Here’s something we’ve been thinking about for a while: every tree service company says they’re “fully insured.” It’s on the flyers, the trucks, the websites. And honestly, most of them probably mean it.
But there’s a pretty wide range of what “fully insured” actually looks like from one company to the next. Some carry the exact coverage they need. Others might have a basic policy that doesn’t quite cover tree care work specifically. And some — we’ve seen this more than we’d like — let things lapse without realizing it.
We wanted to take the guesswork out of it. Not just for our customers, but for ourselves too.
What the Zero-Risk Guarantee Is
Before we start any job — every job, every time — we hand you a signed legal document that says:
“If we get hurt on your property, that’s on us. We will never sue you.”
We call it the StumpBusters Zero-Risk Guarantee™. It’s a real legal waiver — not a handshake, not a verbal promise. A signed document you can keep, show your spouse, or hand to your insurance agent if you want.
Here’s what it covers:
Our workers, our responsibility. If one of our crew gets injured on your property, our workers’ compensation insurance handles it. Your homeowner’s insurance stays out of it entirely.
Our equipment, our mess. If our grinder kicks a rock through your windshield or a limb clips your fence, we take care of it through our commercial general liability insurance. You don’t need to get your homeowner’s policy involved.
When we leave, we’re done. The guarantee covers what happens while we’re actively working. Once we drive away, clean break.
Why We Created It
Honestly, it came from seeing too many situations where things went sideways for homeowners who didn’t know what to look for when hiring a tree service.
We wrote an article about some of those real-world situations — court cases, insurance claims, homeowners who got stuck with bills that should’ve been covered by the company they hired. It’s worth reading if you’re in the process of comparing quotes from different companies.
We carry workers’ compensation (classified for tree care, not general landscaping), commercial general liability ($1M+ per occurrence), and commercial auto on every vehicle and piece of equipment. The guarantee is just our way of putting all of that in writing and handing it to you upfront, so there’s no question about where things stand.
Why We Think More Companies Should Do This
We’re not sure why more tree service companies don’t offer something like this. Maybe it’s the cost of carrying the right coverage. Maybe it’s just not something they’ve thought about. Either way, the more companies that adopt this kind of transparency, the better it is for homeowners and the industry as a whole.
It’s always worth asking your tree service company about their specific coverage — what they carry, who it covers, and whether they’d be willing to put it in writing. Those are fair questions, and any reputable company should be comfortable answering them.
Read the Full Document
The complete waiver, the plain-English breakdown, our insurance details, and a downloadable PDF are all on our Zero-Risk Guarantee page. Take a look — it’s written to protect you.
View the StumpBusters Zero-Risk Guarantee™ →
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