Are you looking to make some extra money by offering a stump grinding service? If so, you may be wondering how much money you can make with a stump grinder. The answer depends on a number of factors, including the size of the stump, the type of equipment you use, and the amount of time it takes to complete the job. If you only have to grind a single stump or don't have the necessary safety equipment yet, it may be more cost-effective to hire a professional. However, if you're willing to invest in the right equipment and take the time to learn how to use it safely, you can offer your customers a stump shredding service and make some extra money.
Getting into the stump milling business makes sense from both a customer and contractor's point of view. According to a survey conducted by this magazine, nearly one-third of landscape contractors now offer stump milling as part of their services. Buckeye Landscape Service in Blacklick, Ohio, is an example of a full-service landscape contractor that owns a small stump grinder and rents out larger ones as needed. Do-it-yourselfers can remove stumps manually by digging them out, while professionals have access to special equipment for pulling them out of the ground.
If you decide to take on this task yourself, it's important to take safety precautions. Shawn Cressman, president of Cressman's Lawn & Tree Care in Hellertown, Pennsylvania recommends wearing helmets, gloves, safety goggles, ear protection, long pants and steel-toed boots when operating a stump grinder. Before buying a stump grinder, it's also important to check with your insurance provider to make sure that they consider stump removal to be tree care work. The size of stump crushing equipment ranges from small walk-behind units with small motors to heavy-duty units designed for forest service.
Contractors suggest scheduling several jobs in one day in order to increase the productivity of the equipment and improve profitability.
