Clutchy

If you want to a build a proper business, have less stress, increase quality and dependability then you should be employing. I actually think its grossly unfair how many tree companies get away with blatantly having employees but on a subbie basis. The field needs to be levelled. Will just have to wait until this becomes flavour of the week for HMRC who will nail a load of companies, and then do nothing again for 10 years 😂 Having employees gives you positive pressure to make x a day / month. My staff are great and cost less than subbies. Mostly because I've invested in the from the beginning, putting them through all their courses and of course, tying them into a payback over 2 year requirement which keeps them keen rather than leaving. Don't be scared to fire, and don't be slow to do so. People can fake it for the first 3-6 months, bin them if standards slip. Works both ways, make sure you're a great employer, pay bonuses when things are going well or jobs that you thought would be 2 days get done in 1 and so on. 1-1's as cringey as they can be, should be done at least twice a year. Much easier to iron out small problem before they become big! Ask them what they think you could be doing better, and what would make their day to day more enjoyable within reason. Give them a career!. All 6 of our staff were not in arb before joining and I honestly think that's the best way, otherwise you get all the baggage from the poor traits they have learnt from bad employers. They can be moulded into your own high standards. That and don't let a bad apple spoil the bunch or you'll loose your best guys. Just my opinion of course

Enquiries up 25% on last month, down 60% compared to last year. Without our new contract would be done for if I was relying on work coming to me. Pick the phone up, get calling, push, push, push. Had a few decent jobs drop in last week but somethings definitely off at the moment. I say this, we have had by far our best ever month last month. Which is all well and good but could definitely do with some more work coming in incase we run out. Its make it or break it time for a lot of people including me out there. Best of luck. Also, can I just say, in these times its more important than ever to make friends in the industry or with other business owners as the strain on your mental health not being able to rant to likemindes individuals will take its toll. And remember, health is wealth, money comes and goes. However bad you think the situation is, you will get through it, even if you fold the business. Do not keep it bottled up.

@SimonPlease can you start manufacturing these teeth for the predator lol and

Do you know the name of the tracker? This sounds good

Yeah thats probably the simplest way, did want it work with keeping a log of vehicle checks as supposedly a requirment since our last audi but will probably just go with your suggestion

Which is great until you're not sure. Can take a couple of weeks to get a ticket through and if it happened say midday when we have 4 vans on a job and we cant remember who tipped off one of the vans (sometimes 1 person literally does tips throughout the day, tip van 1, return, take van 2, return, tip van 1) so I think it could easily happen without it being an honesty issue

So we only have 4/5 vehicles but they are driven by different people and there are even situations where the driver in the morning won't be the driver on the way back, or someone jumps in to tip off mid day. I'm concerned that one of my guys could get a speeding ticket etc and it could potentially be difficult to know who was driving at the time. Would also be cool if pre start checks on vehicles could be logged in an app. I know there are a lot of suppliers out there but they seem to be aimed at larger companies and wondered what people use on here?

Nope 10w40 is all I had, thought better than nothing. Hopefully that has contributed. Will get the oil and filter sorted, cheers

Yeah was hoping that would do it. Apparently the Kohler brand oil has an additive to make the lifters less tappy, but struggling to find any online. I know there is added zinc. Would you be anal about getting the correct oil, or just good quality at the correct viscosity?

Hi, Was using the machine on an incline today, with no problems, an hour later when on a pretty flat surface I was getting a very loud tapping noise. Shut the machine down and upon reading, turned it back on a let it idle, the noise went away after 5 mins of idle (checked oil and was on the lower, but not below, so topped it up). Went to use it again and after 5 minutes it returns, did the same process and it went away. This happened maybe 5 times as needed to finish the stump. WhatsApp Video 2023-03-25 at 18.58.20.mp4 Could this be low oil pressure getting to the lifters? Would an oil and filter change help with this? Video attached for sound. TIA

£450 + VAT would be our aim. £375 + VAT if we didn't need to book the day in, or could give 1 day notice/semi local

Hi Steve, Thank you, understood. Ok maybe what I mean is to filter by sites where you need to pay - basically one thats a commerical site Often its too arduous on the day ringing round the general public as they tend not to be straight forward. When im in a bind, I want to be able to find a commercial site, whether they charge or not, that you can set off and head to. I appreciate they probably only make up 1% of the database but I'd rather travel further to guarantee I can tip I dont think im explaining myself very well

@Steve Bullman my only feedback, and as soon as its on I'll happily pay is to be able to filter by 'requires prior arrangement' - no Also if there was a list function from x postcode, rather than a map as tricky to use on your phone when on site. Easy on a laptop

Can you post a pic and sat view of the run? Sounds horrible and timeous and oddly high on exertion, especially pulling the tangled bits out My idea of hell, I never win these jobs for a reason 😂

They will only be able to do that for so long before the staff quit

@swinny yep, running costs pretty mad haha. However we do consistently do 33kish + VAT a month. This month was a whopper at 40k + VAT You just get through work so quickly at this level so I have to keep bringing it in. The mewp hire is only just taking off so that should help increase income. As you can tell, i really don't care if people see my finances, what have we all got to hide?

The problem I found with only running 1 gang, is it doesn't produce enough of a profit for me to be off the tools. 1.5/2 gangs oddly enough if less stressful as it means I can do the office work during office hours rather than working all day on the tools to return home to work for 3 hours. I'm religiously following a mentors advice of spending 80% of my time ON the business and 20% in/for the business. Since doing that, new clients and contracts are coming in. I just got too complacent 4 months ago, assuming the work would keep coming in and completely took my foot off the accelerator. So now I know, even when we are busy, I need to push like mad as the next quiet spell could be round the corner. My other problem is my own ego, I think if I were to scale down, it would totally shift my mindset into a depressive state and would spiral into bankruptcy/giving up. Couldn't imagine getting rid of someone because I couldn't keep the work coming, although I would if it saved the business. The last 3-4 months of the business has really been a mix of the highest highs and lowest lows, I really don't know how those of you with kids do it

If it wasn't for a new contract that we started last month we would of gone under I think. Or would of burnt through cash reserves for 3 months I should say. And with running costs of 24k a month, that would be such a waste of money. We are doing well, but if that hadn't of landed at the right time, things would be very difficult. Domestic enquiries down by 80% compared to last year. Larger clients have deprioritised tree work, so having a job of constantly reminding them of their legal responsibilities. People need to take a hard look at their business now, before they put themselves into personal debt and decide if they should fold up now. Especially if you're only taking home 30-40k as a business owner, might aswell go and work for someone, finish at 5pm each day and leave the stress at work. New businesses set up during covid will be the first to go I suspect.

The biggest pain I've had on the 2 x 360's we have bought from new is the brake cables stretching, and then if done too tight to compensate, they come out the bracket thing. Very annoying

True, most will let you on without any cards if they're desperate 😂 You just don't become that desirable next time round

Worth mentioning that it can take 20 days from submitting the above to actually get the card.

Done this what feels like 100 times Should be a blue skilled worker NOT labour only (green). In an ideal world, and on the larger sites, the supervisor should have a gold or black card. As Paul mentions the path is this: Check to see which blue card you can apply for, the easiest one is groundman which only requires cross cut and maintainence. You then have different levels of blue card such as: Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-cutting ONLY Tree Climbing & Aerial Rescue Stump Grinder Arborist Worker Chainsaw Groundsman Arborist Worker Chainsaw Ground-based Arborist Worker Chainsaw Advanced Ground-based Arborist Worker Chainsaw Off Ground Arborist Worker Chainsaw Advanced Off Ground (rigging and pruning) Once you have that, book a 1 day ROLO course (can be done online, use Jon as UKHSS) Book CITB either before or after, download the spec/op CITB training app, its around £7 and that's all the training you need, don't waste a day training at training school, really not needed. If your employee isn't the sharpest, get them to do ROLO first then CITB test as a lot if covered there. You then take the level 2 NPTC certs + ROLO + CITB touch screen test and send that to BALI/LISS who will then send it off to CSCS for you to get your card. So, Book CITB here: https://wsr.pearsonvue.com/testtaker/signin/SignInPage/CITB Book ROLO: https://www.ukhss.co.uk/training/rolo-courses/ Submit all docs to: https://www.bali.org.uk/lisscscs-2019/apply-for-a-card/?preselect=Blue (Skilled Worker) A tonne of our work is building sites so let me know if I can help with any questions.

I won't mix them up again 😄 Thanks for the tips

The van owner or homeowner by any chance?

Pics are a bit blurry until you click on them but stupidly, didn't get one. I can confirm though that it had pea sized cones