I agree on the job thing. I have a stump grinder on my tractor, so similar, but not exactly the same. I used to take people's photos and tried to give estimates over the phone, I found out that's a terrible idea. Now I go and look at the jobs, I understand access, the environment around the stump, how big is the stump, what does the root system look like, so many factors to understand to quote the right price. And the right price should be a value to the customer and a good living, not surviving for you the operator and equipment owner. I will often get $100-150/hour easy. And before I load up, I have them check the work and make sure they are 100% satisfied with the work. And plenty have me back and also refer, so I don't think that $100 to maybe even $200 an hour is crazy. Sometimes I misquote things and am there longer, but I never charge more than what I said I would.
Florida Deere, I think if you are fare with people on the prices and do a great job. The jobs will be there for a guy to do. Thanks for watching! Keep grinding
@@ChrissStumpGrinding Yeah, thanks. I just do a little side hustle here and there, but my name and reputation are extremely important to me, plus treating people right is how I want to be treated as well. But with stump grinding, it seems people always need some grinding here or there. Trees keep growing and people keep cutting them down and people do get tired of stumps.
Great video Chris I enjoyed it I've been grinding stumps maybe 5years just as a hobby. I bought a old vermeer 630a it's not the quickest grinder out there but it was paid for the day I bought it. Thank you for the advice and God bless you
David, thanks for watching! It sounds like you got a great deal on the machine that was used. It doesn't take long to start making money in the stump grinding business. Keep Grinding!
Hey Chris! Was looking into starting a stump grinding business and realized that your in my area. You were dropping some knowledge here for these young guns. Keep up the great videos!
Thanks for watching!! I have seen a lot of new guys this year in my area. It's all about the hustle and how hard you work for it. They're are just a few older guys still doing it. Keep grinding!!
@@HolySaker ho yes it can be if you go too far into debt. I have seen to many guys get in over there eyeballs and loose everything thinking they just have to have that bigger piece of equipment or just one more truck to make it big.
Thanks for this video. I am doing tree work now and I am getting into Stump Grinding to expand on the business. I am trying to do exactly what you are saying. No line of credit, No business credit card. Basically a debt free business within reason. I plan on cutting enough trees to purchase a Power King stump grinder to start with in cash.
@oldmanadventuring, that's the way to do it grow a little every year with little debt as possible. If something ever goes wrong, you weather the pain. Thanks for watching, sir! Keep grinding!
OMG in junior high my mom bought me bubble gum from Cosco in a bundle and id sell em by the pack. Back then the packs still said 25 Cents on them even in the bundle still, and I made money at that rate!
Thanks so much for sharing!!! Lone female in ag & even though it breaks my heart to get away from growing food for people, I’m tired of breaking my back without a break or tip or anything ever. So am focusing on offering a service as well as grow specialty crops & stump grinding keeps standing out, versus other tree & landscaping services. What should I be looking for as far as hours of run time in a used sumo grinder? Less hrs will probably yield less time spent on maintenance/more effort spent going all out with it first few years… but where is the sweet spot for a beginner who can’t even spend on a nicer but used medium sized bandit, much less anything larger or new?
Chris, I am so glad I came across your channel. I’m 46, work at a chemical plant, on a rotating shift. I’m looking to trail away from this job in the next 5 years. I’ve been thinking a lot about the grinding life. I’ll be watching all your videos, as I think our thought process is the same. I wish I would have gotten into this earlier. At what age did you start? I know it was around 2005 right?
Ridefreesteve, yes, I started in 2005 with 88 toyota pickup truck and a 252 Vermeer stump grinder. I would just ride around knock on doors and hand flyers. I would post like crazy on Craigslist and Facebook every day letting people know I grind stumps. I hated my job at the utility company because of the management style they had. It's hard for four or five years until you get going good. Thanks for watching!
No reason so charge $300 an hour unless you are in a super dense city, We run around $225/Hr and I have the best equipment money can buy at $147,000 per set up truck, trailer, tractor and grinder and that's not tooting a horn. Hard to not sound that way over the internet but Yeah. Regardless of set up you should charge for the equipment you want not the equipment you have. Do the math, break it out, and see where you come out at. Debt is not a bad thing if you leverage it properly, you don't pay tax on debt. you can grow bigger faster leveraging correctly.
Thanks, my sons and I are thinking about starting a stump grinding business. Around here they charge outrageous prices. My neighbor was charged 275 for 30 mins of work. We'd be cheaper
@relaxandunwind1496, the stump grinding business has been great to me. It's helped me pay my house in my twenties and retire in my forties if I had to with the help of the stock market also. Thanks for watching!!! Keep grinding!
I am the other guy and yes I am debit free but what I have stated is the $300 is what my machine produces per clock hr , I price mostly by the inch so my contractors know the price but on bigger jobs, I do bend a lot to help my contractors. Loved your video and grind on my friend
What part of country you from? I am from New Hampshire and started stump grinding a year ago and loved it. My step-son started a free business and I saw that money was to be made in doing stump grinding so I started as a hobby and now run a sc252. Perfect little machine for what I do. Two jobs alone I paid the machine off. Just wanted to say hey and maybe pick your brain as time goes. Thanks
North Alabama. Most people start out with a small machine and ends up doing trees, Stump grinding, firewood and skid steer work also at the end. Thanks for watching Bill
You should learn how to get and use 0% business credit cards. You’re leaving so much money on the table by only using cash debit card and you could keep so much more money in your pocket and grow your business more by learn i how to properly use credit for a business.
Tony Newsom, the problem is you spend about seventy percent more with plastic verses cash it's very painful to let go. I already got enough crap as it is, I don't need anymore. I tell my kiddos if your rich you don't need a credit card anyway. you should have enough cash just to pay for things. I'm doing ok. Thanks for watching!!!!!
How do you price for cleanup? And what's by the inch price now that gas is almost $4 a gallon and replacement parts for grinders have gone up from inflation?
The cleanup depends if I have my skid steer on the job or not. I don't charge very much if it's already on the job. If we, do it by hand it costs $200 to $250 hour. I have a place to dump for free so, I just have labor and gas in truck. Thanks for watching!
Just add it into your cost on top of your normal cost per inch. If you are doing 3 5 ft stumps full service for $300ea and you will be at that job all day then just add $40 to the overall cost to get the gas price instead of completely changing how you charge and your Metrix.
Chris, I have a lawn care business and just was thinking about adding stump grinding as an extra service to see how it goes. What would be a good stump grinder to start with and not spend 15-20k. Are the ones for 2-3k 12-14hp junk? Just trying to do small to medium size stumps. Thanks
Cramers Lawn Maintenance, i would say a 252 Vermeer or small bandit with a 27 horse. I had a 252 for five years before I the Rayco now. Thanks for watching
I recently bought a used Toro 13hp from HD and after a few new teeth and small parts I’ve got $1600 in it. It does fine on small tree stumps and large shrub stumps like hollies. I’ve already done $800 worth of work on 2 jobs so it’ll pay for itself in months not years. If you’re trying to grind just a few stumps per month I think it’d be great. If you’re doing stumps every week I’d think a 20-30 hp tracked machine would be way better even if it did run you 15-20k. Think of it like a push mower vs a zero turn and how much work you want to get done in a week.
@@RegretWhisperer thank you. Yeah I’m just trying to do a few stumps here and there…just in my customer’s yard to make them happy and make a few extra bucks. Not a full time stump grinding business, just an extra add on service.
@@RegretWhisperer your right! Most of us have started at the bottom and moved up over the years. Rome wasn't built in day. Just keep grinding!! Thanks for watching
This is terrible financial/ credit information. This is the exact example of the poor dad mentality explained in the book Rich dad Poor dad. I was taught that same mentality unfortunately coming from a rural area where everybody paid cash for everything. Leveraging credit to build wealth is a whole different world that most people won't understand.
I agree on the job thing. I have a stump grinder on my tractor, so similar, but not exactly the same. I used to take people's photos and tried to give estimates over the phone, I found out that's a terrible idea. Now I go and look at the jobs, I understand access, the environment around the stump, how big is the stump, what does the root system look like, so many factors to understand to quote the right price. And the right price should be a value to the customer and a good living, not surviving for you the operator and equipment owner. I will often get $100-150/hour easy. And before I load up, I have them check the work and make sure they are 100% satisfied with the work. And plenty have me back and also refer, so I don't think that $100 to maybe even $200 an hour is crazy. Sometimes I misquote things and am there longer, but I never charge more than what I said I would.
Florida Deere, I think if you are fare with people on the prices and do a great job. The jobs will be there for a guy to do. Thanks for watching! Keep grinding
@@ChrissStumpGrinding Yeah, thanks. I just do a little side hustle here and there, but my name and reputation are extremely important to me, plus treating people right is how I want to be treated as well. But with stump grinding, it seems people always need some grinding here or there. Trees keep growing and people keep cutting them down and people do get tired of stumps.
@@FloridaDeere I say the same thing
Hi Chris, thank you very much for your advise. You are very kind and generous. Thank you and have a good day.
You are very welcome
Great video Chris I enjoyed it I've been grinding stumps maybe 5years just as a hobby. I bought a old vermeer 630a it's not the quickest grinder out there but it was paid for the day I bought it. Thank you for the advice and God bless you
David, thanks for watching! It sounds like you got a great deal on the machine that was used. It doesn't take long to start making money in the stump grinding business. Keep Grinding!
You're a legend! Thank you!
I do lawn care and I shoot for $100/ hour. Lawyers make $300/hr.
Hey Chris! Was looking into starting a stump grinding business and realized that your in my area. You were dropping some knowledge here for these young guns. Keep up the great videos!
Thanks for watching!! I have seen a lot of new guys this year in my area. It's all about the hustle and how hard you work for it. They're are just a few older guys still doing it. Keep grinding!!
Debt is a dangerous thing . Good advice especially for the younger guys getting into the business.
So, true. Thanks for watching Dana
Leveraged debt is not a dangerous thing.
@@HolySaker ho yes it can be if you go too far into debt. I have seen to many guys get in over there eyeballs and loose everything thinking they just have to have that bigger piece of equipment or just one more truck to make it big.
@@HolySaker It just depends on the person
@@danahasson2892 That isn't leveraged debt that's just debt then at that point.
Thanks for this video. I am doing tree work now and I am getting into Stump Grinding to expand on the business. I am trying to do exactly what you are saying. No line of credit, No business credit card. Basically a debt free business within reason. I plan on cutting enough trees to purchase a Power King stump grinder to start with in cash.
@oldmanadventuring, that's the way to do it grow a little every year with little debt as possible. If something ever goes wrong, you weather the pain. Thanks for watching, sir! Keep grinding!
OMG in junior high my mom bought me bubble gum from Cosco in a bundle and id sell em by the pack. Back then the packs still said 25 Cents on them even in the bundle still, and I made money at that rate!
This should be titled what’s FICO score
Good stuff Chris!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks so much for sharing!!! Lone female in ag & even though it breaks my heart to get away from growing food for people, I’m tired of breaking my back without a break or tip or anything ever. So am focusing on offering a service as well as grow specialty crops & stump grinding keeps standing out, versus other tree & landscaping services. What should I be looking for as far as hours of run time in a used sumo grinder? Less hrs will probably yield less time spent on maintenance/more effort spent going all out with it first few years… but where is the sweet spot for a beginner who can’t even spend on a nicer but used medium sized bandit, much less anything larger or new?
Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience
Chris, I am so glad I came across your channel. I’m 46, work at a chemical plant, on a rotating shift. I’m looking to trail away from this job in the next 5 years. I’ve been thinking a lot about the grinding life. I’ll be watching all your videos, as I think our thought process is the same. I wish I would have gotten into this earlier.
At what age did you start? I know it was around 2005 right?
Ridefreesteve, yes, I started in 2005 with 88 toyota pickup truck and a 252 Vermeer stump grinder. I would just ride around knock on doors and hand flyers. I would post like crazy on Craigslist and Facebook every day letting people know I grind stumps. I hated my job at the utility company because of the management style they had. It's hard for four or five years until you get going good. Thanks for watching!
@@ChrissStumpGrinding love it!
Hes right. Listen to what this guy says!
100% Truth. Excellent advice.
I do charge per stump $150 and up very good information my friend God bless !!
Luis Tree ClImber, that is a good price to get for every stump job.
No reason so charge $300 an hour unless you are in a super dense city, We run around $225/Hr and I have the best equipment money can buy at $147,000 per set up truck, trailer, tractor and grinder and that's not tooting a horn. Hard to not sound that way over the internet but Yeah. Regardless of set up you should charge for the equipment you want not the equipment you have. Do the math, break it out, and see where you come out at. Debt is not a bad thing if you leverage it properly, you don't pay tax on debt. you can grow bigger faster leveraging correctly.
Well said and yes I play the tax game also
Thanks, my sons and I are thinking about starting a stump grinding business. Around here they charge outrageous prices. My neighbor was charged 275 for 30 mins of work. We'd be cheaper
@relaxandunwind1496, the stump grinding business has been great to me. It's helped me pay my house in my twenties and retire in my forties if I had to with the help of the stock market also. Thanks for watching!!! Keep grinding!
Thank you brother for that information
I hope it helps you. Thanks for watching
Same here with the debit card! Best way to go
Mike S, it's the only way I can go. 😆
Thanks for watching!!!
Thanks for the information stay safe.
Harlin, thanks for watching! I will
I am the other guy and yes I am debit free but what I have stated is the $300 is what my machine produces per clock hr , I price mostly by the inch so my contractors know the price but on bigger jobs, I do bend a lot to help my contractors. Loved your video and grind on my friend
Thank you, sir! I can relate to a lot of your videos. Thanks for watching!
@@ChrissStumpGrinding Be safe and keep grinding my friend hope to see you at one of the tree expo shows one day
What part of country you from? I am from New Hampshire and started stump grinding a year ago and loved it. My step-son started a free business and I saw that money was to be made in doing stump grinding so I started as a hobby and now run a sc252. Perfect little machine for what I do. Two jobs alone I paid the machine off. Just wanted to say hey and maybe pick your brain as time goes. Thanks
North Alabama. Most people start out with a small machine and ends up doing trees, Stump grinding, firewood and skid steer work also at the end. Thanks for watching Bill
Very good videos, and great message for other's.
@@oldoutdoorman6648 Thanks for watching!
It's smart to have a credit card. Especially if they got 0% interest on balance transfers. Stuff like that. Use someone else's money for free.
I wish you would have touched more on your title of this video.
I am sorry I thought I covered it. I will try to make another video on the matter. Thanks for watching!!
U never did say what u would charge if u did it by the inch ?
Did i miss the part about how to price a job??
Charge by the hour and by the job depending on the job.
Yup, if you have cash in the bank they want you to spend it. They would rather you up to your AZZ in debt.
Having too much debt can kill you in business. Thanks for watching!!! Keep grinding
Would a 15 hp stump grinder good to start out with
No, I start with at least a 27-horse power engine. You can, but it will take a long time to do a job. Thanks for watching, and keep grinding.
You have to add your time driving to the job site, so no, its not just the job....
I factor that in with the job also. You have to have a minimum to the job. Rudy, Thanks for watching!
You should learn how to get and use 0% business credit cards. You’re leaving so much money on the table by only using cash debit card and you could keep so much more money in your pocket and grow your business more by learn i how to properly use credit for a business.
Tony Newsom, the problem is you spend about seventy percent more with plastic verses cash it's very painful to let go. I already got enough crap as it is, I don't need anymore. I tell my kiddos if your rich you don't need a credit card anyway. you should have enough cash just to pay for things. I'm doing ok. Thanks for watching!!!!!
Chris I haven't seen any new videos in a long time are you still making videos
Yes, sir. I just got my stump grinder fixed this week after waiting for a month on parts and rain. I have been grinding and filming all week Tony.
How do you price for cleanup? And what's by the inch price now that gas is almost $4 a gallon and replacement parts for grinders have gone up from inflation?
The cleanup depends if I have my skid steer on the job or not. I don't charge very much if it's already on the job. If we, do it by hand it costs $200 to $250 hour. I have a place to dump for free so, I just have labor and gas in truck.
Thanks for watching!
Just add it into your cost on top of your normal cost per inch. If you are doing 3 5 ft stumps full service for $300ea and you will be at that job all day then just add $40 to the overall cost to get the gas price instead of completely changing how you charge and your Metrix.
@@HolySaker your right! Justin
I start off at 700.00 per job when I own my tree grinder I going to 500.00
Julio Garcia, you can make great money with a stump grinder. if got the jobs and want to work. Thanks for watching!!!!
Chris, I have a lawn care business and just was thinking about adding stump grinding as an extra service to see how it goes. What would be a good stump grinder to start with and not spend 15-20k. Are the ones for 2-3k 12-14hp junk? Just trying to do small to medium size stumps. Thanks
Cramers Lawn Maintenance, i would say a 252 Vermeer or small bandit with a 27 horse. I had a 252 for five years before I the Rayco now. Thanks for watching
@@ChrissStumpGrinding thanks Chris
I recently bought a used Toro 13hp from HD and after a few new teeth and small parts I’ve got $1600 in it. It does fine on small tree stumps and large shrub stumps like hollies. I’ve already done $800 worth of work on 2 jobs so it’ll pay for itself in months not years. If you’re trying to grind just a few stumps per month I think it’d be great. If you’re doing stumps every week I’d think a 20-30 hp tracked machine would be way better even if it did run you 15-20k. Think of it like a push mower vs a zero turn and how much work you want to get done in a week.
@@RegretWhisperer thank you. Yeah I’m just trying to do a few stumps here and there…just in my customer’s yard to make them happy and make a few extra bucks. Not a full time stump grinding business, just an extra add on service.
@@RegretWhisperer your right! Most of us have started at the bottom and moved up over the years. Rome wasn't built in day. Just keep grinding!! Thanks for watching
This is terrible financial/ credit information. This is the exact example of the poor dad mentality explained in the book Rich dad Poor dad. I was taught that same mentality unfortunately coming from a rural area where everybody paid cash for everything. Leveraging credit to build wealth is a whole different world that most people won't understand.
@robbiemorgan2062, I guess I am just old fashion. Thanks for watching!!!
Its a balancing act. It depends on how fast you want to grow. If you grow too fast using debt, you might have enough business to service the debt.