How to Start a Tree Service Company: Equipment, Licences, Insurance and Getting Jobs
How to start a tree service, tree trimming or tree cutting business
In this article
To start a tree service company, get hands-on experience and safety training, check state and local licence rules, buy strong liability and workers' comp insurance, invest in chainsaws, a chipper, rigging gear and a truck, price jobs by size, risk and access, and market through Google, storm response and referrals. Safety is the core of the business.
What you need to start a tree cutting business
- Experience: work for an established tree company first.
- Training: chainsaw safety, climbing, rigging, first aid; arborist certification is a plus.
- Business registration and local licences (see Do tree services need to be licensed?).
- Insurance: general liability, workers' comp, commercial auto, equipment coverage.
- Equipment and a truck.
- Pricing and estimates.
- Marketing and a website.
Equipment
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Chainsaws (top-handle and rear-handle) | Cutting |
| Climbing gear and ropes | Access and rigging |
| PPE | Helmets, chaps, eye/ear protection |
| Wood chipper | Brush disposal |
| Dump truck or pickup + trailer | Hauling |
| Stump grinder | Add-on service |
| Bucket truck or crane (later) | Large removals |
Many startups rent large equipment until volume justifies buying.
Services to offer
- Tree trimming and pruning
- Tree removal
- Stump grinding
- Storm cleanup and emergency removal
- Land clearing
- Tree health assessments (with certified arborist)
Pricing jobs
Price on tree height and diameter, proximity to houses and power lines, access, rigging difficulty, clean-up and haul-away, and stump grinding. Charge more for emergency work.
Safety first
Tree work is dangerous. Use trained crews, job briefings, proper PPE, rigging plans and never work near power lines without utility-qualified workers.
Getting customers
Google Business Profile, reviews, before/after photos, a website with estimate requests, partnerships with landscapers and property managers, and storm-season advertising. If you also do yard work, see How to start a landscaping business.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a tree service company?
Gain experience, get trained, register and license the business, insure it, buy equipment and market locally.
What do you need to start a tree cutting business?
Training, licences, insurance, chainsaws, safety gear, a chipper and a truck.
How do I start a tree trimming company?
Start with trimming and pruning services, basic equipment and insurance, then add removals as skills and equipment grow.
How much does it cost to start a tree service?
Equipment and insurance are the main costs; renting larger machines keeps startup costs lower.
Is a tree service business profitable?
It can be very profitable because jobs are high-ticket, but insurance and equipment costs are significant.
Do I need to be a certified arborist?
Not always, but certification helps win clients and is required for some work.
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Start a conversationWritten by Sachin Rawat
AI & automation engineer · websites, apps and motion design
I build AI agents, automations, websites, apps and motion design for businesses. These guides answer the questions people actually search, written from hands-on experience building them.
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