start up costs

[Pete Tattam]

Strictly speaking, you don't need a chipper or truck.

A small van, trailer, saws and climbing kit. The old boss of our company started with that exact setup 25 years ago.

 

Exactly! I work as unpaid groundie for my son. He's a one man band (I don't count myself) and he started with a Berlingo van, Ifor P7 trailer, climbing kit. MS200 and old 044. Mind you the van and trailer are mine. He's added Husky pole hedgetrimmer & standard hedgetrimmer and various hand tools etc over the last year or so. Start small & build up to a level your happy with. Not everyone can have or wants a big truck, chipper, yard etc. That way you can find a niche and fill it. You can take small jobs no-one else wants and leave the bigger jobs to the bigger boys. Mind you you'll never be rich!

[treejoe]

Thanks for your replies, I am getting all my tickets this year and that is going to cost me 2300 but i can do other work also until the tree surgery (if it does) takes off, I am currently a self employed (tree) harvester driver at the minute.

 

I have been researching about getting in to the business of tree surgery for a while now and I am very much aware it will be hard work but if you want something you work for it .

[Oli Explosion]

Im in my car, would be hiring a stump grinder/chipper etc,

Apart from insurance and getting your tickets I reckon mebs £2000.

So far I've got Saw,Harnes,Spikes, Lanyard, Rope, Boots, Trousers and Helmet. Yes you could and would get another saw or two, for the ground and up in the tree, (im getting my tree one hopefully in the next week or so)

So including the saw I might get My total cost excluding the insurance and training and assessments is about £1400. You could go more basic aswell. I opted for one of the new Teufelberger lanyards (£150) rather than a wire-core flip and prussick (£50).

Sounds alot, but I staggered buying it all and it never felt like that much!

[alex_m]

Has anyone mentioned the cost of insurances each year?

PL isn't compulsory, EL is, but if you are a one man band it doesn't matter!

[Simon Rotheram]

You may also want to consider running costs on top of your purchases, no point having a truck, chipper etc. and no reserve to run it, along with the usual lists insurances, advertising..... I would recommend you have your monthly overhead x6 in the bank in case work goes lean - the first few years can be tough and quiet periods are inevitable (even established companies will experience this!)

[White Noise]

I was keeping it sensible'ish, bottom line lol

 

Thats for 2nd hand gear... He could start with a smiley transit and old vermeer etc...... all depends on budget, but its a bottomless pit out there.....

 

I ,m with you on this swinny

 

Start up 10k is still a fair chunk in today's climate

 

To be fair he could start with less than 10k . I did 4 years with no chipper

[Mark Bolam]

It's an unfortunate fact that the arb game has pretty much reached saturation point.

 

If you've got plenty of work driving a harvester, I might be tempted to stick with it.

 

You'll earn more.

You've got a heater in your cab.

You don't wear your body out so quickly.

 

Whereabouts are you mate?

[born2trot]

Joe bought a new or nearly new hilux a few months back we'll say 20k . He is going to spend roughly 2.5k on tickets. We havent even looked at the extensive tools and equipment yet to even start competing with established tree firms. Get real chaps .

[Mozza]

Joe bought a new or nearly new hilux a few months back we'll say 20k . He is going to spend roughly 2.5k on tickets. We havent even looked at the extensive tools and equipment yet to even start competing with established tree firms. Get real chaps .

 

What's joes car got anything to do with this?

[Mozza]

What's joes car got anything to do with this?

 

Whys even, bleeding phone haha