stump grinder business

[Tom D]

I could never really make grinding work as a business, I offer the service and subby it all out, I make 10-40% on top depending on the job. To do serious stumps you need a decent tracked grinder, diesel, 40hp+, and that is expensive to buy. So when you've shelled out on a decent grinder you want it to be working all the time. I think you are better off doing tree work 5 days a week and if you make an extra £100 on top of your day rate by subbing out the stumps to someone else then its easy money, pure profit basically.

 

Often you only have one small stump to do, and so lets say you can't charge more than £150 for that stump, the customer wants it done this week but you don't have any others to do so you waste half a day taking out the grinder and do it making nothing in the process. On the other hand if you subby it out you get it done for £120 and make £30 for doing nothing.... The subby makes money by doing several clients a day.

 

 

If you are going to do it, offer a quality service to other tree surgeons and do it full time, or at least try and fill up a couple of days a week.

[Ian Flatters]

I could never really make grinding work as a business, I offer the service and subby it all out, I make 10-40% on top depending on the job. To do serious stumps you need a decent tracked grinder, diesel, 40hp+, and that is expensive to buy. So when you've shelled out on a decent grinder you want it to be working all the time. I think you are better off doing tree work 5 days a week and if you make an extra £100 on top of your day rate by subbing out the stumps to someone else then its easy money, pure profit basically.

 

Often you only have one small stump to do, and so lets say you can't charge more than £150 for that stump, the customer wants it done this week but you don't have any others to do so you waste half a day taking out the grinder and do it making nothing in the process. On the other hand if you subby it out you get it done for £120 and make £30 for doing nothing.... The subby makes money by doing several clients a day.

 

 

If you are going to do it, offer a quality service to other tree surgeons and do it full time, or at least try and fill up a couple of days a week.

 

 

Exactly how I do it. It's just a lot easier.

[John Shutler]

ive had various stump grinders over the years, the most recent being a tracked predator grinder. I do stumps for 2 other contractors as well as my own. its usually out once a week and i tend to make pretty good money off it, but generally only because my guys are out doing treework at the same time so im making my dayrate from them

[Mountain man]

ive had various stump grinders over the years, the most recent being a tracked predator grinder. I do stumps for 2 other contractors as well as my own. its usually out once a week and i tend to make pretty good money off it, but generally only because my guys are out doing treework at the same time so im making my dayrate from them

 

I agree, stump grinding for me is a good money maker, but a slow burner.

To do it without actually felling the trees myself would be a struggle.

[Pete Hart]

Interesting read....

 

I can't decide wether to put the tracked jo beau back up for sale again or try and make it sweat. Difficult decision as there is a lot of capital tied up in it but when it does go out it makes good money ....

It's only ever been used for work that I have generated but perhaps it's time to offer the service out to local companies (as others say they do succesfully).

 

Or sell it 😕

[Jesse]

Interesting read....

 

I can't decide wether to put the tracked jo beau back up for sale again or try and make it sweat. Difficult decision as there is a lot of capital tied up in it but when it does go out it makes good money ....

It's only ever been used for work that I have generated but perhaps it's time to offer the service out to local companies (as others say they do succesfully).

 

Or sell it 😕

 

Did it not sell then, ? mines in its own league, as i think all the Jo Beau stuff tends to fall into , once you've accessed the places others can not, word does soon get around, i charge around 5 to 6 an " and get it, maybe a bit more the top end clients dont ask how much. Its not out every day but when it out is its SMOKINGLY GOOOOOD. in a monetary way. Long live Jo Beau

[Jesse]

Did it not sell then, ? mines in its own league, as i think all the Jo Beau stuff tends to fall into , once you've accessed the places others can not, word does soon get around, i charge around 5 to 6 an " and get it, maybe a bit more the top end clients dont ask how much. Its not out every day but when it out is its SMOKINGLY GOOOOOD. in a monetary way. Long live Jo Beau

 

Would also say, i have run Carltons and Predators, both have been unreliable and would never have reached the places my little Jo Beau would,700 Reds are the secret.

[Ty Korrigan]

2013-2014 stump grinding as in pure stump value accounted for 12% of turnover.

However the number of jobs we won BECAUSE we could grind stumps is harder to calculate.

We run 2 vehicles to carry chip away and either or both grinders come along for the ride.

Next week 44 stumps to remove. As each tree is felled in line the stump gets ground out.

An extra grand for the week for the company rather than giving it away.

Ty

[Pete Hart]

Did it not sell then, ? mines in its own league, as i think all the Jo Beau stuff tends to fall into , once you've accessed the places others can not, word does soon get around, i charge around 5 to 6 an " and get it, maybe a bit more the top end clients dont ask how much. Its not out every day but when it out is its SMOKINGLY GOOOOOD. in a monetary way. Long live Jo Beau

 

No I dodnt sell it and decided to carry on but with A LOT of wholesale changes to my business!

Best thing I could have done was streamline.

The jo beau is such an awesome bit of kit and a good earner when it does go out... im really torn as what to do !

[Hodge]

There are 2 stump only company's in my area, I can't charge as little as them and won't. I aim for my grinder to pay its finance payment each month minimum, anything on top is a bonus. I have won a number of jobs because I can offer a full service, come in take the tree out, grind the stump out and leave at the end of the day with the job done. I am not relying on others to fit it in or possibly to be let down. Most customers like to pay 1 invoice for the lot and forget about it. If I go in to cut the tree and then have to arrange the other guy to come in its all hassle and if I only make a little bit on top it's not worth it. With the HB 20 it will fit most places and grind most stumps no matter how big. I put a price in then they can take it or leave it.