Great video man. The stump grinding biz is a tough gig and depends a lot on location . I'm also starting stump grinding biz but renting a stump grinder to start out and then if I make enough money then buy a 3 point hitch grinder like the one you mention . Will be watching .
I think it's a great idea for a side hustle, being that you already have some equipment, and you've learned how to use it. The "lack of experience" can be made up for, as you said, by keeping your early service charge at a very competitive level, until your reputation is spread by satisfied customers. As far as equipment additions, you probably should wait and see what develops in the marketplace. If customers are ASKING for certain services, you might then justify added purchases, but for starters, just offer what you have the equipment to handle. You'll find that initially, your quotes will lead you to under-estimating the time/fuel/etc. involved, and you will learn as you go on that. I'm looking forward to your business endeavor evolving in future videos. Since tractor work is enjoyable for you, the business is a good place to put your effort. In terms of advertising, the most economic probably would be Facebook Marketplace, where you can showcase your equipment, your videos of the equipment in action, and go from there. As far as charges, you are probably better to charge via a fixed-price quote for the particular job, as opposed to a per-hour rate, where the customer thinks you're too slow (padding the bill), as opposed to customers knowing the cost up-front. They'll shop your quotes, anyway, but you will get better at estimating as you gain experience, and a satisfied customer is ,more important, at first, to establish your track record. A brush hog for that sub-compact should not be bigger than the 5' (60") but realize it will take longer to clear large areas, and build that into your quote for a job. GOOD LUCK!
Unless you can justify adding new equipment I'd stick to what you have to maximize your early expenditures. When you are on site ask the customer what their future plans are for the property so you can get a feeler of what you can offer them in the future. A happy customer is also far more likely to give you a referral to a friend or another family member. Good luck with your new endeavor.
Also, you don't have to offer a discount for putting in a yard sign. Just ask and if they say no, you can consider the value then offering a discount. Most people will say yes if you come back and get in a few days. I know it may seem a bit counterproductive but your early business dollars are worth more. Marketing is helpful but even more helpful is doing a stellar job and making sure you are always turning a profit in your first year or two. That will keep you in business more than an extra job will. Just my 0.2
When starting out, make sure your first customers are 100 percent satisfied with your work. Word of mouth recommendations are the best advertising you can get. Two weeks ago, I paid $550 to get four stumps ground down. It took the guy less than an hour to do all four stumps. I would never hire him again, because he would not give me any idea how much it was going to cost from the photos I sent him that had a yard stick showing the diameter of each stump. I cut each stump within 3 inches of ground level. His reply to my photos was he would give me a good deal, because he had another job nearby. Both of those statements turned out to be lies. He initially wanted $800 to do four stumps. As soon as I said no way in hell, he immediately said how about $550? I wish I had told him to take a hike. Don’t be that type guy. Be ethical, honest, and give people an idea what their project might cost, when they ask you. Quote high, if you need to, but give them some number, so you don’t waste your time and theirs. Good luck with your business.
Hourly all the way with grinding. For the reasons you gave as well. You want to be able to profitability offer to continue to work for $. The longer you are, the better your margins are on your hourly.
First let me say I know nothing about you or your area so please dont take this the wrong way. I work for the government and on the side I am a licensed plumber and Water treatment operator who specializes in municipal and commercial water treatment. The amount of money I can make is only limited by the hours in the day. But this isn't about me..... Most guys fail because they get carried away with buying expensive equipment and pickups. God.... the pickups..... I mean I ask myself all the time how many lawns do these guys have to mow to pay for that 80k F250? So you have a 35k tractor, you want to buy a 3 point stump grinder, you need a trailer, a truck, and everything that goes along with all of that. If your like most young guys (I could be wrong) your going to buy a 60k plus truck, a 10k trailer, along with the tractor and the stump grinder................ your 100k in the hole before you even do your first stump. How many stumps do you have to grind before you break even? Dont be that guy. If you already own all that stuff and just want to try and make a few bucks...fine... but dont put yourself in a hole buying a bunch of equipment. There are a few landscapers in my area that made it big years ago. Now all these new guys... they are just kidding themselves and most have expensive equipment but the bank owns them. Same for the new crop of tree guys. Dont be like them. If you can do it without borrowing money for any of the equipment, including your truck (is it paid off), then maybe...... I guess what IM trying to say is that in my head, when I factor in your equipment deprecation, fuel, and everything else....... $65/hour does not even break even.
I wish you the best at a pivotal time in the life of your family!
We bought a 5' brush hog with our summit and it works great.
I did at 15 yrs as a side hustle. Price by the job.
Great video man. The stump grinding biz is a tough gig and depends a lot on location . I'm also starting stump grinding biz but renting a stump grinder to start out and then if I make enough money then buy a 3 point hitch grinder like the one you mention . Will be watching .
Good for you good luck!!
I think it's a great idea for a side hustle, being that you already have some equipment, and you've learned how to use it. The "lack of experience" can be made up for, as you said, by keeping your early service charge at a very competitive level, until your reputation is spread by satisfied customers. As far as equipment additions, you probably should wait and see what develops in the marketplace. If customers are ASKING for certain services, you might then justify added purchases, but for starters, just offer what you have the equipment to handle. You'll find that initially, your quotes will lead you to under-estimating the time/fuel/etc. involved, and you will learn as you go on that. I'm looking forward to your business endeavor evolving in future videos. Since tractor work is enjoyable for you, the business is a good place to put your effort.
In terms of advertising, the most economic probably would be Facebook Marketplace, where you can showcase your equipment, your videos of the equipment in action, and go from there.
As far as charges, you are probably better to charge via a fixed-price quote for the particular job, as opposed to a per-hour rate, where the customer thinks you're too slow (padding the bill), as opposed to customers knowing the cost up-front. They'll shop your quotes, anyway, but you will get better at estimating as you gain experience, and a satisfied customer is ,more important, at first, to establish your track record. A brush hog for that sub-compact should not be bigger than the 5' (60") but realize it will take longer to clear large areas, and build that into your quote for a job. GOOD LUCK!
Unless you can justify adding new equipment I'd stick to what you have to maximize your early expenditures. When you are on site ask the customer what their future plans are for the property so you can get a feeler of what you can offer them in the future. A happy customer is also far more likely to give you a referral to a friend or another family member. Good luck with your new endeavor.
Also, you don't have to offer a discount for putting in a yard sign. Just ask and if they say no, you can consider the value then offering a discount. Most people will say yes if you come back and get in a few days.
I know it may seem a bit counterproductive but your early business dollars are worth more. Marketing is helpful but even more helpful is doing a stellar job and making sure you are always turning a profit in your first year or two. That will keep you in business more than an extra job will. Just my 0.2
Congratulations.
What insurance did you find? We're looking too.
When starting out, make sure your first customers are 100 percent satisfied with your work. Word of mouth recommendations are the best advertising you can get.
Two weeks ago, I paid $550 to get four stumps ground down. It took the guy less than an hour to do all four stumps. I would never hire him again, because he would not give me any idea how much it was going to cost from the photos I sent him that had a yard stick showing the diameter of each stump. I cut each stump within 3 inches of ground level. His reply to my photos was he would give me a good deal, because he had another job nearby. Both of those statements turned out to be lies. He initially wanted $800 to do four stumps. As soon as I said no way in hell, he immediately said how about $550? I wish I had told him to take a hike. Don’t be that type guy.
Be ethical, honest, and give people an idea what their project might cost, when they ask you. Quote high, if you need to, but give them some number, so you don’t waste your time and theirs.
Good luck with your business.
Hourly all the way with grinding. For the reasons you gave as well. You want to be able to profitability offer to continue to work for $. The longer you are, the better your margins are on your hourly.
I wouldn’t pull my tractor out of the barn for less than $100 an hour, but to each their own. Good luck and thanks for the video
First let me say I know nothing about you or your area so please dont take this the wrong way. I work for the government and on the side I am a licensed plumber and Water treatment operator who specializes in municipal and commercial water treatment. The amount of money I can make is only limited by the hours in the day. But this isn't about me.....
Most guys fail because they get carried away with buying expensive equipment and pickups. God.... the pickups..... I mean I ask myself all the time how many lawns do these guys have to mow to pay for that 80k F250?
So you have a 35k tractor, you want to buy a 3 point stump grinder, you need a trailer, a truck, and everything that goes along with all of that. If your like most young guys (I could be wrong) your going to buy a 60k plus truck, a 10k trailer, along with the tractor and the stump grinder................ your 100k in the hole before you even do your first stump. How many stumps do you have to grind before you break even?
Dont be that guy.
If you already own all that stuff and just want to try and make a few bucks...fine... but dont put yourself in a hole buying a bunch of equipment.
There are a few landscapers in my area that made it big years ago. Now all these new guys... they are just kidding themselves and most have expensive equipment but the bank owns them. Same for the new crop of tree guys.
Dont be like them.
If you can do it without borrowing money for any of the equipment, including your truck (is it paid off), then maybe......
I guess what IM trying to say is that in my head, when I factor in your equipment deprecation, fuel, and everything else....... $65/hour does not even break even.