Firewood supplier with local delivery

Households with wood heaters or fireplaces, plus holiday rentals, pubs and cafes with open fires or pizza ovens.

Price per cubic metre, per ute or trailer load, or per bag and crate, with a delivery fee. Kindling bundles add a small extra margin.

• Safe use of a chainsaw or log splitter
• Knowing which timbers burn well and how long to season them
• Basic delivery scheduling and customer service

• Check with your local council whether you can run a home-based business with customers or deliveries on your property
• Public liability insurance, and check your cover for chainsaw and splitter use
• Check state rules on sourcing timber, as some areas restrict taking wood from bushland, and confirm where your logs come from
• Heavy, risky physical work, and demand is strongly seasonal
• Customers expect properly dry wood, so sell only well-seasoned logs to avoid complaints

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your equipment such as a splitter and chainsaw, your vehicle and how much timber you buy upfront.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your volumes and prices. Demand is strongly seasonal, and the work is estimated at about 12 hours a week at minimum.

Check with your local council whether you can run a home-based business with customers or deliveries. Also check public liability insurance covering chainsaw and splitter use, and state rules on sourcing timber, including where your logs come from.