley off the rails.

 

My business was a raging succses untill these sorry unfortunate and life changing situations that all came at once, most people would have failed to keep fighting so i think i can be justifiably proud of myself for still being here, alive and well and looking at my career again!

 

was your kit not insured ???? if so what was the prob, you get paid out you get new kit ,!!!!!!!!1

[gibbon]

That was my last full year ending mid 09 and to run a 3 man team. My wages are not included as the directors loan comes out of the profit.