If you’re an arborist who wants to start their own tree service business or you’re just really curious about what it takes to start one, there’s a great opportunity.

After all, having your own arborist business can be a great career. It’s more profitable compared to being a worker with reliable, professional, highly demanded tree care services almost everywhere in the world.

[PS: Also, read about Top Businesses That Rely on Cloud Computing and How Can Small Businesses Convert Leads From YouTube?]

Plus, you’ll be your own boss and able to set your own standards, assemble a team you can count on, and accomplish your own goals.

However, being a proficient arborist isn’t enough to launch a tree service business. You also have to comprehend business management, customer care, and pricing for profit. You must have a plan which you can find online these days, simply by searching for a “business plan template free.” Among other things, a business plan template contains a complete guide for the right tools you need to succeed.

To help you along, we’ve assembled the below step-by-step guide that explains the basics and will equip you with the required knowledge to get started.

Register Your Business And Insure It

This isn’t the most fun part, but it’s required if you want to run your business legally. You can register it as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, or partnership. An LLC is the most usual go-to business structure since business owners have limited liability in case of being sued.

Next, register your business with your local, state, and federal institutions and obtain the required licenses and permits. These requirements often differ depending on the place you live, so get in touch with the local municipality to clarify. Get an identification number from the IRS. Get your accountant and business bank account. 

Lastly, get tree service insurance coverage. Insurance is essential in this sector because the work you do is dangerous, and the operating equipment has great risks attached. That means accidents may, unfortunately, happen, so look around and get quotes from different insurance companies. Mostly, you’ll need general liability insurance, which offers coverage if you unintentionally damage your client’s property.

Ascertain Your Staffing and Equipment Needs

Your staffing and equipment needs will depend on the services you’re planning to offer and the extent of your operation.

In respect of staffing, you can start your operation solo and outsource jobs from bigger tree service businesses. When you’ll be ready to hire, you can start going to local training schools or high schools to employ apprentices.

As for the equipment, make a list of the tools you’ll need at a certain moment or the other. But, bear in mind that you won’t have to buy all the equipment at once. A better idea is to first book a job, figure out what tools you need, and then buy them afterward.

Market Your Arborist Business

Now, once the legalities are taken care of, you’re ready to start working. You can be the best at your job, but that won’t guarantee your arborist business will succeed.

The world changes and evolves continually and word-of-mouth advertising is no longer as efficient as before. Nowadays, almost everything is done virtually, and you have to think about your business’s online presence and the online tools you should utilize to get and increase clientele.

Although you don’t need a website to run a business, it’s always a great idea to have one ready. It will make you look more professional, reliable, and trustworthy. Plus, it may have a major impact on your overall marketing strategy.

Define Your Workflow Properly

By providing quality services and marketing your business, you’ll get a constant stream of customers. But ask yourself what you should do once customers send emails or call to ask about your services.

The key is to establish and apply a repeatable process that produces steady results and helps you ensure that your customers won’t be overlooked.

So, you should collect customer information on the first call. Afterward, make a proposal, schedule the job, form a work order, and in the end invoice and collect the payment. 

Use A Task Management Software to Manage Your Business

Don’t forget to consider using task management software, which you’ll need to manage your tree service business smoothly. You can utilize that software for online bookings, making quotes and estimates, scheduling, tracking your time, managing your team, sending invoices, and so on.

Choosing a proper tree service software for your business is vital because it can save you so much time. It will keep you organized and generate useful reports for monitoring your performance and finances. It will make things much easier for you, so consider getting one. 

Final Words

Starting an arborist business is a great opportunity, but it’s a big challenge as well. Therefore, ensure you complete all the tasks on your checklist, like hitting the books, defining your services, registering your business, marketing, and building a framework. Once you’re up and running, scale your business to remain efficient and profitable.