The other thing I’ve realized about bidding tree jobs is there is a certain point when the customer is on board you sometimes need to step back and stop talking I find myself repeating myself and telling the customer the whole story of taking the tree down step-by-step and realizing they have a deer in the headlights look to them and you’re just wasting your time when you could be moving on because you have already won the job and their friendship, good video Joe thank you for your time ,Barry
Look over fences too!. I removed a Australian pine.Some wood had to be lowered in neighbors yard. Neighbor wasn't home came while we were in his yard removing wood. He called the cops claiming I threatened him with a chainsaw an destroyed his roses. In actuality there wasn't a petal on the ground .I also solicited a nice tree job from the cop.😜😉. Never miss a sales opportunity 🏁 Peace
I found this very helpful. A lot of this I already apply, but it is reassured by hearing it. Ways it helped are factor ropes, gear and other non big equipment more into my bid, also not just haul off by weight and time, but also weekly maintenance allowance. The big one is cutting costs for sob stories. I've regretted more than I've felt satisfied about. I do really wanna help people, but I've come back to a job and the customer be a completely different attitude/mentality than the person that was asking for help. Now that I'm contracted they have no problem being a pain and super picky about details. One last thing. When people don't wanna pay for cleanup costs. They for the most part have no idea what they are getting into. It can turn into a majority of the work. Once it's down and you're gone your name(company) is still attatched to what people see left behind. So whether neighbors/ traffic whoever sees your marked trucks (name & logo) leaving a huge mess in the yard it can look like you bailed on a job. Thank you for the video
If only I would have learned all this 20 + years ago! Sadly, I can honestly say that for my first 17 years in my landscape business I never really made much money at all. I was too busy being Mr. Nice Guy and that will kill you in the end. About 3 years ago I started to transition into more tree work and that necessitated that I do things differently- the cost of all the equipment forced me to look at what I had being doing wrong in the past. Now I'm 3 years in and am doing about 80% tree work now. I'm a relatively new climber but I've already put most if not all of your suggestions into place and its made a huge difference for me. I'm actually enjoying working again these days. It's really fairly simple. If you do honest hard quality work and convince people you're trustworthy, they'll be happy to pay you- what you're worth. I'm 57 years old this year, and old and new clients still tell me I'm the hardest working guy they've ever seen. Sure, I'm in good health, I'm only 145, my daddy taught me right and my Father has blessed me. But in the end, it's how you carry yourself and interact with the client that makes their day- then yours. Thanks for the quality advice Joe. Hopefully it will sink in sooner for others than it did for me.
Great job putting this together, Joe. When people ask me how much I charge for tree work, I always come back to 3 main factors. Risk, time, and what has do be done with the mess.
Great attention to this matter of bidding. No doubt from your experiences doing some of what you advise to avoid!! Your honesty and sincerity comes across. Thanks friend.
You are 100% right. I learned everything myself by going through it over the years. I contract climb for some people that "own a tree business" but never climbed, so I can charge what I need to make. They don't understand so I try to explain but feel like I am constantly fighting them. So I do mostly pruning, charge more for takedowns, especially risky, & technical ones, and don't do an hourly or daily rate. I bid by the tree or the job. This is basically b/c: An experienced climber can do so much more than a beginner climber (like 5+ years vs. 2) I have contract climbed and took down 6 big pines in 1 day and made like 240$ a few years ago which is not even 50 dollars a tree. If that was my job, I felt even $100 a tree to climb to take down was low. My base rate is like minimum $300 cash with all the climbing gear & saws I have now.
Accessibility: to the tree you're working on. With equipment or to have your chipper near by. Dragging brush 50' around a house is a killer! Risk: hanging over homes, roadways, power lines, garages/sheds, dog houses, playsets, septic systems, driveways, fences. Health of the tree: decay, lightning struck, splitting, ext. Urgency: flat rate of.. x amount just to show up. Very important in storm calls. I think you covered about everything else in the basics of our line of work mister Joe. Good job man!
Joe this video was awesome. I've been doing tree work for a few years and I just pulled the trigger and became my own boss a couple months ago. I noticed I already do the majority of the stuff you mentioned, but there were a few things you said that I never really took into account. Very helpful, keep it up man and stay safe out there.
Very good information for the all tree guys! My Estimate video that I’ve been promising my subs will be out before long and man you pretty much have said most of what I was going to tell them. In the mean time I will send them your way until mines hits YT. You summed up years of experience and knowledge that no one else will tell them. Great stuff! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for taking the time. Subscribed. Started a tree managment service august of last year and its a good refresher listening to you catagorize your outputs and returns being the worker and owner. I am definitly shooting from the hip but i am improving and learning every day, honesty is the number one quality.
Hey brother a very informative video. I like the fact you throwed in maintenance days and also the advice about getting out of your truck and bidding a job.
Nice work on this one. The hardest part of bidding jobs for me when I started was taking the plunge and renting a chipper, or hiring out an excavator to load trucks, just spending it in general. It's hard at first to visualize how much money can be generated by saving time. I always have new ropes in the truck, its easier to replace the cheap stuff than to live down an accident from being cheap 😂
This is the best video of this kind I believe I've ever seen. A lot of common sense, but put together in such a succinct and personable way. Thanks for sharing these valuable details from your hard-won experience.
I did tree service with my dad for many years and now I'm thinking about getting a side hustle going. I realize as an adult how many of these mistakes my dad made, almost exclusively underbidding jobs and or not accounting for all expenses. He did top notch quality work and never had a problem. But we were always dirt poor because he was too nice to get paid enough for his time and expenses.
Not that either way is wrong or right Dad may have done it for himself and the customer he definitely knew its a business but still understood the customer pocket ill do business with a business man thats a people person than a business person that all about $
@@catchthis714 well yes, underbidding jobs is wrong because you as a business man need to make money for the business and your family. Being too nice results in being stressed and eventually going out of business which is what happened. No one owns and runs a business out of charity and while treating the customer right and not overcharging is important, underbidding is dishonest because your selling a job to a customer at a dishonest price, albeit low rather than high.
Thanks for the info I'm just starting out climbing. I've been cutting timber for a few years but only on the ground. It's totally different. Much love and thanks again
You bought me into that introduction 👍✌ when you're stepping a foot off the ground in your saddle, core ropes,lifeline hand saw & chainsaw treework is minimum $250 there Shall be no question.The risk factor is immediately in effect. I don't mean trimming a hedge climbing in 8 foot tree you know what I mean TREE GUYS Signing out: Bill in the Hills Tree Service Is in effect Stay safe my comrades you can find me in the Tree Tops
Catfish Johnson $300/hr has been pretty standard for over a decade unless you’re from the Midwest or Gulf area. You can’t charge $300/hr when the house costs $40k.
@@briankennedy1313 well when it comes to safety, risk quality skilled work that's when you can't settle for less people understand that it's no different than ironworker or electrician getting paid their sixty bucks an hour 75 we cannot be undersold by all means if you let things become a norm they stay that norn you adjust just like the cost of living adjust rates will increase comprise yourself low we're doing something that for a few can gather their equipment and have the skill set to do so. warmly brace yourself to the point where you will go home. safe job is well done your clients happy and no one was hurt. My comrades in the tree industry do not under sell or under value the skill. You can find me in the treetops🤘🤙👍✌
I absolutely appreciate this mans videos I started a small side business due to being active duty I really miss tree work and I cannot work for some one with my scheduled. This channel really helps out a new business and climbers with moderate experience.
Enjoyed the video, back in the day , we all worked together in New England states, I am now in the southeast , things have changed , good honest help is hard to find, drugs have really destroyed the catch climbers , I can no longer trust anyone in the business , I pay top climbers that spin it hard 500.00 per day, pay them after work , I may hear from them in a week, I am still plugging because I love trees , 🌳 it's been good to me , the old road to paradise is sadly missed, the days of good workers are about gone , stay true to your work ! Many blessings your way 🙏
Very useful tips 👍 One thing I would add is to film your work, upload it onto RU-vid/your website, and put the address on your cards to make sure everybody knows about what great work you do!
Joe, I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video. Thank you for the advice and tips. Do you have any advice on bonding/insurance? I am not sure where to find a policy that allows for working at heights. Every policy I look at seems to exclude tree work in general.
So true, made that mistake once n gave a price from a pic, well when I got there, what I thought was an easy notch n drop ended up having a huge limb off the back side of the tree that was covered up by brush etc making it impossible to drop. Took a big loss that day, will never happen again! Proly best piece of advice in your video!
A wise man taught me. "Bid your jobs at a price that will make you feel thrilled to be there. . . And remember theres guys charging double what you are in you area . . . They also have probably been doing it twice as long as you"
Job location & description: Date of Bid: # of workers Estimated man hrs.(combined total) *specific equipment needed Y / N Powerlines House interference Rigging Crane Climb Deadwood Removal Pruning Reduction @ what % Haul away brush/wood Leave brush/wood Sidewalk/fences/pets Stump removal Lay down mats NOTES:
Very helpful, I appreciate you taking the time to make the videos. I'm trying to get out of the Mow Biz after 20 years. The business around here has bottomed out and everyday seems like something breaks. Anyone can get a mower at a box store and start mowing. They start making productivity after spending more on commercial equipment. But even buying commercial equipment the mow biz FOR ME isn't worth the time. I finally got a big chipper! Sure there are alot of tree companies out there but not as much as mowing/landscape it seems. I'm kinda glad in a way the chippers and arborists trucks aren't cheap. Helps a little on keeping the low ballers from getting the bigger jobs. I have had to turn away a bunch of big jobs that require a chipper, truck,and being able to climb. But hope that will change as I'm getting ready for another chapter. I'm getting older though . I'm still able as of now. Next I'm going to go to school for climbing skills. After watching many videos, I respect the climber. I had no idea how technical it can be. Great content.
Anything uploads how old are you? I just turned 54 years old. I’ve been in the mowing business for about 10 years and have been slowly transitioning into more and more tree work. I love it...much more exciting than mowing. I’m ready to start climbing but I don’t know if I’m too old. I also don’t know what type of climbing to get into...spurs?...rope ascents?...
@@rod.jordan start with the basics, learn your knots and I'd suggest moving straight into srt climbing once you're comfortable with basic climbing skills. It's much easier on your body and just so fast and easy, I'd never turn back. You don't need spurs, or most of the fancy gear that's available to do a good job, but it sure does help in certain situations. A good saddle goes a long ways!
@@rod.jordan ,I'm 46. Most of my tree work is trimming. Alot of it can be done from the ground with extensions. I need to learn some rigging as I'm solo now. Having some issues when the large branches are growing over the house. Most of the trees around here are not as tall as the ones I see on RU-vid. I'm open to the tall trees with proper training but at the same time if I'm not comfortable, I'll turn it away. I don't want to have a sign on my truck doing tree service but having to tell the customer I can't do the job, doesn't sound confident. I guess it depends on the individual. Their experience, health. I've seen some good looking 46 year olds and some also looking pretty aged and out of shape. I am doing alot of research but am feeling overwhelmed and still trying to find a starting point. I did call a couple of mower shops and asked if they knew of someone that would train or know of a climbing school. I will email Stihl to see if they can give some advice. I looked on Facebook tree groups. Some seem helpful but some make it hard to ask a simple question without being played with.
Hey Joe, I'm 65 and I've been doing some light tree work for neighbors. I want to do this as a business mostly working by myself. I have several chainsaws, ropes, Shackles, carabiners, pruning saws, slings, wedges, axes and such. Besides $1,000,000 of liability insurance is there anything else I need to consider? Great info, thanks.
When you do quality work the customer what's to pay you more then what you asked, I don't know how many times custys have handed me and my guys cash tips at the end of the day
Joe, you bagged so many key points that are critical to have a business thrive. I run a handyman business and do tree work as well. Professional attitude and demeanor are key. The mindset you must create constantly. On my office wall, I have a sign that states. I only have great customers. So when I walk away from work because I see they won't be a great customer, I. am excellent with it. All I have to do is look at my customer base and see. I truly do only have hand-picked great customers. Early on, this was not the case. I must say I chased money like a cheap whore. Never ever make BS up while talking with customers. They respect when you say I don't know, but I can get that information. Like some electrical I. say I don't know, I will bring over a licensed electrician and make sure we do it by code. Remember, mindset is a learned behavior. Namaste.
I learned from 2 long time contractors with 30+ year experience each that if Your getting all your bids Your not making money. You should get about 50% of Your bids as confirmed jobs.
Would you mind sharing how much you would charge for your hourly rate? For using all your equipment, drop and leave, or sub-contract? On both pruning and removal And where are you located? By the way, love the content! 👍🏽👊🏽
My addenda: Remember that you're not going to win every bid. If you are, you're probably underbidding or doing something wrong. It's okay to not be the cheapest as long as you're not price-gouging. Don't view customers as one-time-use disposable entities. Look up - always find electrical wires, roof overhangs, etc in advance (this was mentioned in passing, but it bears repeating). "I have a guy who can do it for $200!" Great, I recommend you use that guy. Respect the customer enough to use the right terminology. If you look like you don't know the terms, that doesn't make you look good. Mentally plan where equipment will go, looking for clearance and space. Don't find out the day of the work your crane can't make the corner.
Great tips Joe! After a few years of running a part-time company, all of these hit home. I gotta hand it to you; I climb and rig. Running the business end is a whole other animal. Then you shoot and edit content. Are there 30 hour days where you are?
Hey bro im just starting out learning from the ground up just bought notch gecko spikes , harness, flip line , rope runner pro , and some carabiners, i need some rope and foot ascended and knee ascended..do u have any advice for a newbie with pretty much 0 experience
It is truth man one time l had to removed a lot of Italian cypress so we cut them then the client diceded not to grind then when l already rented the stump grinder so l had to charge the same price bacause it wasn't my fault she chanced her mind at the last time never back up on your estimate cause things you won't expect might happen like a broken pipe and you gotta pay for it.
If you want to learn just work for multiple services. I recommend moving on if your teaching the crew but not learning anything. But don’t burn your bridges and it’s good to share your knowledge with people willing to listen. Also read climbing books when carpooling practice knots at lunch. Keep your tools clean people will treat your tools better if they look good.
@@cannonball9478 Also a great point. But, many times, the kind of people who spend money on tree work are the type of folks who are on a first name basis with their neighbors and would explain the situation. Could go either way, I suppose.
I had to start charging a deposit cas iv had people back out the day before the one that did it for me I was on my way had my guys with me pulled out my drive stopped to get gas and canceled on me so I started charging a deposit
@@joebisping6799 Thanks for replying. Do you have a vid of it in action? I suppose this means you mill your own lumber. I like to freehand lumber occasionally.
Figure out what it's gonna cost to get the job done. Double it and add a 1/3rd. Take no for an answer. Service is king. Be honest with them and your being honest with yourself. Never take money till your done unless your inputs are gonna have to be covered at risk. Hold the money till you spend it on what your going to need to do the job per the contract. Never change the price. Never. Sometimes you have to eat your inexperience. Education is expensive.
This I really good info. I will say, as far as winter pricing goes, I refuse to give cheaper winter rates. It’s harder work in the winter, I’m not doing it for less money. Also. Please, for the love of god, don’t be the wicked cheap guy, the rest of us will hate you, and you’ll be doing a ton of work just to wind up poor. Walk away from the cheap jobs.
say someone calls they say "I cut a tree down, can you clean it and whats the price"? easy answer is 1 chipper and truck and 2 guys 300 hr., 1 hr minimum from there on each hr prorated.
Ive been in business 35years, I started when the average was 100 an hr, it has been at 300 hrly a while now should be more and sometimes can get more, Insurance jobs there is no limit what ever you can get, dont hurt the customer!
That's the hardest part of tree work in my opinion. Depends on everything and even pros have problems sometimes ( I'm not the pro btw, just a rookie in this business)
Hey joe ! I own Sam’s the Man tree service out in medina county ! I recently just started making videos I love your videos it would be awesome if you and me could make a video or two and meet up!
Joe Bisping sounds good ! I was planning on moving in the next few years so I took this winter off to go see warmer places ! Love the videos btw I value learning more from other companies especially since we are in almost the same area
yer one thing is need access to nieghbours for whatever reason great if they let em know, cos i hear alot nieghbours are fine, then run out and abuse you for working on the tree before even goin to clean up"
