I helped my brother the other day cut those 4 dead Oaks, and my wife commented on how we should start a small tree removal business. I got to thinking about what she said, and it does seem as though there should be a market for tree work on a smaller scale. Jobs too small for a big tree company to want to mess with. I would do storm cleanups, easier take downs, small chipping jobs, etc. Just curious if anyone does this and how they make out financially. If it went well i'd consider selling firewood as a "side business" to get rid of the wood I didn't want myself. If I was paid to clean up, I wouldn't mind selling some primo seasoned wood for decent dollars. Buying logs to process doesn't seem to have enough profit for the amount of work I'd have to do. I'd take out an insurance policy for this endeavor and would likely not have any helpers, so shouldn't need workers comp. Thoughts???
I did some of this when I was a bit younger. After a couple summers I decided it was more work for less money. However, in a higher populated area it probably would have worked out better. Good luck.
Are big tree companies turning down small jobs? I would think there would be a good profit margin to take down small trees that don't involve climbing especially if you can swing by on the way home from a larger gig. That said, if you get your name out there, I'm sure there is some work for you.
Turning down, or too busy to do. The 4 standing dead Oak trees at my brothers they wanted $1,000 to drop them and leave. I'm sure the cleanup and taking the wood price would have been at least $1,500-$1,800, and he (tree guy) would have had 3 cords of wood to process and sell for $250/cord at a later date. My father, brother, and myself roped them down in 1 hour instead. I have plenty of space to store logs and splits at my house. I'd be pretty selective on what jobs I took. I would not do any "But you're getting the wood as payment" jobs unless it was absolute primo easy to get to wood. Even then I'd try like hell to get some other form of payment. Leaners over houses type stuff I'd also decline. I have a full time job that covers our Health Insurance. I just enjoy cutting wood, and this would all be extra money.
Sounds like a good time to call part time tree trimmers Scotty Overkill and Barcroftb for their professional opinion...
I just sell wood!!! The last year going hard everyday and now i have people calling me for trees or free wood, dropping rounds on my front lawn. Knocking on doors for power company wood. I do small removals. Multiple properties with good truck trails that i go in and take dead standing. The last year has been outstanding!! I also have my own 6 acres to pick at. I get $300 plus a cord because dead standing/storm wood are pushing kiln dried numbers aNd kiln dried around here is $400. I put 8 hours into this past weekend and produced two cords. All my properties are within 15 minute drive. Im turning business away, its nuts. Everyone wants my wood
No because its usually much cheaper than the big guys. So much of my wood is local free wood on FB. Sometimes its just worth it to me to do it for free for the wood. Then i have no brush or cleanup time and im onto the next one. I very rarely drop trees on somebody’s front lawn. Its mostly storm wood or something theve taken down and want the wood gone. I will charge for pine removal. I do sell pine to OWB customers ( small stuff/ 1 split) No money in pine camp wood, its the same work for so much less return. The hardwood is so busy theres no time for pine.
I just contacted my insurance company. A $500,000 policy would be about $1,500/year for liability. I'd probably give the customer a price, as well as a lower cash option price.
i joked around this summer that i was going to start a water heater and lawn care business called, Allcash Building Maintenance. Lol
Honestly if you have the time and know-how I don't see how it could be a bad idea. I've dabbled with the idea myself but my full time job keeps me busy enough. I do know if for some reason I ever stopped burning wood, I think I'd still scrounge and sell it. But as of now I can't bring myself to sell it, it's hard enough now with my family growing to get the time to keep on top of our own 3 year plan! Even just having an ad out on Craigslist a couple years back as a "free wood wanted" stating I'd clean up storm damage wood just for firewood I got a few calls, and people didn't even understand that I was doing it for free just for the firewood.
I don't know that I want to post an ad on CL. Way too many scammers, and people looking for handouts. I'll probably do word of mouth at first.
Interesting. I am having thoughts of doing the same. There are plenty of smaller jobs to be if you quote the job right. Plus selling the firewood...artisanal of course!
Precisely. I’d rather sell a smaller amount of premium product for more money. I’m debating designing a way to kiln dry 1/3rd cord loads in IBC cages......then charge accordingly. Imagine it, I pull in with the wood separated by species, then split a piece of their choosing to show it’s under 20 percent with a moisture meter. Those kind of buyers want small amounts anyways, so paying more per cord for their ambience fireplace wood isn’t a big deal to them.
