Growing your business

Why is marketing important? Just ask this guy.

Peter Sortwell invested in efforts to focus his branding message with a logo and eventually a website — and in the days before social media, this really helped him spread his message.

The story of Arborwell

If you want to talk to someone who knows a thing or two about taking the risk to become a tree care entrepreneur, Peter Sortwell is your guy. Frustrated with the lack of options available to someone with so many years of experience, Sortwell started weighing the options of branching out on his own.

So, you’ve hired a new employee — tips in onboarding, mentoring and managing

From the first day they show up to work to the completion of their first year, it’s important to create a welcoming atmosphere and provide the guidance necessary to set them up for success. Although mentoring will take a little more time upfront, studies have shown it often leads to increased employee retention and improved workforce productivity.

Things to consider before starting your tree care business

A business plan is the roadmap to your business’ success. It outlines your goals and details how you plan to achieve those goals. Use your business plan as a tool to help you outline action items, next steps, future activities and equipment purchases.

Liability — Finding the Proper Tree Care Insurance

Insurance coverage is a necessary part of business overhead, especially in the tree care industry. All tree care businesses should be covered with general liability, commercial automobile, workers’ compensation, inland marine, umbrella and property policies.

The art of closing the deal

The art of closing a deal is a delicate dance. Be too passive or too aggressive and you might just blow the deal. So, what can your tree service or landscaping business do to hit just the right notes with customers and close deals with consistency?

Starting your own tree service? A good business plan will give you focus

The need for a solid business plan is fundamental for more reasons than financing. That document will help the owner understand why he or she is starting a new business and how he or she is going to do it.

This tree care contractor’s secret to success? Thinking bigger.

Garrett Jensen founded Frontenac Forestry about a dozen years ago in the St. Louis metro area and focused on tree trimmings and small removals at first. Now, with the company receiving his full attention and the addition of Andy Haskenhoff as co-owner, Frontenac Forestry is a thriving tree care company with services that largely consist of land clearing for new residential developments.

How to keep your tree care business busy in the off-season

Many countries experience winter to some degree. As a tree care business owner, that means you probably have an off-season. Instead of slowing or shutting down during this time, there are several opportunities to develop new revenue streams to help keep your business busy.

5 things you don’t want to miss at TCI Expo

An arborist at TCI Expo is a lot like a kid in a candy store. There’s so much to see and do — but it’s easy to get distracted by all the shiny new equipment. Never fear, we did the legwork and compiled a list of 5 things for your crew to do at TCI Expo.

Category: Growing your business