How hard is it to become a tree trimmer in Big Island? (insurance)

[Kansoku]

Is the competition fierce?

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by Kansoku

Is the competition fierce?

Starting a business or getting hired by an existing business?

[hotzcatz]

Get a business license, get some equipment, get some insurance and advertise. Depending on what kind of equipment you get it could be terribly expensive or not so expensive. There are several well established tree care firms around, I don't know how busy they are at the moment.

I think Plant It Hawaii is/was looking for someone to graft fruit trees. It's a different kind of treework, but it's still working with trees.

[Balad1]

There are many independant tree trimmers in Hawaii and in my opinion the market is flooded. I get mainly Tongan guys/families that knock on my door looking to trim the trees in my yard.

[whynot?]

One guy who charges me to trim and take down our coconuts has started stopping by asking to take the coconuts (for free) for him to sell. This is on Maui, though.

[Kansoku]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

Starting a business or getting hired by an existing business?

both.

but from the answer above it seems the market is flooded

[Balad1]

With construction all but dead on the outer islands there are lots of people looking for any way to make a buck. Where I live Tongans specialize in tree trimming, concrete work and building lava rock walls. There is little lava rock and concrete construction so I guess that's the reason for the glut of tree trimmers.

Last year a guy stopped by and wanted to trim my large trees for $1K per tree (with haul away). I offered him $300 a tree and he jumped on it. He came back the next day with his wife and teenage daughters; he cut they hauled. They were very nice people but uneducated.

So the way I see it you would be competing with a lot of people trying to get by and will work for almost anything.

PS: Since this time a friend warned me to not use these type foks because if they're injuried I would be screwed.