The best equipment in the world can't fix a bad crew. 🚫🚚 ​I see owners dropping $100k on a new lift but hesitating to invest time in training their ground guys. That is backward math. ​My strategy for growth has shifted entirely from "buying iron" to "building iron." ​If I can take a green groundie and guide them through a clear Ground-to-Air Promotion Checklist, I haven't just filled a position—I've created loyalty and safety. ​We don't just "hope" they learn. We verify. Here is a preview of the Phase 1 Standards we use before anyone leaves the ground: ​✅ The "Life-Line" Knots: Must tie a Running Bowline, Clove Hitch, and Sheet Bend blindfolded. ✅ Command & Response: 100% verbal confirmation on "Stand Clear," "Headache," and "All Clear" signals. ✅ Saw Discipline: Can demonstrate proper chain tensioning, filing, and the reactive forces of the bar before making a cut. ✅ The Drop Zone: proven ability to manage ropes and rig traffic control before the first branch falls. ​My challenge to other owners: Stop complaining that "nobody wants to work" and start asking if you've given them a clear ladder to climb. ​We share the full breakdown of these checklists in the Tree Jobs community. If you're tired of the revolving door, let's fix it. ​

When I bid I try to get 50% to 60% of all my bids. If im getting 100% I feel im to cheap if I'm getting below 50% im to high on price. Thoughts?

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)

​💰 The Money Makers (Efficiency) ​1. Helmet Communication System (Sena or Cardo) - ​Why buy it: This is the #1 tool for your "Ground-to-Air" training strategy. You can’t train a groundie if you’re screaming over a chipper. With comms, you can explain why you’re making a cut while you’re 50ft up. It turns every job into a paid training session. - ​Recommendation: Sena Tufftalk or Cardo Packtalk. ​2. The "Do-It-All" Saw: Stihl MS 500i - ​Why buy it: It’s the first fuel-injected chainsaw. It has the power-to-weight ratio of a small saw but cuts like a big saw. For a solo operator, weight is everything. This saw allows you to limb, buck, and fell without swapping saws every 10 minutes. - ​ROI: Less fatigue = more cuts per day. ​3. A Friction Brake (Port-a-Wrap) - ​Why buy it: If you are doing the "Drop & Stack" model, you need control. Wrapping a rope around a tree trunk damages the tree and ruins your expensive ropes. A Port-a-Wrap lets one person lower a 500lb log with two fingers. - ​ROI: Saves your ropes ($200+ each) and saves your groundie’s back. ​4. Mechanical Prusik (Petzl ZigZag or Notch Rope Runner) - ​Why buy it: Old school friction hitches (prusiks) are fine, but they are slow and inconsistent in rain/sap. A mechanical device takes the friction out of the climb. - ​ROI: It saves your elbows and shoulders. You want to be climbing when you're 40? Buy this now. ​🦺 The Life Savers (Safety & Longevity) ​5. A "Stop the Bleed" Trauma Kit - ​Why buy it: A generic Walmart first aid kit won't fix a chainsaw wound. You need a kit with a CAT Tourniquet and Hemostatic Gauze (blood-clotting). - ​The Rule: Keep it on your saddle, not in the truck. You have 3 minutes to stop an arterial bleed; you can't climb down in time. ​6. High-Quality Boots (Pfanner or Arbpro) - ​Why buy it: You are on your feet or on your spurs all day. Cheap boots lead to knee and back problems within 2 years. - ​ROI: Cheaper than back surgery.

The best equipment in the world can't fix a bad crew. 🚫🚚