tips from business owners!

[Czlowiek Drzewo]

Thought i would start a thread regarding the business side of tree work.

 

Any tips from Business owners.? Anything from Marketing, accounts, quotes and of course growing a successfull business, lesson learnt etc.

 

I'll start from obvious ones - Do everything is writing, makes quotes detailed and have terms and conditions on your quotes. ..even the nicest client can turn sour and if your quote doesn't state exactly what needs done they will try to get more work done.

[Dean O]

Dont be cheap to win work

 

It may get you about when you start up. But the customers you win when your cheap you will lose as your prices rise to sustainable levels.

[testcricket01]

always follow up every single job no matter how big or small you never no who people know.

 

 

and keep ontop of paper work from the start its a nightmare if you leave it everywhere i no that to well

[timtree81]

work out what you need not what you just fancy ,as far as equipment goes

[likeitorlumpit]

It can be a lonely place

be sure to keep in touch with friends/family as you progress

They are your escape and grounding

[Rob D]

Have a plan - are you going to just do treework? Logs as well? Milling?

 

Then try and stick to getting what you need for that plan.

 

As above it's easy to see something shiny and run after it with a handful of notes....

 

Eg I bought a van mounted platform. Had it for a year, cost £1,500-00 insurance + all the other costs and it didn't reach that high - I prob used it 20 times.

 

I could have hired a local tracked platform for when I needed it cheaper, better machine, much less hassal

[Matthew Storrs]

but on the other hand, the right investments can make you more money, its always going to be a risk

[Brian Anderson]

Great thread, im looking to set up for myself in the future and this info and tips will greatly help when I get to that point.

 

This is the best thing about this website, their are plenty of people with all the info and help that anyone in the buisness could need :thumbup:

[Tom D]

Take your business bank statements for the last year and add up ALL your outgoings, (you can do this on line and export it into an excel sheet to add it up if you know how, just don't ask me) then divide that figure by 200. this gives you an accurate break even day rate figure, then add £200 to that and you have a proper day rate.

 

It breaks my heart when I see how cheap some of the people on here work, If you are one of them, take heed, you will either end up giving up and going back to work for someone else or leaving the industry altogether. This is a great job and you should be able to make a decent living from it, if you are one of the ones who posts up that you are saving up for a new rope, hitch climber, chainsaw or other small piece of kit THEN YOU AREN'T CHARGING ENOUGH.

 

A two man team should turnover 80k minimum, any less and you are doing something wrong, if you work part time or look after your kids some of the time thats different, but if you are out there working full time then you should be making a decent wage.

[Robert_S]

Great post tom