Here is a "0 to $100k Blueprint" tailored for your Skool community members. It is stripped of your personal details so it applies to any solo operator starting out. 🚀 The Solo Operator’s Roadmap: $0 to $100k (Without Debt) Hitting your first $100,000 feels impossible when you’re staring at a calendar with no jobs. But if you break it down, $100k is just $8,333 a month. That is roughly four $2,000 days a month. That’s it. The mistake most guys make is thinking they need a bucket truck and a chipper to start. You don't. You need a saddle, a saw, and a strategy. Here is the Lean Model to hitting $100k in Year 1: Phase 1: The "No-Chipper" Model (Months 1-6) Goal: High profit margins, zero debt. The quickest way to go broke is buying a chipper before you have the cash flow to feed it. Chippers equal maintenance, fuel, and dump fees. The Strategy: * Sell "Drop & Stack": Market to homeowners with acreage or wood stoves. Offer a discount if they keep the wood. * The Pitch: "I can do this for $1,500 if I stack the wood. If you hire the big guys, they’ll charge $2,500 because they have to haul it." * Rent for the "Must-Haul" Jobs: If a client demands removal, rent a chipper/mini-skid for that day. * The Rule: Charge the customer the rental fee + 20%. They pay for the machine, not you. * Low Overhead: Work out of a pickup truck. Don't upgrade until the truck can't physically carry the cash you're making. Phase 2: The "Gap Filler" (Contract Climbing) Goal: stability and networking. In the beginning, the phone won't ring every day. On the days you don't have your own leads, do not sit on the couch. The Strategy: * Sub-contract yourself: Sell your climbing services to other companies for $400-$600/day. * Why this works: You have zero costs. No gas, no dump fees, no sales effort. It is pure profit. * The Math: 2 days of contract climbing a week = ~$50k/year. You only need to find another $50k in your own jobs to hit your goal. Phase 3: The "Minimum Minimum" Goal: Stop working for free.

​🚩 Red Flag in your yard? 🚩 ​We talk a lot about dead branches, but sometimes the greenest trees are the most dangerous. ​If you have a tree that splits into a tight "V" shape (instead of a wide "U"), you might have something called Included Bark. ​Why it matters: The wood isn't actually fused together. It’s a weak point that is prone to splitting right down the middle during high winds or heavy snow. ​Don't wait for a storm to find out if your tree is stable. If it looks like a wishbone, get it checked! 🕵️‍♂️🌳 ​#TreeSafety #KnowYourTrees #Arborist #HomeownerTips

Omni block 1.5 with sling

Here is the "Profit-First Bidding Blueprint" for 2026. Most new owners bid based on what they think the customer wants to pay. That is a fast track to bankruptcy. In 2026, with insurance rates and labor costs rising, you must bid based on what the business needs to earn. You can post this directly to your Skool community as a "Masterclass" resource. 📉 The "Guessing Game" vs. The Formula Stop looking at a tree and saying, "That looks like $500." Your eyes lie. The math doesn't. In 2026, the industry standard target for a 2-man crew (Climber + Groundie) is $2,200 - $2,800 per day. If you aren't hitting that, you aren't building a business; you're just a busy volunteer. 🧮 The 2026 Bidding Formula Price = (Labor Rate) + (Equipment Costs) + (Disposal) + (The "P.I.T.A." Tax) 1. The Labor Rate (Your Time) You need to know your "Daily Nut"—the amount of money you must make to keep the lights on. * Solo Operator Target: $125 - $150 per hour (on site). * 2-Man Crew Target: $225 - $300 per hour (on site). * Note: This isn't what you pay yourself. This covers insurance, taxes, fuel, wear-and-tear, and profit. 2. Equipment Costs (The "Rental" Rule) In the "No-Chipper" model, you don't amortize; you charge direct. * If you own it: Charge a daily "usage fee" (e.g., Chainsaw/Gear fee: $50/day). * If you rent it: The customer pays 100% of the rental cost + 20% markup. * Example: Mini-skid rental is $350. You charge the client $420. You make $70 just for making the phone call. 3. Disposal (The Hidden Killer) Never guess on dump fees. * Chip Dump: Know your local fee (e.g., $20/load). * Wood Dump: Know the weight. A trailer of oak is heavy. * The "Smoken Logs" Strategy: Discount the job by $200 if they keep the wood. It saves you $100 in dump fees and $100 in labor/fuel. You actually make more profit by charging less. 4. The "P.I.T.A." Tax (Pain In The...) Not all trees are equal. Add percentage multipliers for difficulty: * Hazard Tree (Rotten/Dead): +20% (High risk)