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WOW ! & Good Help...

arborist@gilroy.com
Tue, 9 Dec 1997 18:10:19 -0600

WOW you guys! Looks like I missed all the action...
Sounds like there was a real scuffle going on.
Since nobody really has much to say to me (which is to be
expected), I stopped checking in and it looks like I missed
my chance to inser MY expertise, breaking up brawls! HA!
Anyhow, sounds like the fight was over ladies climbing.
My husband would LOVE for me to climb with him, but the
kids keep me hopping. Although, I've spent many days out
dragging brush when one of the guys had a little too much
to drink the night before and "forgot" to set his clock.
Anyway, knew two ladies who could climb o.k. Not as much
muscle as most of the guys but did a pretty good job. Also,
very dependable and didn't mind hanging around with
'the wife' after work. That's all I know about it.
To respond to Good Help... in FLA.

We've got 5 kids 2 dogs a cat and I don't work. We live in
THE MOST expensive area in the U.S. (statistically)
We are SMALL, but fully insured to the hilt (our insurance
is worth more than all our equipment combined!) and we
barely make it, sometimes. 11 yrs in, 2 yrs full time self-
employed, ALWAYS paid our taxes, no under the table jobs
plus we attend church & tithe 10% for conscience sake.
I don't work outside the home and never have (since having
our first) but we do what's right, always try to come through
and be good to our word. We LOVE this business and believe
it is growing in professionality and people are beginning
to pay for the service.

Write a good solid business plan the SBA (small business
administration)will help for free,
figure out what you need to make on each job to cover every
thing including savings, then target your market, be presentable
reliable and friendly, be willing to admit when you blow it
and you'll do great, especially if you have a good helper to
take care of loose ends.

Get a bookkeeper. Pay everything so you don't end up with
crazy fees to the IRS. WORTH IT

Ultimately, we have found that it's God's economy not man's.
If you don't believe in God (which you SHOULD)
then at least impliment His rules
for business and personal relations and even tho it's hard
sometimes, you'll be amazed. Some of our best paying clients
have been those which could've been screwed up because we did.
We fixed the problems and now they love us and recomend us
to everyone they know.
People are afraid of tree men sometimes cuz they look hard and
hairy, old folks feel uncomfortable (they also tend to live
in the nicest areas and have the most MONEY-not to be mercinary,
it's just that we're not a charity, we give at church!)
my husband has tatoos, but
doesn't wear shirts that they show, he's so friendly that they
don't notice the ones on his hand much and always trust him.
Word of mouth can make or break you when you start out.

Blah blah..... it's my nature, ask my 11 yr. old! HA
Be safe & God bless.
The Arborists Wife

Last example, Condo. customer had tree guy tell them that
he had ins. He meant on his truck (personal not business)
let the truck roll down the hill, smash a BMW and took off
with Euc. limbs all over the place. Bad business.
(same co. 30k contract over 6 years)

Hubby dropped limb through patio cover, took 6 months for us
to pay for it, our deductable was just over the amount, we
had it professionally fixed & now she calls us every year,
has recommended at least 20 people who don't even get other
bids. Just call us "DO IT & BILL 'EM tree service"
MERRY CHRISTMAS