Stump Grinding
Turn dead wood into cash — one stump at a time
Bottom line
Strong cash-flow candidate with manageable operations.
Stump grinding is a specialized outdoor service that removes tree stumps left after trees are cut down. A single grinder mounted on a trailer is all you need to earn $100–$150/hour. Tree service companies frequently subcontract stump removal, creating a built-in referral network from day one. With a used grinder costing as little as $6K, few legitimate service businesses start this lean.
How It Works
A rotating drum with carbide teeth chews through stumps below ground level. Jobs typically take 15–60 minutes and average $200–$350 per stump. Operators charge by stump count, diameter, or hourly rate. Tree services refer stump work they don't want to handle, while direct homeowner calls come from Google and Nextdoor.
BizBite verdict
Contact broker
Stump Grinding has enough high-level data for a first look, but BizBite has not assigned a category-specific operating model yet. Treat the score as preliminary.
Why it may work
- +Attractive 40% estimated margin profile
- +SBA dataset shows 212 recent comparable loans
Be careful
- !Source link status has not been verified yet
- !No last-checked date yet
- !No category operating model yet
SBA 7(a) data
Real acquisitions in this category
Change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 561730 · Landscaping Services
Deal size distribution
Deal flow over time
Financing profile
Recent comparable deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | NY | $135K | $159K |
| Mar 2026 | NJ | $150K | $177K |
| Mar 2026 | NJ | $1.4M | $1.6M |
| Mar 2026 | CA | $333K | $392K |
| Mar 2026 | MN | $83K | $97K |
| Mar 2026 | IL | $1.2M | $1.4M |
| Mar 2026 | MA | $100K | $118K |
| Mar 2026 | FL | $1.2M | $1.4M |
| Feb 2026 | SC | $480K | $565K |
| Feb 2026 | IN | $990K | $1.2M |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Deal Calculator
Priced off $70K SDE — can this deal service its own debt?
SDE = revenue × margin estimate for this niche; it includes owner compensation, so budget your salary out of cash flow. Excludes working-capital injection, capex reserves, and taxes. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower.
Pros
- +Very low startup cost — used grinder and trailer under $10K
- +Tree companies subcontract this constantly, so leads appear from day one
- +30–50% profit margins on low overhead
- +No license required in most states — just insurance
- +One person can run 6–10 jobs per day once efficient
Cons
- -Highly seasonal in cold climates — winter can be near-zero
- -Physically demanding — equipment is loud and dusty
- -Equipment maintenance is regular and critical
- -Geographic range limited by drive time between jobs
Best For
Outdoorsy entrepreneurs wanting a lean, low-overhead service business; also great as an add-on to tree service or landscaping operations
Operating Costs
Major costs: equipment loan/depreciation (15%), fuel (8–10%), blade/carbide replacements (5%), liability insurance ($3K–$5K/year), marketing (5–10%). A solo operator running 3 jobs/week at $275 average generates ~$43K in year one; scaling to 5–6 days/week with multiple crews can reach $300K–$400K revenue.
Where to Buy
Find stump grinding and tree service businesses for sale across the US
Used stump grinders and small operators often listed locally
Real operator stories and advice from stump grinding business owners
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
Some links may be affiliate links. We only recommend tools we'd use ourselves.
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Largest business-for-sale marketplace in the US
SBA loans and business acquisition financing — get funded fast
ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
Bookkeeping for small business owners — hands-off financials
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