Service guide for owners
Selling arborist reports: a guide for tree company owners
Written reports turn your knowledge into paid work that does not need a saw. Builders, cities, HOAs and worried homeowners all need them. This guide covers the main report types, what clients search for, how to describe the service, how to price your time, and how to limit your risk.
By Umair Nawaz, Lirevon. Last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal or insurance advice.
Types of arborist reports
"Arborist report" covers many different jobs. Pick the two or three you are trained for and sell those well.
| Report | Who buys it | What goes inside |
|---|---|---|
| Tree removal permit report | Homeowners and builders in cities that need a permit to remove certain trees | Tree ID, size, condition, reason for removal, photos, any replanting the city asks for |
| Tree risk assessment | Homeowners, HOAs, property managers, schools | Targets, defects, likelihood of failure, risk rating, options to reduce risk, inspection date and limits |
| Tree protection plan (pre-construction) | Builders, architects, homeowners adding on | Trees to keep, protection zones, fencing, root pruning, what to avoid during work, site visits |
| Tree inventory | HOAs, parks, campuses, commercial sites | A list or map of every tree with species, size, condition and suggested work, often in a spreadsheet |
| Health or condition report | Home buyers, sellers, worried owners | Symptoms, likely causes, suggested care, when to check again |
| Damage or value report | Owners after a neighbor dispute, car hit, or insurance question | What happened, condition before and after, and a value only if you are trained in tree appraisal methods |
Short definitions: tree risk assessment, certified arborist and hazard tree.
What customers search for
Report buyers usually search with a reason in mind: a permit, a build, a worry.
| What they type | What they usually need |
|---|---|
| arborist report for permit / tree removal permit [city] | Has a deadline from the city. Wants fast turnaround and a report the city will accept. |
| tree risk assessment near me | Worried about a tree over the house or a busy area. May also want removal or pruning. |
| arborist for construction / tree protection plan | A builder or owner with plans. Needs a report and often follow-up site visits. |
| certified arborist inspection | Wants a qualified opinion, not a sales pitch. Credentials and independence matter. |
Build a list for your own cities with the local keyword planner. If your city has a tree permit rule, a page that explains it in plain words can bring steady searches; homeowners can also read our tree permits page.
How to describe it on your website and Google profile
Report clients care about credentials, turnaround and whether the report will be accepted. Lead with those.
Example service description (edit it to fit your company)
Arborist reports in [your county]. Our [credential] prepares tree removal permit reports, tree risk assessments and tree protection plans for homeowners, builders and HOAs. Each report lists the trees, what we checked, what we found with photos, your options, and the limits of the assessment. Typical turnaround is [X] business days after the site visit. Reports are independent; if you also want a quote for the work, we provide it separately. Send the address, the reason for the report and any city form, and we will reply with a fixed fee or an hourly estimate.
- Website: one main page for reports with a short section per report type. The service page outline builder lays it out for you. A short sample of a report page, with client details removed, builds trust.
- Google Business Profile: add "arborist reports" or "tree risk assessment" as services with a short description. Use the Google Business Profile builder.
- List only real credentials: name the credential and who holds it. Do not say "certified" unless someone on your team is.
How to structure the price
Reports sell your time and judgment. We do not publish market prices because they vary by city, report type and credential. Price from your own time and costs, and keep the scope tight.
Site time
Hours on site times your hourly rate for the person doing the assessment. Include measuring, sounding, photos and notes.
Office time
Writing, maps, photo labels and review. For many reports this is as long as the site visit, or longer. Track it on your first few reports so you know.
Travel
Drive time and fuel. Set a minimum charge so a short report across town still pays.
Special tools or tests
Advanced tools like decay testing or a lift to inspect the upper canopy, priced per use. Lab fees passed through at cost plus handling.
Meetings and revisions
Calls with the city, builder or lawyer, and changes after the first draft. Say how many are included, then charge by the hour.
Overhead and profit
Professional liability insurance, training, software and your margin. Report work carries real liability, so price it in.
Three ways to charge
| Model | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Flat fee | Simple permit reports and single-tree checks | Easy to sell. Set limits: number of trees, one site visit, one revision. |
| Hourly | Construction plans, disputes, anything with meetings | Fair when scope is unclear. Give an estimate of hours up front. |
| Per tree | Inventories and large risk surveys | Add a base fee for setup, travel and the summary. |
To set your hourly rate, use the crew day rate calculator and the profit margin calculator. For field measurements, the tree height calculator, the tree age calculator and the critical root zone calculator help with quick checks. Write your fees down with the price guide builder. Tool results are estimates from your inputs.
Photos to take
In a report, a photo is evidence. Number your photos, match them to trees and keep the originals.
- A wide shot of each tree with its surroundings, so the reader sees what it could hit.
- The trunk base and root flare, including any soil heave, fungus or damage.
- Each defect you mention in the report: cracks, cavities, dead limbs, included bark.
- A tag or label in the frame, or a site map that matches photo numbers to trees.
- The date and time on every photo, kept with your field notes.
The job photo checklist helps keep this the same on every visit.
Questions to ask on the call
The purpose of the report sets the scope, the reader and the price. Ask before you quote.
- What is the report for: a permit, a sale, a builder, a worry, a dispute or an insurance question?
- Who will read it: you, the city, a lender, a lawyer, an HOA board?
- Is there a deadline or a form the city or client wants you to use?
- How many trees, and can you send photos and the address?
- Is there construction planned? Do you have a site plan we can see?
- Is there a dispute with a neighbor or anyone else? (This changes scope and price.)
- Do you also want a quote for the work, or only an independent report?
- Who should we send the report and invoice to?
Put these in your script with the call script builder, and send the quote with the estimate template.
Upsells that make sense
Keep next steps separate from the report itself.
The work itself, when wanted
Many clients ask for pruning or removal after reading the report. Offer a separate quote, and make it clear the report stands on its own.
Re-inspection
Risk ratings have a time limit. Offer a scheduled check, such as yearly, for trees you rated as needing watching.
Construction site visits
Protection plans work only if someone checks them. Price visits at key stages: before work, during grading, at the end.
Plant health care
Health reports often lead to care plans. See the plant health care guide for how to package them.
Builders, HOAs and property managers are repeat buyers. See the commercial accounts guide, the property manager pitch builder and the plant health care guide. Related service guides: tree removal and cabling and bracing.
Liability, insurance and safety notes
Reports carry a different kind of risk: someone may rely on what you wrote. These are general notes, not legal or insurance advice.
- Write a clear scope in the quote and a "limits of the assessment" section in every report: what you checked, what you did not, and how long the findings hold.
- Ask your agent whether you need professional liability (errors and omissions) cover for written opinions. See the insurance guide and the insurance certificate checklist.
- Stay inside your training. If a question needs a soil scientist, engineer or appraiser, say so and refer it.
- Inspections can still be dangerous: dead limbs above you, traffic, wasps, slopes. Follow your normal safety rules; see the job site safety guide.
- Check state and city rules for who may sign certain reports. Our tree service license pages link to official state sources.
Report clients compare who answers first
Builders and permit clients often call two or three companies and book whoever replies with a clear fee. Read the missed calls guide and the local SEO guide, see our services, check pricing or ask for a free audit. Lirevon is new and has no tree-service clients yet; first case studies are planned for December 2026.
Common questions
Do I need a special credential to write arborist reports?
It depends on the report and the city. Some cities only accept reports from a certified arborist or a consulting arborist with a risk assessment qualification. Check your city's permit rules and train for the reports you want to sell. Short explanation, not legal advice.
How should I price an arborist report?
Track your real time first: site hours, writing hours, travel and any meetings. Multiply by your hourly rate, add special tests and overhead, then add profit. Use a flat fee for simple reports with clear limits and hourly pricing for anything open-ended. We do not publish market prices.
Is it a conflict to write a report and also quote the work?
It can look like one. Many companies say in the report that it is independent, and they quote the work separately. Some clients, like lawyers, may want a report from someone who will not do the work. Be open about it.
What should every report include?
Who asked for it and why, the date of the visit, the trees covered, methods used, findings with photos, options or recommendations, and a statement of limits: what you did not check and how long the findings are valid.
Does my insurance cover arborist reports?
Not always. General liability covers bodily injury and property damage from your work. A written opinion that is later questioned may need professional liability (errors and omissions) cover. Ask your insurance agent. See the insurance guide.
Should I take on dispute or court work?
Only if you are trained for it and price it right. Disputes need careful notes, neutral language and time for meetings, depositions or testimony, all billed by the hour. Many owners start with permit and risk reports instead.
How do I market arborist reports?
Give the service its own page with each report type, your turnaround, sample report sections and your credentials. Reach out to builders, architects, property managers and HOA boards, who need reports again and again.
Can I give a tree a dollar value in a report?
Only if you are trained in recognized tree appraisal methods. Values are often used in disputes and insurance claims, so a wrong number can cause real trouble. If you are not trained, say so and refer the client.
This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Report and permit rules differ by state and city. Check with your city, your insurer and a local lawyer about your own business.
Sell your knowledge, not only your saw
A clear report page and fast replies bring builders, HOAs and permit clients to you. Get a free audit, see the services or check pricing.