How to Launch a B2B Stump Grinding Service for Tree Surgeons in the UK

If you’ve ever looked at the tree surgery industry and wondered where the real opportunity lies, you might be surprised to learn it’s in something as specific as stump grinding. In the US, entrepreneur Chris Koerner has turned this niche into a scalable business model. The good news? The same blueprint can be applied in the UK, where demand is high and the market is still relatively underserved.

Let’s break down how to launch a B2B stump grinding service for UK tree surgeons, inspired by Koerner’s model but adapted for the UK market.

1. Learn from Koerner's US Model

Chris Koerner’s concept is simple but powerful: don’t buy expensive equipment or do the physical work yourself. Instead, focus on marketing, sales, and lead generation, and subcontract the actual stump grinding to qualified crews.

As Koerner explains:

“We are a lead gen factory with a truck... We need good tree crews to sub out the work to... Sales are at the heart of what we do… We don’t own any chainsaws, but we know how to talk the talk.”

One of his listeners, Tyler, took this idea and ran with it. By month two, he was generating $23,000 a month simply by building B2B relationships with tree trimming companies through cold outreach.

The takeaway? You don’t need to be the one operating the grinder. You need to be the one bringing in the jobs.

2. UK Market Overview & Keyword Demand

In the UK, the opportunity is clear. The search term “stump grinding” generates roughly 14,800 monthly searches, which is on par with “tree surgeon near me.” Other high-intent searches include “stump grinding near me” and “stump removal.”

This tells us two things:

  1. Homeowners and businesses are actively searching for this service.

  2. Tree surgeons who don’t own grinders are regularly turning work away.

By positioning yourself as a B2B stump grinding partner, you can capture this demand while helping tree surgeons expand their own services.

3. Strategic Steps to Launch in the UK

A. Build the Lead-Gen Platform

Create a simple but professional website that markets stump grinding services directly to tree surgeons and arborists. Make sure it’s optimised for local SEO terms such as:

  • “stump grinding London”

  • “B2B stump removal UK”

  • “subcontract stump grinding for tree surgeons”

The website should make it easy to book jobs, get quotes, and understand pricing tiers.

B. Outreach & Sales Strategy

Don’t wait for SEO to kick in — get proactive. Start cold calling and emailing tree surgery firms in your area. The pitch is straightforward:

“We handle the stumps so you don’t have to. You say yes to more jobs, without the cost of equipment or extra labour.”

Highlight case studies (even small ones) that show how subcontracting stump work increases flexibility and revenue.

C. Partner with Qualified Crew

Instead of buying machines, partner with local arborists who already own stump grinders. Ensure they are:

  • Fully insured

  • CSCS or LANTRA certified (e.g., CS30, CS31)

  • Professional in appearance and behaviour

This way, you’re building a network of reliable subcontractors, not overhead.

D. Focus on B2B Relationships

Tree surgeons are your primary customer, but don’t stop there. Approach:

  • Landscapers

  • Grounds maintenance companies

  • Local authorities

  • Property developers

  • Large landowners (e.g., National Trust, MOD)

Getting on approved supplier lists can lock in recurring contracts and steady revenue.

E. Marketing and Trust Building

Trust is everything in B2B. Build credibility by:

  • Setting up and optimising your Google Business Profile

  • Collecting testimonials and case studies from early clients

  • Listing on directories like Yell and arborist industry sites

  • Publishing SEO-friendly blog content around stump grinding costs, processes, and benefits

Over time, this creates a steady flow of inbound leads while outreach drives short-term wins.

F. Efficient Operations & Scaling

Start small, track everything, and scale deliberately. Monitor:

  • Lead sources

  • Conversion rates

  • Revenue per client

  • Job turnaround times

As demand grows, expand geographically by adding more crews under your subcontracting network. Replicate what works, region by region.

4. The UK B2B Stump Grinding Business Model

ComponentDetailsValue PropositionYou generate leads and manage client relationships; subcontractors deliver the service.ClientsTree surgeons, landscapers, councils, property managers, developers.MarketingSEO, Google Business Profile, directories, testimonials, outreach campaigns.OperationsPartner with certified crews; coordinate jobs; maintain quality control.ScalingExpand into new UK regions by building local subcontractor partnerships.

5. Next Steps

  1. Identify and partner with a reliable, insured stump grinding crew in your region.

  2. Build a one-page landing site with clear pricing and booking.

  3. Launch a cold outreach campaign targeting tree surgeons and arborist firms.

  4. Collect testimonials and refine your process.

  5. Scale region by region once your model is proven.

Final Thoughts

Chris Koerner proved in the US that stump grinding can be a lean, scalable, B2B cash flow business when you focus on sales and relationships instead of machinery. With high search demand in the UK and a fragmented industry, there’s plenty of room for a dedicated player to replicate the model.

If you can build trust, streamline operations, and market aggressively, a StumpPro UK-style business could become a reliable and profitable niche venture in months, not years.

EntrepreneurshipFrancesca Tabor