hey
@jessmess, I'm also from Canada, but have been living in dear old Deutschland since 2011.
Congratulations on getting started, and both of you in the same line of work, cool!
I was also self-employed in Canada, as a landscaper primarily, and it went really well until it didn't. I got into the equipment and fixed-cost trap, racked up a pile of debt and had to roll up the business and sell off everything I could. I dug myself painstakingly out of debt afterwards, relatively quickly, and made the move to Germany to be close to my wife's family. Huge advantage here over Ontario is no winter! The Germans complain about the cold here in January, but zey know nozing!
I wish I had discovered Mustachianism while I was self-employed in Ontario, I wouldn't have gotten myself into that mess. Totally great that you're on board though! My biggest piece of advice that you already seem to have learned is avoid fixed monthly costs like the plague! Expensive machinery you rent unless it's being used daily - forever. Also, customers don't really care about your truck. It has to be presentable, but that doesn't mean it can't also be 10 years old and used! Good plan buying as you really need it - that has been my strategy in my second attempt at self-employment here. Another tip: Buy the best quality you can when it will be used at least weekly, buy China-brand stuff that doesn't get used that much - a lot of it surprisingly good quality. Do the math on rentals, often a tool will pay for itself after only two or three uses.
And about your question: Work is different in Germany, but once you get used to it, it's fine. Though, that getting-used-to-it period has its moments of extreme irritation. My temples went grey shortly after moving here, and I blame that squarely on Deutschland. If you're doing any kind of tree-work for a town or bigger company, the paperwork is insane. I don't go after those jobs, though sometimes I work as a subcontractor for others who have landed those jobs. I mostly work for private customers, who are pretty reasonable as a rule. You need various insurances (they love being insured in Germany, you can buy insurance for your insurance here), and you need to have recognised certificates to be able to do the work here. However, there are still lots of people who don't have the insurance or certification and do jobs for cash here, like anywhere else. That's a big risk though. But, the mild climate and jumping economy (I live in one of the three cities here in Germany that drives the whole EU essentially) means that the work goes year round and doesn't stop.
Anyway, battery's going, thanks for the response!