What You Need to Start a Tree Removal Service? A Perfect Business Plan for Success

Starting a tree service company, or any other type of company for that matter, can be overwhelming. In this section, we'll list down everything you'll need to accomplish to serve as your checklist. Later on, we'll tackle each task to give you a better idea of how to cross it off your to-do list. 

• Writing a business plan
• Acquiring capital
• Choosing a legal entity
• Registering your company
• License and certification
• Setting up your accounting system
• Acquiring equipment and crew
• Getting insurance
• Promoting your business

A business idea can never be turned into a reality without a solid plan. This plan will serve as your roadmap - stating the focus and purpose of your business, how you are going to achieve your business goals, and when you plan to achieve them. With it, you can monitor and assess the growth of your business.

So, how do you go about writing a business plan? To be honest, there is no right or wrong way to create one. You just need to make sure that you write one that meets your needs. If you're writing the plan for yourself, we recommend utilizing the lean startup business plan format. This format focuses on the key elements of your business plan such as your value proposition, revenue streams, cost structure, key resources, key partnerships, key activities, and customer segments. We'll discuss some of these elements more thoroughly below.

How much money do you actually need for starting a tree trimming business? Well, it depends. The actual amount will vary from one company to another. It will depend on the services you plan to provide, the equipment you buy, how many people you plan to hire, the tree service business software you use, etc. In general, the cost of getting this kind of business off the ground ranges from $10,000 to $50,000. 

To get a true idea of how much money you need to invest in your tree care company, create a spreadsheet estimating all of your startup costs such as license fees, permits, equipment, insurance, branding, marketing, etc. Don't forget to include how much you think you'll need to keep your business running for at least a year (e.g. operational expenses, employee salaries, supplies, your own salary). 

Once you have a rough estimate of how much capital you need, it's time to decide how you'll get the necessary funding. There are several options open to you such as small business loans, personal savings, small business grants, crowdfunding, and bootstrapping. Choose one or a combination of these options to set up your capital.

How will your tree service company make money? What services will you be providing? What are the types of jobs that you can do and what jobs will you subcontract to other companies? For example, you can specialize in tree trimming and removal while you subcontract another tree company for tree health inspection and treatment. You can also choose to subcontract YOUR tree maintenance services to landscaping companies. Other services that you might be interested in offering include tree pruning, stump grinding, tree bracing, tree planting, tree storm repairs, and fertilization.

When you have your list of services defined, the next step is to price your services. Keep in mind that you'll need to make a profit if you want your business to succeed. Offering the lowest price will not guarantee that your business will thrive. In order to determine the right price, you need to consider several factors such as the current costs in your area (e.g. gas, labor, insurance premiums) and competitors' prices. Make sure that your prices are able to cover all of your operational costs as well as your profit goals.

You can structure your tree removal business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or a corporation. The legal entity you choose will have an impact on your business name, taxes, and liability. You may want to consult with an accountant or a lawyer to help you choose the best structure for your company.

Choosing a business name is not easy. You want to pick one that is professional, easy to remember, and gives a clear idea of what your company does - tree removal services. Remember, this is the name that will appear on the side of your trucks, your social media pages, uniforms, and documents (i.e. quotes and invoices). You'll need to take some time in choosing what says "tree service company" best. Just don't take too long that it prevents you from starting your business altogether.

Once you have the name, it's time to determine what your logo will be. Like your business name, this will also appear everywhere from your documents and business cards to your marketing paraphernalia. Take note that hiring a professional graphic designer is not always necessary. There are platforms that enable you to create your own such as Canva.

Pro Tip: make sure to check if the name and logo have been trademarked or are currently in use before making any final decisions.

You will need to register your business with the local and state agencies. You may also need to register with the federal government, especially if you want trademark protection. The registration process will vary depending on the type of entity you choose and the area where you will be conducting your business. Get in touch with your local municipality for instructions and requirements, so you can prepare your documents as well as money for the permits and fees.

Pro Tip: don't forget to register your domain name and social media accounts while you're at this stage. Securing it early ensures that no one else takes it before you can get around to setting things up.

You will need to acquire certain permits and licenses in order to operate your tree removal business. You will need to do some research to find out what types of licenses and permits are required by your local and state agencies for small businesses.

While you don't generally need a tree service license in order to become an arborist, some states such as California do require it. It's important that you check with your local and state agencies to find out if you will need one. 

Licensing guidelines do vary from state to state. But to give you a general idea, the requirements of a tree service license in California include a minimum of 4 years journeyman level experience and passing a two-part state exam with the Contractor State License Board. 

Technically, you don't need to be certified as an arborist to operate a tree removal business. You can just employ people who have training in tree care. Usually, training in this industry is done on the job. But you can also acquire certification from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) by joining their training programs.

What are the essentials when you're starting a tree service company? How many people should you hire as your crew? The answers to these questions will depend on what services you are going to offer and how big of an operation do you want to run.

The tools that you most likely will need are:

• ladders
• saws (chainsaw, climbing saw, ladder saw, and pole saw)
• helmets
• climbing ropes
• bucket truck
• stump grinder
• ear protectors
• eye guards
• bush hogs
• mini skid steers
• brush chippers
• block trailers
• bull ropes
• climbing boots
• orange cones
• oil can
• clips
• wedges

As for your crew, you can choose to go solo in the beginning and just subcontract jobs to other tree care companies. You can also choose to hire a small crew and hire more people once your client list starts to grow.

Tree removals and other professional tree care services are dangerous work. You'll be operating equipment that carries with them a certain amount of risk (think saws, axes, and ladders). While you can do your best to prevent accidents, they can still happen. You will need to get general liability insurance to cover your company and any compensation to be given to property owners,  equipment insurance, and worker's compensation coverage. Make sure to shop around to get the best coverage and terms for your tree care business.

Word of mouth and referrals are typically the main marketing channel of tree care businesses. However, since you're just starting out, you'll need to do more to get your company noticed. This means investing in both offline and online marketing. 

Use social media to get visibility. Establishing a web presence also helps. People who search for your services on Google will be able to easily find you. You can print fliers and professional business cards that you can pass out. You can even take an ad out in your local newspaper or offer coupons or free estimates to get the word out in your community. 

All of these activities cover the basics of starting a professional tree service company. Take note that success does not happen overnight. You will need to invest time, money, and a whole lot of effort to get there. But as long as you've got a solid plan and you follow through with it, you increase the chance of your company succeeding.