Having worked in an office for far too many years, I am seriously thinking about setting up an owner/operator business with a compact tracked loader (Bobcat or Caterpillar), something that will get me outside and doing something practical with construction equipment.
I am evaluating which markets I can target as a sub-contractor, and the wide range of forestry attachments available for these machines made me wonder about the arboriculture industry. So my question is, do you guys all own and use your own machinery, or are there occasions where you might hire in a little man with a tracked loader + brush cutter, log grab, chipper etc. to help out on bigger jobs? I guess I'm a bit worried that even if some tree surgeons hire in subbies, they will already have an established network of them and it might be difficult for a newcomer like me to establish a customer base.
I was going to buy a mini excavator, but I'm thinking a CTL would be more versatile and enable me to get work in a wider range of industries. Plus the fact that there aren't anywhere near as many contractors who have them compared to mini diggers!
Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have,
Phil, Chelmsford.
