Need your opinions.

[Joe Buchanan]

I’m 42 and have climbed and cut trees off and on over the last 10 years I really enjoy it. I was wanting y’all opinions on weather or not it’s to late to start a prosperous tree service. Just wondering if I can climb for another 20 years. I currently hang fire protection pipe a job I truly hate.

 

[Oldmaple]

I'm 60, still climbing but not every day. You won't want to climb every day when you're 60 but by then you should be able to afford a bucket truck. More likely you will need lessons on how to run a profitable business. Also working capital to get you through the first few years when you aren't making enough money to survive on (because you're buying necessary equipment, building a loyal client base, not just the ones looking for the lowest price). Learning how to quote is another skill. Also insurance costs money. Disability, health, life, etc. will strain a budget. Add in family constraints if there are any and it's definitely a tough road.

 

[Del_]

Yep, to late.

 

[Joe Buchanan]

I'm 60, still climbing but not every day. You won't want to climb every day when you're 60 but by then you should be able to afford a bucket truck. More likely you will need lessons on how to run a profitable business. Also working capital to get you through the first few years when you aren't making enough money to survive on (because you're buying necessary equipment, building a loyal client base, not just the ones looking for the lowest price). Learning how to quote is another skill. Also insurance costs money. Disability, health, life, etc. will strain a budget. Add in family constraints if there are any and it's definitely a tough road.

Lol I already have to provide my own life and health etc. I have general liability and well I’d like to have a skid steer and a stump drinker but most of the other tree gear I have. I agree bidding trees is something on its own to be honest I suck at it. And I’m looking at a 60 ft bucket now.

 

[Joe Buchanan]

Yep, to late.

And why do you say it’s to late. Just wanting your opinion. So as to see why or why not.

 

[Groundman One]

Depends what kind of shape you're in. If you're healthy and have good to above average mobility, maybe you can have a go at it.

My climber is 51, but he's been doing it for 25 years, is a certified yoga instructor, and lives a very active and healthy lifestyle. And he still has aches and pains from the job.

 

[Joe Buchanan]

Depends what kind of shape you're in. If you're healthy and have good to above average mobility, maybe you can have a go at it.

My climber is 51, but he's been doing it for 25 years, is a certified yoga instructor, and lives a very active and healthy lifestyle. And he still has aches and pains from the job.

I’m in good shape. I climb now and tote 6 inch steel pipe up ladders on my shoulders almost daily. I guess I’m just worried about the plunge.

 

[northmanlogging]

I’m 42 and have climbed and cut trees off and on over the last 10 years I really enjoy it. I was wanting y’all opinions on weather or not it’s to late to start a prosperous tree service. Just wondering if I can climb for another 20 years. I currently hang fire protection pipe a job I truly hate.

Do it! Neighbor is 56 now, taught him to use spurs and belt 10 years ago, at 46, can't keep him outta the trees anyway might as well make money at it

Bidding gets easier after you lose yer ass a few times, but figure out what you need to cover costs, add 10-20% fer boo boo's then double it to pay yourself.

Trouble is competition, some will underbid you to get the work, some will way under cut because they don't have insurance or scruples

Don't play by their rules, bid so you can make money without gouging folks and let the other punters fight over the scraps, good work pays for itself, happy clients bring more happy clients.

Find yourself outta work or to busy and goin broke then sit down and rethink how yer going about things

 

[Joe Buchanan]

I’m in good shape. I climb now and tote 6 inch steel pipe up ladders on my shoulders almost daily. I guess I’m just worried about the plunge.

I plan on only trying to climb for the next two years. After that it would be on a when I want to. I plan on hiring a club miner or two by then.

Do it! Neighbor is 56 now, taught him to use spurs and belt 10 years ago, at 46, can't keep him outta the trees anyway might as well make money at it

Bidding gets easier after you lose yer ass a few times, but figure out what you need to cover costs, add 10-20% fer boo boo's then double it to pay yourself.

Trouble is competition, some will underbid you to get the work, some will way under cut because they don't have insurance or scruples

Don't play by their rules, bid so you can make money without gouging folks and let the other punters fight over the scraps, good work pays for itself, happy clients bring more happy clients.

Find yourself outta work or to busy and goin broke then sit down and rethink how yer going about things

thanks. That is good solid advice. And enough for me to tip the edge. I’m going to go for it. I just have to get a few more things in order. I’m going to talk to a friend of mine that has been in the service for some years but due to health he can’t climb much anymore was thinking of seeing how he would like running the ground crew he has plenty of experience

 

[The Singing Arborist]

I'm 36 right now and started my business earlier this year after working with trees and landscapes for 10 years. I still go jogging a couple nights a week after work and run obstacle course races a few times per year. I'm hoping to be able to keep all that up as long as I can. But every morning when I sit up, I let out a big groan of pain...and it keeps getting more and more painful. I imagine it will continue that way. Necessity has a way of holding you up for a task.

The neat thing of setting up your business is you get to decide the kind of work you want to do. There's hard tree work, really hard tree work, and gut wrenching tree work. You can do plant health care, tree trimming, ornamentals, fruit trees, small removals. As fun as the big removals is, it's more of a young man's game (or a game for guys with equipment for hauling away the heavy stuff).

 

[tree MDS]

Yeah, sucks to have “missed the boat”, so to speak, but I agree, leave the tree service starting to the younger folks.

 

[Joe Buchanan]

Lol y’all all crazy. Shoot I carry 3 to 4 hundred pound pipes on my shoulders up ladders all day long I out work most 20 year olds around me. Climb and cut on weekends. I might be older but I come from the old school. The way most y’all talk is after 30 you might as well give it all up life is over. Lol shoot viagra probably wouldn’t help most of you.

 

[Groundman One]

Lol y’all all crazy. Shoot I carry 3 to 4 hundred pound pipes on my shoulders up ladders all day long I out work most 20 year olds around me. Climb and cut on weekends. I might be older but I come from the old school. The way most y’all talk is after 30 you might as well give it all up life is over. Lol shoot viagra probably wouldn’t help most of you.

 

[Joe Buchanan]

Let me get a few things done this morning and I’ll get ya some groundman

 

[Groundman One]

400 pounds up a ladder will do nicely.

 

[grizz55chev]

400 pounds up a ladder will do nicely.

Does it have to be all at once?

 

[Joe Buchanan]

Lol look fellas have you ever tried caring a 6 inch sched 10 or sched 40 up a a frame jack ladder I’m trying to find some pics of it now

 

[Del_]

Lol look fellas have you ever tried caring a 6 inch sched 10 or sched 40 up a a frame jack ladder I’m trying to find some pics of it now

Yep I can do it in my sleep. I saw this one coming

 

[Joe Buchanan]

That’s a 21 foot schedule 10 steel pipe it comes in at 300 pounds we tore that up and down ladders schedule 40 comes in around about 490

 

[The Singing Arborist]

Looks like pretty hard work. The question is, can you do stuff like that for 10-15 more years in hopes that you can grow your business enough to have employees do that hard work for you?

If you think you can, you should go for it. I'm only 5 years younger than you and I took that jump. I totally think it's doable for some guys at 42. You know if you're one of those guys better than we do.