Tree service accounting that handles equipment-heavy operations.
Section 179 on chippers and bucket trucks, crew payroll with high workers comp class rates, and the cash flow planning that spans storm season to slow season.
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Tree service is one of the most equipment-heavy small businesses there is. A bucket truck is $80K–$200K. A chipper is $40K–$80K. A stump grinder is $15K–$50K. Mismanage equipment depreciation and you either eat capacity through tax season or fail to capture a real Section 179 opportunity.
We work with residential tree services, commercial arborists, and storm-restoration crews. Workers comp class 0106 is one of the most expensive in the country, so the audit math matters.
What we handle
- Equipment depreciation on trucks, chippers, grinders, lifts — Section 179 + bonus depreciation timing.
- Crew payroll with proper class-code allocation for workers comp audits.
- Storm-cycle cash flow planning — boom revenue funded against slow-season payroll.
- Job costing for high-ticket commercial work.
- Subcontractor 1099s for piece-rate climbers and groundsmen.
- Disposal cost tracking — landfill and chip-haul fees per job.
Tree service is NCCI 0106 with rates often $25–$50 per $100 of payroll in Colorado. A 5-person crew at $300K of wages costs $75K–$150K in workers comp annually. Correctly excluding 1099 subcontractor wages from the audit base saves real money — we provide audit-ready reports.
If you own bucket trucks or chippers worth more than $50K, depreciation timing matters.
If you scale past 2 crews, monthly bookkeeping with cash flow projection is required.
If you do storm work, deferred revenue handling for prepaid maintenance plans matters.
Equipment math right, comp audits clean, cash through storm cycles.
From $500/month for small tree services.
Frequently asked questions
Can I Section 179 a bucket truck?
Generally yes — work trucks above 6,000 lbs typically qualify for Section 179 plus bonus depreciation, allowing immediate expensing of much or all of the cost in year 1.
How do I handle 1099 climbers?
Properly screened, contract climbers can be 1099. Misclassified, the IRS reclassifies and assesses back-tax. We document the determination with the 20-factor test at engagement.
Do you do certified payroll?
Yes, for any tree work on government-funded projects with prevailing wage requirements.
How do you handle dump fees?
Dump and chip-haul fees are direct job costs. We code per job so your job-level margin reflects actual disposal cost.