How long to get a business up and running

[Dryad's saddle]

It depends on how much you initially invest in the business ie advertising equipment etc I managed to get full time within three months but that is probably reflected in the amount I invested. One thing I will say is to begin with you have to work like a blue ass fly

[SPC Trees]

Some good advice here. I'd say it matters on your personal situation and finances. If you can throw a bit of money in at the start and spend on the right forms of advertisement then you can get going within 6 months.

Otherwise it's going to take longer if your relying more on word of mouth from happy clients.

[Paul Jenks]

Depends on how hungry you are

[kentjames]

Just seen this thread.

 

To cut a long story short, it has taken three and half years to get to the point where the business is snowballing faster than I can keep up and require staff and expansion real soon.

 

Although having spent the first year to 18 months concentrating on getting back into the gardening / landscaping industry, I soon realised I wanted to reach for the sky and progress on to tree surgery.

 

Capital investment is key to growth. You need money to make money. You need good equipment to be competitive in the arb game. You can muddle along but there will always be someone you look up to who has the best equipment, truck and saws, they will be the ones winning the jobs if you sit back.

 

Do not compromise. Do not sit still. Act on ideas and strategies today not tomorrow. Little action is better than no action but big action, as long as it is planned well, will win the day.

 

Personally my key to success has been proper planning, cross checking and research.

 

And finally...

 

Be more dog.

[eggsarascal]

Just seen this thread.

 

To cut a long story short, it has taken three and half years to get to the point where the business is snowballing faster than I can keep up and require staff and expansion real soon.

 

Although having spent the first year to 18 months concentrating on getting back into the gardening / landscaping industry, I soon realised I wanted to reach for the sky and progress on to tree surgery.

 

Capital investment is key to growth. You need money to make money. You need good equipment to be competitive in the arb game. You can muddle along but there will always be someone you look up to who has the best equipment, truck and saws, they will be the ones winning the jobs if you sit back.

 

Do not compromise. Do not sit still. Act on ideas and strategies today not tomorrow. Little action is better than no action but big action, as long as it is planned well, will win the day.

 

Personally my key to success has been proper planning, cross checking and research.

 

And finally...

 

Be more dog.

 

You sound like a barrel full of laughes.

[Treemoose]

Just seen this thread.

 

To cut a long story short, it has taken three and half years to get to the point where the business is snowballing faster than I can keep up and require staff and expansion real soon.

 

Although having spent the first year to 18 months concentrating on getting back into the gardening / landscaping industry, I soon realised I wanted to reach for the sky and progress on to tree surgery.

 

Capital investment is key to growth. You need money to make money. You need good equipment to be competitive in the arb game. You can muddle along but there will always be someone you look up to who has the best equipment, truck and saws, they will be the ones winning the jobs if you sit back.

 

Do not compromise. Do not sit still. Act on ideas and strategies today not tomorrow. Little action is better than no action but big action, as long as it is planned well, will win the day.

 

Personally my key to success has been proper planning, cross checking and research.

 

And finally...

 

Be more dog.

 

Good on yer James, it's a hard slog starting up isn't it. It's not going to be for every one but for me personally I have loved it and would do it again if need be.

[kentjames]

Thanks, and yes I agree and would do it all over again tomorrow, apart from I would apply the additional knowledge I have learnt along the way earlier on.

 

I never want to work for someone else again, that said I had my first company aged 23 and never looked back.

 

Good on yer James, it's a hard slog starting up isn't it. It's not going to be for every one but for me personally I have loved it and would do it again if need be.

[Billy]

It's difficult to say when exactly I started trying to form my own business as such as I've always been self employed and liked to buy things and have a deal etc. but I'd say probably took about 2 years to have full time work, however if I knew what advertising worked and didn't before this could have been achieved a lot quicker. Now probably about 4 years in have one full time employee a few subbies that I use regularly and all the usual kit plus an O license. Finding what advertising works is key IMO some magazines and sites are just like throwing your money away but others are a gold mine!

[clearviewtrees123]

1 year is really hard, 2nd a little easier, 3rd you just start ticking over really, and progression from there.

My advice would be don't turn away any work, price anything and then figure it out afterwards. Don't hang around saving up for a chipper, bang one on finance. I bought a brand new timberwolf 125 that cost me £185 pm. That's 2 days hiring a chipper!

You get all the reliability of a new machine when your struggling at the beginning. It's a great way to build up your kit and tax efficient too. You also look a lot more professional turning up with the right kit. Make sure you've got a least 3 saws, blower, sthil combi long reach trimmer, pole pruner, Strimmer etc, clearing kit and a good set of ladders. Your ready to roll. Not forgetting your climbing and rigging kit. Don't go alone until you can manage that setup is my advice.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[Clark]

Some great advice thanks guys. It goes from quiet for 2 weeks then the phone goes mad all of a sudden. I guess that's the way it is. My problem is finances at the minute. I plan to stay employed for a few more years and then once I have a chipper I'm going to go in with all I have and go alone.