Day in the Life Running a Forestry Mulching & Land Clearing Business in Ohio (The Real Behind-the-Scenes)
Running a forestry mulching business isn't just hopping in the machine and grinding trees. It's sales, logistics, quoting, customer management, content creation, financial decisions, and making sure every job is completed at the highest standard. In this Behind the Brush episode, we take you through a real, unfiltered day operating Brushworks—the largest residential land clearing company in Ohio—and show you what it truly looks like to lead a land clearing operation from start to finish.
The Reality of the Business (Not Just Running Equipment)
If you think success in land clearing is about who has the biggest machine, you're already behind. The truth is, 80% of running a successful land clearing company happens outside the machine.
Customer Relations & Quoting
Every job starts with a conversation. Accurate quoting, setting expectations, and building trust before a single machine touches the ground is what separates professionals from amateurs.
Project Oversight & Team Management
Managing multiple crews, ensuring quality standards, coordinating logistics—this is where operators either scale or fail. It's leadership, not just equipment operation.
Marketing & Content Creation
Most operators don't market. Brushworks films every project, creates educational content, and dominates SEO. This is what fills the pipeline—not just word of mouth.
Systems & Process Development
Standardized pricing, CRM management, follow-up sequences, scheduling—without systems, you're just self-employed with expensive equipment.
Why Brushworks is growing while most operators fail: We treat this like a business, not just a service.
Morning: Site Review & Customer Payment
The day starts with a walk-through of a completed job. Quality assurance isn't optional—it's how you build reputation.
Walk Every Completed Job
Before collecting payment, we inspect the entire property with the customer. This ensures every detail meets expectations and gives us a chance to address any concerns immediately.
Customer Satisfaction First
A satisfied customer becomes a referral source. We don't rush payment—we make sure they're thrilled with the results first. That's how you build a business that lasts.
Professional Payment Process
Payment is handled transparently and professionally. No surprises, no hidden fees. The final invoice matches the quote—every single time.
Deploying Equipment to a New Job
Moving machines isn't glamorous, but it's critical. Logistics determine whether you're profitable or just busy.
Logistics & Equipment Movement
Every machine move costs time and fuel. We plan routes, coordinate with crews, and ensure equipment arrives on time—because delays cost money.
Site Walk-Through With Crew
Before the first tree is mulched, we walk the site with the operator. We identify hazards, mark boundaries, and set clear expectations for the outcome.
The Leadership Side of Land Clearing Operations
Operators need direction. Without clear communication, jobs go sideways fast. That's why Brushworks invests in leadership and training—not just equipment.
We don't just send a crew to "clear some land." We define the scope, set quality standards, and ensure the team has everything they need to execute perfectly.
Filming Content for Marketing
This is the part most contractors skip—and it's the biggest mistake they make.
Why Brushworks Films Everything
Every project is documented with professional video and photography. This isn't vanity—it's strategy.
- Trust: Customers see real results before they buy
- Education: We teach property owners what's possible
- Brand Authority: Dominate search results and social media
- Omnipresence: Be everywhere your customers are looking
Creating SEO-Rich Content
Every video, article, and photo we create is optimized for search engines. When someone in Cincinnati searches "forestry mulching near me," Brushworks dominates the results—because we put in the work.
Marketing is a revenue engine—not an afterthought.
Most contractors wait for the phone to ring. We make it ring. Content creation is the difference between hoping for jobs and having more work than you can handle.
The Business Behind the Machines
While the crew is mulching, the real business work happens: editing videos, running ad campaigns, managing schedules, following up with leads, and optimizing systems.
Video Editing & Production
Raw footage becomes educational content that drives traffic, builds trust, and converts viewers into customers.
Running Marketing Campaigns
Google Ads, social media, SEO strategies—all managed in-house to ensure a steady flow of qualified leads.
CRM & Customer Follow-Ups
Every inquiry is tracked, every quote is followed up on. No lead falls through the cracks.
Why this behind-the-scenes work generates more jobs than any machinery ever could:
A $200,000 forestry mulcher sits idle without customers. But a properly run business—with marketing systems, lead generation, and customer management—keeps that machine running profitably year-round. That's the difference between an operator and a business owner.
Lessons for New Operators or Aspiring Business Owners
If you're thinking about starting a land clearing business—or you're already running one but struggling to scale— here's what you need to know:
Biggest Misconception: "The Machine Does the Work"
Equipment is important, but it's not the business. Marketing, pricing systems, customer service, and operational efficiency are what separate six-figure businesses from million-dollar businesses.
Why Most Businesses Fail
- •Bad quoting: Underpricing jobs and losing money on every project
- •Lack of marketing: Relying on word of mouth and seasonal demand
- •Poor process: No systems means chaos, missed deadlines, and unhappy customers
Why Brushworks Only Offers One Service (And Dominates It)
We don't do tree removal, stump grinding, landscaping, or excavation. We do forestry mulching and land clearing— and we do it better than anyone in Ohio. Specialization beats diversification when you're building authority.
What It Takes to Succeed in Land Clearing
Consistency in Marketing
Posting content weekly, running ads, optimizing SEO—marketing is not a one-time effort. It's a daily commitment.
Transparent Pricing Systems
Customers need to know what they're paying for—and you need to know you're profitable. Standardized pricing protects both.
Strong Customer Communication
Fast responses, clear expectations, professional follow-through. Communication builds trust—and trust drives referrals.
Investing in Equipment & Business Tools
Quality machines, CRM software, professional video equipment—these aren't expenses, they're investments in growth.
When You Hire Brushworks, You're Not Just Hiring a Machine
You're hiring a team, a process, and a business model built for results. From initial quote to final walk-through, we handle everything professionally—so you get the property you envisioned, on time and on budget.