03/20/2026
I keep seeing all these ads for $899.00 tree removal. Let's discuss this.
1. Labor costs. This can range from $17.50 to $27.00 per hour per employee. Your average crew has three employees not including the owner. The average day is eight - ten hours long. So, labor cost for three employees can be over $700.00 per day and that is before you figure employee taxes. Don't forget that the owner needs to make money also.
2. Insurance like general liability and worker's comp will run the above crew about $25k-$30k depending on how honest the company is about business dealing.
3. What about equipment? When my company pulls up to a jobsite there is on average $213,000 worth of equipment. That does not include fuel cost. My equipment is good but not brand new.
4. I have removed all sizes of trees up to 100ft in height in areas over all sorts of structures. Historic cemeteries, historic houses, super tight spaces where every limb must me roped out.
5. Advertising. These companies claim that they can do it cheaper because they do have huge advertising companies. My company does not have a huge budget for advertising either.
6. Things cost what they cost. My company has removed trees at prices from a few hundred dollars to over fifteen thousand dollars.
Tree services are very costly due to all the expenses a company has to pay. Trees are living organisms that can't be replaced if treated wrong. You get what you pay for. I personally have more certifications and licenses that any other tree service from Dallas to Austin. I am still not the highest priced company around. In fact, I have found that the most expensive companies typically have the least experience.
When you are ready to have tree services performed, call a company like mine that takes all things into consideration such as decent wages, good insurance, the needed equipment, vast knowledge of tree preservation, and the skill to complete any job.
Brian Williams
