Would you do it again?

I run a tree service currently but am growing tired of dealing with employees, I can't do my work without employees. I've considered starting a ADC side business and trying to grow it into full time by myself with no employees. I don't really want to handle chemical for pest control.

For the guys who run a small adc business by yourself, would you do it all over?

My main concern would be not making as much money but between my sawmill and adc I think I could make enough and have less stress.

Yes, without a doubt.

I just sold, but I had employees. Employees were the toughest part of my business too.

Couple of things to think about....

MN will be dead in the winter.

The money in adc is in repairs, not setting traps. If you aren't a carpenter your income will be much lower than someone who knows how to fix things.

Thanks. I am comfortable doing anything but major repairs, I'm the good at everything great at nothing type. I assumed most money would be in repairs and chemical but I don't want to do chemical.

This is a trapping forum so everyone pictures cage traps with raccoons and skunks and squirrels inside but I made more money with my caulk gun than I ever made with a trap. Bats were our biggest moneymaker.
If you own a tree service already know you aren't scared of heights. Learn how to perform bat exclusions and you will be all set.

Thank you. This would be a business to me, not an excuse to trap. I'm unsure if I could make it work full time in my rural area. I haven't checked local prices but it seems like a $300 assessment/setup fee, $100 per check and any repairs on yards/houses would be bid by the job with $125 an hour target price. I'm unsure if these prices would be competitive. Do these prices fall roughly into what some of you guys charge?

They'd be in line with my area. If you have a lot of 2nd homes in your area there'd be more potential clients that'd make it easier to start a rural business.

When wifey and I discussed starting this business, we specifically planned to limit growth to have no employees. No expense or hassle.
I do hire my nephew as casual labor when i need help on a larger project.
Yes, would do it over again.

I think your prices would be in line for the metro areas but difficult to get people in the rural areas on board or I would be doing it myself.

Test the market..don't charge less just because you're rural. You'll be surprised how much people will spend when they want a problem solved and have no experience with the issue. And if you lowball the competition, customers will wonder why you're so much cheaper., But will they think the other guy is gouging or that you don't know what you're doing? Be competitive. If you have no competition, you can charge as much as you want.

I think you’ll like it.

Having a sawmill is nice and gives you even more options.

Been alone for 28 years, It has good side & bad, I think the worst is trying to do much at one time. Most folks around here are very demanding, They have money, So they figure they can have it done today. Every job is different & takes a different amount time to do right. It is nice to have help sometimes or when you have to run for something needed. In fact, my wife asked about NWCO testing last week, I called NYSDEC & they have a class April 20, so she's booked for that. she's been on enough jobs to know what & where, the help will be nice.

Donner - you are asking questions from an experienced and knowledgeable perspective. It is nice instead of people who strongly ask that others send them contracts or other documents and tell them how to run their new business. You have received some really good helpful advice from some real experts.

Honestly, I just reread the comments and I agree with every suggestion. With exclusion work, I limit myself to not doing anything load bearing. I write up the jobs as nuisance wildlife caused damage to the structure which needs repair in one or more isolated areas that are not load bearing. The work is cosmetic in nature.

Don’t forget the LLC and liability insurance.

I sincerely wish you the best!

Thank you every one who replied, it's very much appreciated. Right now I'm working 7 days a week, I'm tired, I'm sore, I'm stressed. For the immediate future I'm going to keep pounding it out in trees but I can't do this long term. We did 20 tree removals today, it went great, when everything and everyone is clicking work is fun, that said ide still prefer to work alone and my body is not going to hold up to this.

...and I would have started sooner !
( you know hindsight in always 20/20 vision)

No regrets going into ADC. If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. As a fur trapper since the 60's, it was a big change going into ADC, $. Fur declined, nuisance grew. For me it was a natural progression moving from fur to ADC. Never gave much thought. It just happened. Having sold many beaver for as low as $8.55 one year and 70 another year for a $6.85 average, when people began paying for my services I felt like I hit the lottery. I started out at $25 a beaver and was thrilled. It was a beginning. I did ADC beaver work back in the 70's for pulp companies and a Nuclear Power Plant, just didnt' get payed for it. But, they did give me a boat and a man, so that was a big deal. Just loved catching and getting wet and muddy every day. Just thinking about how good it felt at the end of the day to dump a days worth of sticks and leaves out of my boots after 10 hours of swamps, pull up wadded socks and tuck in my shirt. There was a steak place where I could get a hamburger, baked potato and salad for less than 5 bucks. Splash a little water on my face, felt like a king, but I digress a little. Still that way some days, but now I have a new truck. So much opportunity for anyone who wants it.

You just know when the thing you do is right (or not right.) We had good employees so I would suggest learn how to find and interview. I did experience a slow down in my physical abilities with age, that was compensated for with a helper. You can always partner up with the competition on bigger jobs. Finally, listen to your inner voice when it comes time to leave it, and leave it with a realistic retirement plan in hand.

My main guy put in his 2 week notice today. I'm offering 20-25 an hour for no/minimum tree work experience and getting nowhere. It's just impossible to compete with roofers and concrete guys paying 45 a hour.