How to start a tree service business
A plain checklist: licensing, certification, insurance, equipment, safety, pricing and finding the first customers — without the income promises.
Who it suits
Tree work suits experienced climbers and ground crew who want to run their own jobs. It is one of the most dangerous trades, so it rewards people who take safety and insurance seriously from the first day.
1.Get the experience first
Removals near houses and lines are not learned on the job you are being paid for. Most owners work for a tree company before starting their own.
ISA Certified Arborist status needs years of experience and an exam, and many homeowners and cities ask for it.
2.Decide what you will do
Trimming and pruning, removals, stump grinding, storm work and plant health care each need different equipment and different skills.
Never work near energised power lines unless you are qualified to — that is utility line-clearance work with its own rules.
3.Register and check the licence
Choose a structure — sole proprietor or LLC are the usual starting points — and register with your city or county.
Some states and cities license tree work or arborists, and some removals need a permit. Check locally before your first job.
4.Insurance
General liability for damage to houses, fences and cars. Commercial auto for trucks and trailers. If you hire, workers’ compensation is required in most states and is a large cost in tree work — get quotes early.
Many homeowners ask for a certificate of insurance before you start. Have one ready.
5.Equipment and safety
Saws, climbing gear, rigging, PPE and a truck with a trailer to start. Rent chippers, stump grinders, bucket trucks and cranes until the work justifies owning them.
Hold a job briefing before every job, and follow the ANSI Z133 safety standard for arboricultural work.
6.Price on site
Height, condition, access, what is underneath and whether it needs a crane all move the price. Quote stump grinding and haul-away as their own lines.
Time your first jobs, cleanup included. Cleanup is where tree jobs run over.
7.Find your first customers
Claim a free Fixerlane listing so homeowners searching for tree trimming nearby can find and message you.
Storms bring urgent calls. Decide your storm pricing and call-out rules before the first one, and write them on the quote.
The trade in numbers
70,600 people work as tree trimmers and pruners in the US.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025
243 fatal occupational incidents in tree care from 2020 to 2023 — about 61 a year — with being struck by an object the leading cause.
Source: TCIA, Tree Care Industry magazine, April 2024
About 19,929 tree trimming service businesses operate in the US (third-party estimate).
Source: IBISWorld, Tree Trimming Services in the US, 2026
Your first customers, free
List your tree service business on Fixerlane at no cost. Homeowners searching for tree care in your area can find you and send enquiries, and replying is free. When the work picks up, the tools to quote, schedule and invoice are a 7-day free trial away.
Common questions
- Do I need a licence to start a tree service business?
- It depends on the state and city. Some license tree work or arborists, and most require a business licence. Some removals also need a permit. Check locally before your first job.
- Do I need to be a certified arborist?
- Not everywhere, but ISA certification is widely asked for by homeowners, cities and commercial clients, and it needs real experience and an exam.
- How much does it cost to start a tree service business?
- We do not publish a figure. Equipment, insurance and workers’ compensation vary widely by state and by what you rent or own. Price each one locally before you commit.
- How do I get my first tree service customers?
- A free listing where homeowners already search, people you know, and reviews from every early job. Neighbours watch tree work — leave every yard clean.
- How much do tree trimmers earn?
- We do not promise earnings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes real wage figures for tree trimmers and pruners by state and metro area.