Business Start up Advise please.

[Mark Bolam]

Lumberjock, it’s considered very bad form on here to ask for advice and then actually take it.

 

Have a word with yourself!

[jfc]

I'd generally recommend you start a business in the field you know about. Are there not opportunities in forestry for buying a machine of some sort and contracting yourself out?

[benedmonds]

There is no reason why you couldn't invest in the kit, truck, chipper etc.. start up a tree business and employ a climber. I would suggest you would want at least to have a rescue ticket. Then you could get in a free lance climber or employ one.

 

It's not the route most take, but not sure the route most take is the best route..  

 

Another option would be to go into business with a partner. When we started Canopy my business partner was a similar age to you, he had done little in the way of arb and had only done his basic tickets. I had the ARB knowledge and did most of the climbing. 

 

Not sure I would recommend it. I am sure there are easier ways to make a living. I have been in business nearly 18 years and it's not getting any easier..

[treevolution]

Truck and stump grinder could work better if you would just like to stay on the ground. 

[Lumberjock]

26 minutes ago, treevolution said:

Truck and stump grinder could work better if you would just like to stay on the ground. 

Thanks, I was thinking about a grinder. 
 

I saw one company doing just so.  I’ll look into It Thanks

[Dbikeguy]

two routes,
Get to know some subby climbers, and start your own business, booking climbers in as necessary, plenty of hedging, small tree prunes etc you can do alone to fill days.
Buy a piece of plant, be it a digger - broad range of uses esp with a grab
. stump grinder, Avant etc and hire yourself out.

[Lumberjock]

6 minutes ago, Dbikeguy said:

two routes,
Get to know some subby climbers, and start your own business, booking climbers in as necessary, plenty of hedging, small tree prunes etc you can do alone to fill days.
Buy a piece of plant, be it a digger - broad range of uses esp with a grab
. stump grinder, Avant etc and hire yourself out.
 

Appreciate your input. Thanks 

[Gardenscape]

Problem is if you haven't climbed then it makes pricing tree jobs a lot more difficult as you have no idea how long it should take because you don't have the experience.

Edited October 7, 2021 by Gardenscape

[Puffingbilly413]

13 hours ago, Gardenscape said:

Problem is if you haven't climbed then it makes pricing tree jobs a lot more difficult as you have no idea how long it should take because you don't have the experience.

To an extent, but if you have experience of seeing good climbers work and have observed their work rate on different trees / in different circumstances, then you should still be able to price jobs accurately enough.

[Jonny69]

On 02/10/2021 at 09:28, Lumberjock said:

Hi, any advise would be greatly appreciated. 

 

I’m looking to start up a new business. 
 

I currently work as a forester with Cs30/31 qualifications. 
 

I would like to get back into private arborist work more close to home. I used to be a Groundsman for a short time. I do not and have no intention of climbing as I am over 40. 
 

I had the idea of purchasing an Arb Truck and chipper and advertising as Van, man and chipper for hire to arborists who do not have these. Charge a daily rate for my services. 
 

Would this be a good idea? Any pro’s and con’s you can think of?

 

Thanks
 

 

Problem is with this plan, almost everyone has a truck and chipper already. You would be better off buying a machine that's a bit specialist and subbing to people that way. 

 

With basic work tools and maybe a tracked chipper, cherry picker, skid steer/loader, excavator with tree attachments.

 

There is always work for diggers and cherry pickers even if its not just related to cutting trees.