The Tree Service Market Has a Wide Spectrum
Call ten tree service companies in Tallahassee and you'll get a wide range of what shows up. On one end: ISA-certified arborists with proper insurance, documented training, and professional standards. On the other: someone with a truck and a chainsaw who will work cheap because their overhead is minimal.
Most people hiring tree services can't immediately tell the difference. Here's how.
What ISA Certification Actually Means
ISA stands for the International Society of Arboriculture — the professional organization for tree care. An ISA Certified Arborist has:
- Passed a comprehensive written examination covering tree biology, soil science, tree risk assessment, pruning standards, and other arboricultural knowledge
- Documented a minimum of three years of full-time experience in professional arboriculture (or less with a related degree)
- Committed to ongoing continuing education to maintain certification
Certification is not a business license. It's a credential that confirms an individual has the knowledge and experience required to properly care for trees.
Why it matters: A Certified Arborist knows that topping a tree causes long-term damage. They know what cuts to make and which to avoid. They understand tree biology and how improper cuts create decay entry points. An unlicensed operator may not — and bad tree work can cost you more to fix (or ultimately require complete removal) than the original job cost to do right.
Florida Contractor Licensing
Florida requires tree service contractors to hold a Specialty Contractor License for work that involves more than basic maintenance. Licensed contractors:
- Have verified their business insurance
- Have passed state contractor exams
- Can be looked up and verified through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
You can verify a contractor's license on the DBPR website. It takes about 30 seconds. If someone can't provide a license number, that's significant.
The Insurance Conversation
Tree work is high-risk. Things go wrong — branches fall unexpectedly, equipment fails, something lands where it shouldn't.
General liability insurance covers damage to your property caused by the tree service during work. Without it, if a tree section lands on your roof and causes significant damage, you may have no recourse.
Workers' compensation insurance covers workers who are injured on your property. Without workers' comp, an injured worker on your property may be able to pursue a claim against your homeowner's insurance or directly against you.
Before any tree work begins, ask for:
- A certificate of general liability insurance
- Proof of workers' compensation coverage
A legitimate operation will have these and will provide them without hesitation. If a company balks at providing insurance documentation, walk away.
Red Flags to Watch For
The door-to-door solicitation after storms. After a major storm, operators from outside the area come through offering cheap removal. Some are legitimate; many are not. A Tallahassee-area company with a local address, verifiable license, and insurance documentation is accountable to the community. A truck from out of state isn't.
"I see you have a hazard tree" unsolicited. Legitimate tree companies don't randomly tell homeowners they have an emergency requiring immediate cash payment. This is a common scam. If you didn't call them, be very skeptical.
Requests for full payment upfront. A deposit is reasonable; full payment before work begins is not.
No written quote. Any legitimate job should have a written scope of work with the price. Verbal quotes don't hold anyone accountable.
Recommending "topping." Topping — cutting back major branches to stubs — is widely considered malpractice by ISA standards. It creates decay entry points, produces weakly attached regrowth, and is harmful to tree health. A Certified Arborist won't recommend it; an untrained operator might. If topping is suggested as a solution to a problem, look for a second opinion.
What to Ask Before Hiring
- Are you licensed as a contractor in Florida? (Get the license number and verify it)
- Do you have general liability and workers' comp insurance? (Get the certificate)
- Is anyone on your crew ISA certified? (Not a dealbreaker if not, but worth knowing)
- Can I get a written quote with the scope of work itemized?
- Who exactly is doing the work — your own crew or a subcontractor?
Why We Say This
We're telling you this because we meet the standards. We're insured, we have the certifications, and we do the work ourselves with our own crew. We want customers who understand the difference and are choosing us for the right reasons — not customers who don't know to ask until something goes wrong.
The cheapest quote isn't always the worst choice. But an unlicensed, uninsured operator on your property is a liability you're carrying, not a savings.
Questions about our credentials or coverage? Call us at (850) 570-4074. We're glad to provide documentation before you hire us. Request an estimate online.