# $58,000 a Month From Tree Removal?!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-9MeEZcyKk
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/9-9MeEZcyKk
Generated: 2025-11-11T21:36:18.963+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The main outcome of this video is that the tree trimming business owner, Chris, scaled his business to $58,000 a month without owning a chainsaw by focusing on smart marketing, delegating physical labor through subcontractors, and prioritizing in-person quotes for a 74% closing rate.

**Key Points:**
- Chris built his tree trimming business to $58,000 per month revenue by leveraging subcontractors for all physical tree work, never touching a chainsaw himself.
- The business model relies on a 6-step process starting with attracting leads (like real estate agents and property managers) via Facebook Ads and landing pages.
- He emphasizes the importance of in-person quoting, achieving a 74% closing rate, compared to 0% for over-the-phone quotes.
- Variable costs, including paying subcontractors (50% of revenue) and overhead (25%), leave roughly 25% profit per job.
- To maximize profit, he advises against over-investing in equipment like trucks and suggests focusing on lead generation and relationship building.
- He recommends structuring subcontractor payments based on job milestones (e.g., payment upon completion of the trim) and implementing a 'retainage/holdback' policy to ensure quality work.

![Screenshot at 00:01: The host introduces Chris, highlighting that he makes six figures from tree trimming without ever touching a chainsaw, setting the stage for explaining his subcontracting business model.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-00-01.png)

**Context:** This video features an interview between a host and Chris, an entrepreneur who built a successful tree trimming business generating significant monthly revenue ($58,000 mentioned) without performing the physical labor himself. The discussion centers on his business model, which relies heavily on skilled subcontractors and effective lead generation strategies, particularly avoiding cold-calling due to new Texas laws.

## Detailed Analysis

The video details the business strategy of Chris, who successfully runs a tree trimming operation earning up to $58,000 per month by operating as a lead generator and manager rather than a hands-on laborer. He explicitly states he never uses a chainsaw, instead relying on subcontractors. The business is structured around an 8-chapter framework, with the initial focus being on meeting the team and learning how to start. A key operational element is the Contractor Funnel (Attract, Requirements, Screen, Onboard, Retain), which filters potential subcontractors. Marketing is driven by Facebook Ads targeting real estate agents, property managers, and landlords, leveraging the fact that these demographics often need tree services for multiple properties. Chris emphasizes that in-person quotes yield a 74% closing rate, while phone quotes yield 0%. Financially, a typical $1,600 job breaks down with 50% going to subcontractors and 25% to overhead (gas, tolls, insurance, marketing), leaving 25% profit. He stresses the importance of not overspending on assets like trucks or wood splitters early on. Payment terms for subcontractors involve collecting a deposit at signing and only paying the sub after the customer pays the owner, sometimes holding back a portion (retainage) until the job is perfectly executed.

### Business Model Overview

- Subcontracting model
- Owner handles marketing and management, not physical labor
- Subcontractors perform all tree trimming and removal.

### The 8-Step Growth Framework

- Chapters cover Meet The Team
- How To Start This Biz
- Find Your Subs
- Find Your Customers
- Make $$$
- Operate The Biz
- Do Less, Make More
- How To Hit $1M+.

### Subcontractor Funnel Stages

- Attract leads
- Define Requirements
- Screen candidates
- Onboard new subs
- Retain quality subs.

### Customer Acquisition Strategy

- Focus on Facebook Ads targeting real estate agents, property managers, and landlords
- Use a short 15-second video ad with hook, solution, and CTA
- Emphasize local presence in ads.

### Closing Rates & Quoting

- In-person quotes yield a 74% closing rate, while phone quotes yield 0%, making in-person visits crucial.

### Financial Breakdown (Per $1600 Job)

- 50% to Subcontractors
- 25% to Overhead (Gas, Tolls, Insurance, Marketing)
- 25% Profit.

### Payment Structure

- Collect deposit at signing from customer
- Pay subcontractors only after the customer pays the owner
- Implement retainage/holdback to ensure quality work.

![Screenshot at 00:01: Host introducing the concept that Chris built a six-figure tree trimming business without doing the physical work.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-00-01.png)
![Screenshot at 00:42: Definition of Sub-Contracting: Outsourcing a portion of the job to another person or company, central to their business model.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-00-42.png)
![Screenshot at 00:56: Visual representation of the Home Builder subcontracting model, showing the owner managing subcontractors \(Concrete Guy, Framing Guy, Drywall Guy\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-00-56.png)
![Screenshot at 01:25: Chris explains he posted a job for an 'Entrepreneur-In-Training' to find a partner to implement his ideas.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-01-25.png)
![Screenshot at 03:01: The 5-step process for the owner's workflow: Customer calls James -\> James/Contractor visits home -\> James gives quote -\> Subcontractor trims tree -\> Customer pays invoice -\> James pays subcontractor.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-03-01.png)
![Screenshot at 05:29: Target demographic breakdown for marketing: 1. Real-Estate Agents, 2. Property Managers, 3. Landlords.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-05-29.png)
![Screenshot at 08:25: Graphic showing closing rate comparison: 74% in person vs. 47% over the phone, emphasizing the value of in-person visits.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-08-25.png)
![Screenshot at 10:35: Napkin Math showing a $500 job value, which they later scale up to $150K and then $450K for year one and year two projections.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-10-35.png)
![Screenshot at 15:27: Chapter Eight title card: 'How To Hit $1M+' alongside the discussion of fixed costs, which they estimate at $1k-$2k monthly.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-15-27.png)
![Screenshot at 17:21: Money School graphic breaking down revenue distribution: 50% Subcontractors, 25% Overhead, 25% Profit.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9-9MeEZcyKk/00-17-21.png)