frashdog
ArboristSite Operative
Ignorant in a nice uneducated way of course. 1st post for me , but been reading a bit.
I'm starting to get more jobs than expected and would like to do it right.
Here's a little background. Me I've been around tree's, chippers and chainsaws for over 15yrs. Been rock climbing for about 10 years. 5yrs ago family bought 90 acres I moved onto and have been "playing" logger since. Two years ago I meet a guy, good buddy now who had been working as a professional tree climber for big tree services in various states for about 7 years. We both are full timers at "other jobs" but started doing side tree work for friends and then there friends and so on.
Last year we made a partnership and got 1-2 mill liability with landscaping insurance. Now it cost us about $900/yr and no one around here had a clue about tree climbing insurance. We were not supposed to prune over 35feet or stump a tree. It worked fine because we communicated to the customer if what they wanted was out of our insurance coverage. Most really only wanted the insurance if we were near/over their house pruning. I turned down a few jobs due to the risk being to much for my taste. Like climbing dead trees over roofs!
Now we did jobs mostly without a chipper, a few times the jobs were so big I forced my partner to rent a chipper. I HATE hauling brush in my truck!
So I'm going to get a chipper, can use one on my property too.
Here's the questions:
1) Where do I get insurance for general liability for tree work, my truck and chipper ? Names please, the insurance "brokers" up here are not very crafty.
2) Does anyone see any pros/cons being in a partnership? When it comes to insurance and taxes? My partner does not want to pay taxes, I want to do everthing (mostly) legit. I think it will be easier to get coverage for climbing due to his past experience, right.
3) Do most charge (tell/show) the customer by the hour or job.
4) What is a good hourly rate to walk away with in your pocket after all expenses. Any difference based on simple climbing/pruning versus technical climbing/rigging?
Now we both have our own health insurance from our full time jobs, and we both do not plan on doing this full time. I work nights and he is a teacher, summer's free. I really was not planning on doing much tree work this year, but already so many people have started to request our services, I just can't say no.
Any and all help, in the form of answers and general advice is greatly apreciated.
Thanks
Steve
I'm starting to get more jobs than expected and would like to do it right.
Here's a little background. Me I've been around tree's, chippers and chainsaws for over 15yrs. Been rock climbing for about 10 years. 5yrs ago family bought 90 acres I moved onto and have been "playing" logger since. Two years ago I meet a guy, good buddy now who had been working as a professional tree climber for big tree services in various states for about 7 years. We both are full timers at "other jobs" but started doing side tree work for friends and then there friends and so on.
Last year we made a partnership and got 1-2 mill liability with landscaping insurance. Now it cost us about $900/yr and no one around here had a clue about tree climbing insurance. We were not supposed to prune over 35feet or stump a tree. It worked fine because we communicated to the customer if what they wanted was out of our insurance coverage. Most really only wanted the insurance if we were near/over their house pruning. I turned down a few jobs due to the risk being to much for my taste. Like climbing dead trees over roofs!
Now we did jobs mostly without a chipper, a few times the jobs were so big I forced my partner to rent a chipper. I HATE hauling brush in my truck!
So I'm going to get a chipper, can use one on my property too.
Here's the questions:
1) Where do I get insurance for general liability for tree work, my truck and chipper ? Names please, the insurance "brokers" up here are not very crafty.
2) Does anyone see any pros/cons being in a partnership? When it comes to insurance and taxes? My partner does not want to pay taxes, I want to do everthing (mostly) legit. I think it will be easier to get coverage for climbing due to his past experience, right.
3) Do most charge (tell/show) the customer by the hour or job.
4) What is a good hourly rate to walk away with in your pocket after all expenses. Any difference based on simple climbing/pruning versus technical climbing/rigging?
Now we both have our own health insurance from our full time jobs, and we both do not plan on doing this full time. I work nights and he is a teacher, summer's free. I really was not planning on doing much tree work this year, but already so many people have started to request our services, I just can't say no.
Any and all help, in the form of answers and general advice is greatly apreciated.
Thanks
Steve