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$5k - Tree trimming/removal. Great margins. My initial investment was paid for after a few jobs. ***** Update ***** Background, I wanted a side gig last year that would provide enough income to purchase a sailboat, long time goal! I have some background in rock climbing so I was familiar with climbing and heights. I had no experience climbing trees and had never used a chain saw in my life or done tree work. I'll try to organize this... Equipment: Stihl MS 311 (used on the ground although I did take it up in a few trees for big cuts) Stihl MS 193 T (designed for one handed operation while up in the tree) Petal Advanced RAD kit - Used this for climbing up in the tree using SRT (single rope technique) Climbing harness, hardhat with visor, ear protection, climbing rope, anchor, lanyard, hand saw Legal/Regulatory: This depends on your area.. Some of the cities in my area require you to register as an independent contractor. Also, some cities require a permit to cut down a tree or trim a significant amount. Contact the city offices where you plan to provide services to find out if you need to register and if permits are needed. (Some people do not register or seek permits, just be prepared for any consequences if there are any and probably a good idea to know them ahead of time should you take that risk.) Insurance... For the places that require you to register as a contractor, they likely will require that you show proof of liability insurance. I never had insurance, I was very conservative with the jobs I took on, I wouldn't take on a job that I knew I couldn't do safely. Pricing: Before coming up with my method of providing quotes, I priced out competitors. My first few jobs, I provided low quotes just to get the jobs and some experience. Once I had a good grasp of how long a job would take me, I quoted using this formula: $50 per hour while working on the ground and $100 per hour while up in the tree. $50 travel time + ($50 x estimated ground hours) + ($100 x estimated climbing hours) = Quote Minimum $300 My focus was on tree removal only... Reason? I am not an arborist and did not portray myself as one. It is my belief that only certified arborists should be doing trimming or else you could damage/kill the tree. Even with only seeking out removal business, I had more business than I could handle. I was only doing this in the evening outside of my day job and on the weekends. Was common to make $600-$1k on a weekend. I did not offer haul away services. I either referred them to a biz that would haul it away or cut it to size for their trash service to pick it up. Long story short, it is dangerous work but very profitable in urban areas with enough business. If you have more questions, feel free to ask. More on reddit.com

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This right here is a FANTASTIC list.

One of the things I tell would-be entrepreneuers all the time is that the vast majority of new businesses are unsexy. They are derivative. Proper execution and great service are enough to propel pretty much any business ahead of competitors. If you think you can deliver on those two things, then you have a decent shot at success.

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