Overview
Quoting tree felling without underselling the risk
Tree felling is risk work, and the price reflects that. A standard quote that bundles labour and a chainsaw and stops there is why so many arborists end up doing the job for half what it costs them. The real cost is climbing or MEWP hire, two or three people on the ground, public liability cover, stump grinding, chipping, and disposal at a transfer station. Trees near power lines or buildings need traffic management, permits, and sometimes a utility shut-off. A quote that hides all of that in one labour line gives the customer no reason to trust it.
QuoteGenio is built so arborists can put every one of those items on the page in two minutes. The customer sees the access method, the disposal weight, the call-out time, and any permits as separate lines. The cheap quote from the bloke with a chainsaw and a pickup no longer looks comparable, because it isn't. Send the quote via WhatsApp before you leave the site, take a deposit when the customer accepts, and the job is locked in before someone with a lower number talks them out of it.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every type of tree felling and arboriculture business.
The problem
The quoting headaches every tree feller knows
Tree work prices on access, diameter, height, and risk. Doing that math on the back of a quote pad costs you margin every week.
Site visits with no quote
You spend an hour assessing a big oak and then go home to write the quote. The client gets it three days later, and someone else has it.
Quotes that hide the risk
If you do not break out access, rigging, and stump grinding, the client compares you to a guy with a chainsaw and no insurance. You lose every time.
Lost jobs after storms
After a storm everyone wants a price now. The crew that quotes from the kerb wins. The crew that quotes from the office goes home empty.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A faster, cleaner workflow built around how arborists quote on-site, with line items for diameter, access, rigging, and stump.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for tree work
Line items for trunk diameter, access type, crane or rigging, stump grinding, and refuse removal. Everything a tree quote needs, nothing it does not.
Works from your phone
Quote at the base of the tree with measurements still in your head. No driving back to the office to write it up.
Quote in under 2 minutes
Save tree size brackets as templates. Pick the diameter, set access, add stump, send. Done before the client makes coffee.
Professional every time
Your insurance, your method statement, your branding. Every quote tells the client you are not the kerb-side bakkie crew.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how tree felling services actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Tree Felling Services choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Tree Felling Services build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Tree Felling Services job pricing
A rough guide to what tree felling crews charge for common jobs. Pricing moves with trunk diameter, access, height, species, and whether refuse and stump are included. Use these as a sanity check when building your own rate card, not as fixed numbers.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small tree felling (trunk under 200 mm, easy access) | R3,636 - R7,933 |
| Medium tree (200 to 450 mm trunk, standard access) | R7,933 - R19,832 |
| Large tree (450 to 700 mm trunk, restricted access) | R19,832 - R57,845 |
| Very large tree (over 700 mm, crane-assisted) | R57,845 - R157,007 |
| Stump grinding (per stump, under 300 mm) | R1,570 - R3,966 |
| Stump grinding (per stump, over 600 mm) | R5,289 - R14,048 |
| Crown reduction or shaping (per tree, mature) | R6,280 - R23,138 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
An assessment fee of R1,240 to R2,479 covers your time to drive out, measure, and write up the method. Most arborists waive it if the job goes ahead. List it on the quote so the client respects your time, especially when they are getting three quotes for one tree.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use day rates (R14,048 to R41,318 per crew per day depending on rigging and equipment) for big mixed jobs. Use fixed pricing per tree for clear scopes. On crane-assisted jobs, quote the crane separately because day rates move with hire availability.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here is what a clean tree felling quote looks like for a mature suburban tree. Notice how every cost is visible: assessment, felling method, stump, refuse, and site protection. Transparent quotes win the job because they prove you have thought about access and risk.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Mature blue gum, 550 mm trunk, restricted suburban access
Site assessment and method statement
Sectional felling, rigging from neighbour side
Stump grinding (550 mm trunk)
Refuse removal and chipping (3 loads)
Pavement protection and traffic management
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site assessment and method statement | 1 | R1,570 | R1,570 |
| Sectional felling, rigging from neighbour side | 1 | R27,270 | R27,270 |
| Stump grinding (550 mm trunk) | 1 | R6,941 | R6,941 |
| Refuse removal and chipping (3 loads) | 3 | R2,975 | R8,925 |
| Pavement protection and traffic management | 1 | R3,636 | R3,636 |
| Subtotal | R48,341 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R4,834 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R53,176 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Stump grinding, refuse removal and chipping, traffic management, pavement and pool cover protection, the call to the municipality for a permit, and the standby crew if rigging fails. Add these as standard lines on your template so you stop absorbing them out of your margin.
Peer snapshot
How Tree Felling Services actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Tree Felling Services on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
25
Quotes sent per month
59%
Average quote acceptance
3 min
Median time to send quote
R53,176
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
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Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of tree fellers and arborists. The same scoping and pricing mistakes come up again and again. Fixing these will protect your margin and win you more of the high-end jobs.
Mistake: Quoting tree felling without measuring trunk diameter
Better: Always measure trunk diameter at chest height and record it on the quote. Price brackets follow diameter. Eyeballing it on the phone costs you 20 percent of the job every time.
Mistake: Not pricing access separately
Better: A tree behind a wall with a pool below is a different job to a tree on a verge. Add an access line (easy, standard, restricted, crane-only) so the client sees why your price is not the bakkie guy's price.
Mistake: Bundling stump grinding into felling
Better: List stump grinding as its own line, even if you discount it when bundled. Half of clients want the stump out, half want it left. Separate lines let them choose without renegotiating.
Mistake: No mention of refuse removal
Better: Chipping and removal is a real cost. List loads or tonnes as separate lines. Saying 'felling' only and then arriving with a chipper and trailer fees on the invoice causes disputes.
Mistake: Skipping the permit and notification step
Better: Protected species and street trees need permits. Quote 'permit application and lead time' as a line. The client expects a delay if they see it priced.
Mistake: Underquoting on storm work
Better: Storm-damaged trees are unstable, often tangled in cables, and dangerous. Quote a 30 to 50 percent storm premium and reference it in your terms. The risk is real, the price should reflect it.
Mistake: No proof of insurance on the quote
Better: Add your public liability and workman's comp policy numbers to the quote footer. Clients comparing three quotes pick the one with insurance proof every time.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote tree felling jobs
Measure trunk diameter at 1.4 metres above ground (chest height) and record it on the quote. Price brackets follow diameter: under 200 mm, 200 to 450 mm, 450 to 700 mm, and over 700 mm. Walk around the tree before pricing: check access width for a chipper and trailer, note buried services, pool covers, neighbour fences, and overhead cables, and photograph the rigging anchor points. On storm work the tree is already unstable, so assess cable entanglement and lean direction before committing to a method. These site observations determine whether the job is sectional fell, rope down, or crane assisted.
Itemise every cost so the client sees why your price is not the kerb-side bakkie number. Add a line for site assessment and method statement, a separate line for the felling method (sectional felling, rigging, crane), stump grinding as its own line by trunk diameter, refuse removal and chipping per truck load, and pavement or pool cover protection and traffic management where access is tight. List the access bracket (easy, restricted, crane-only) on the quote with photos. Add your public liability and workman's comp policy numbers to the footer so clients comparing three quotes pick the one with insurance proof.
Use 14 day validity as standard because crew availability, refuse tip fees, and crane hire move fast. For storm work validate for 7 days only and add a 30 to 50 percent storm premium for unstable trees tangled in cables. Quote permit application and a 10 to 30 day lead time on protected species and street trees so the client expects the delay. Take a deposit on multi-day jobs to cover crane standby and refuse runs. State that rain delays push the schedule and that crew standby is billed at half day rate after 4 hours to protect you when wet weather hits.
Quote from the kerb before you drive away. After a storm the crew that quotes first wins the job, full stop. Build the quote on your phone at the base of the tree with diameter still in your head, share the branded PDF link on WhatsApp before the next assessment, and never start cutting a storm-damaged tree without a written accepted quote. Follow up after 48 hours on residential enquiries and same day on commercial or estate work. When the scope changes on site (extra stump, second tree, cable complication), send a variation quote before the chainsaw starts.
FAQ
Common questions from tree felling services
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. QuoteGenio lets you add any line item with its own description, quantity and price. List felling, stump grinding, refuse, and access as separate lines so the client sees the full scope.
Yes. Once your quote is ready, share it as a link directly via WhatsApp. Your client gets a professional branded document instantly, before you drive to the next assessment.
Each line item has its own description, quantity, and price. Add a line for rigging, a line for crane hire, and a line for crew. The client sees exactly what each part costs.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. Your client can open it on their phone and accept it online. No signup required.
Yes. Convert any accepted quote into an invoice with one click. All the line items carry over so there is no double entry.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
Measure trunk diameter at 1.4 m above ground (chest height). Most arborists set price brackets at under 200 mm, 200 to 450 mm, 450 to 700 mm, and over 700 mm. Within each bracket adjust for access (easy, restricted, crane-only) and species (hardwoods take longer than soft). Build these brackets into a template so you can quote any tree in two minutes.
Per tree for clear single-tree jobs because the client wants a fixed number. Per day for estates or storm clean-ups where the scope is messy. On per-day quotes, state crew size, equipment included, and the daily ceiling so there is no surprise on the invoice.
Storm work carries 30 to 50 percent premium because trees are unstable, often tangled in cables, and the risk is high. Quote an emergency call-out fee of R4,132 to R8,264 then assess on arrival and send a written quote on WhatsApp before starting. Never start cutting a storm-damaged tree without a written, accepted quote.
In many municipalities yes. Indigenous and protected species, and often any tree on the street verge, need a permit before felling. Quote a 'permit application and lead time (10 to 30 days)' line so the client expects the delay. Doing it without a permit exposes you to a fine that easily exceeds the job value.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
Pricing benchmark
What do tree felling services charge in 2026?
Hourly rates by region, common job prices, a worked sample quote, and the FAQs customers actually ask. The complete pricing reference for tree felling services.
Typical hourly
$80-$200/hr
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Guides
Guides for Tree Felling Services
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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