Price each tree, not the whole section
Tree work is quoted and billed per tree because two trees on the same section can be very different jobs. A 6 metre kowhai over open lawn and a 15 metre gum leaning over a roof need different gear, crew and time. Give each tree a line with its species, rough height and the work: remove, reduce, lift or thin.
Number the trees on the quote as T1, T2 and T3, and use the same numbers on the invoice. If one tree drops out of the job, the change is obvious.
Stump grinding and what happens to the wood
Removal and stump grinding are separate services, and clients often assume one includes the other. Bill each stump on its own line, priced by diameter and grinding depth, for example to 200 mm below ground. Then say whether the grindings were left in the hole, spread on beds or taken away.
- Brush chipped and removed, per truck load.
- Rounds cut to length and stacked for firewood, which can lower the price.
- Logs taken away, per load, when the client wants a clear site.
Example lines on a tree service invoice template
Each line should name the tree or stump, its size and the work. These are example prices in New Zealand dollars before GST, showing how the unit works rather than a rate to copy. Height, lean, what sits underneath and access all change the real figure.
| Line item | Charged by | Example price |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree removal, under 5 m | Per tree | $350 |
| Large removal, sectional climb, 12 to 15 m | Per tree | $1,200 |
| Crown reduction or lift | Per tree | $420 |
| Stump grinding, up to 400 mm diameter | Per stump | $120 |
| Chip and remove brush | Per truck load | $120 |
| Aerial lift platform hire | Per half day | $450 |
| Stop and go traffic control | Per half day | $380 |
Keep cranes and traffic control on their own lines, so they never look like a higher rate.
Deposits on large removals
A removal that needs a crane can run to several thousand dollars, and you commit to the hire before the first cut. Many arborists take a deposit when the job is booked. Send it as its own invoice, then show it as paid on the final one with its number, so the client sees exactly what is left.
Our guide to how deposit invoices work covers the wording.
GST and client details on bigger jobs
A GST registered tree service charges 15%. Inland Revenue now asks for taxable supply information rather than a formal tax invoice, though you can still give it on one document marked tax invoice. On a job over $1,000 for a GST registered client, include their name and one identifier, such as an address, phone number, email or NZBN.
Show GST either as the amount before GST, the GST and the total, or as the total with a statement that GST is included. For supplies over $200, a registered client who asks must get this information within 28 days. Your GST number is the same 9 digit number as your IRD number. The NZ invoice template lays it all out.
Tree service invoice mistakes
Tree invoices are often large, so clients read every line. Disputes usually come from what the client assumed was included, especially stumps and wood, rather than from the price itself. Check these before sending.
- No tree numbers or species. ‘Tree work, $2,400’ cannot be checked against the quote.
- Stumps left out of the description. Write ‘stump left at ground level’ if you did not grind it.
- Wood left on site with no note. A client expecting a clear site will call.
- One bill for a shared boundary tree. If neighbours agreed to split it, send each their own invoice.
Load the sample removal job
Download the layout as Word, Excel or PDF, or open the tree removal sample in the generator. It loads three cypress removals, stump grinding, chipping, a crown lift and traffic control, priced in NZD with GST at 15%, ready for your own trees.
Regular pruning and weeding rounds sit better on the hourly gardener invoice, and new planting or lawns fit the landscaping invoice. For other trades, browse every invoice template.
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