Business Planning for Tree Care Companies

Editor's Note: This post is an excerpt from TCIA's Business Management Guide.

If you’re a tree care company owner without a business plan, you’re not alone. Despite the critical importance of a business plan, many entrepreneurs in all industries drag their feet when it comes to preparing a written document.

But just as a builder won’t begin construction without a blueprint, eager business owners shouldn’t rush into new ventures, add new service lines, or start new marketing campaigns without a business plan.

A few tips to get started:

• When budgeting your plan’s length, go for the shortest possible plan consistent with your business’s scale, objective of the plan, etc.
• The plan should assign tasks to people or departments, and set milestones and deadlines for tracking implementation
• A practical business plan includes 10 parts implementation for every one part strategy
• Use a comprehensive Contents Page to stay organized as you are writing your business plan
• Treat the business plan as a living document, one that is modified as you gain knowledge and experience

TCIA's Business Management Guide

If the process seems overwhelming, get step-by-step business planning instruction with TCIA’s Business Management Guide, a resource exclusive to TCIA members. Divided into four parts, this comprehensive resource includes:

• An introduction to basic business planning techniques
• A sample tree care business plan, based on real business plans of TCIA Accredited companies
• A strategic business planning workbook
• Business analysis tools such as GAP and SWOT
• Advanced business planning tips for large tree care companies

Click here to become a TCIA member, and access the complete Business Management Guide.