Local fuel yard and delivery service

Local households, stove owners, landlords, small hospitality businesses and customers who want to collect the same day.

Retail margin on bags and pallets, bulk discounts for regular trade customers, and delivery fees. Selling logs, kindling and stove accessories adds extra income outside the main winter peak.

• Stock buying and cash flow management
• Customer service and local marketing
• Safe handling of heavy goods and forklift or pallet truck use
• Basic bookkeeping

• Planning permission or business use of the site, check with your council
• Storage of fuel may have fire safety and insurance requirements, check with your insurer and the fire service
• Rules on house coal and wet wood differ across the UK nations, so check what you can sell
• Public liability, stock and buildings or contents insurance
• Weights and measures rules for selling by weight, check with Trading Standards
• Business is seasonal, so plan cash flow for the quiet summer months

Startup costs are typically around £10,000 to £35,000, depending on the site, how much stock you hold, equipment such as pallet handling gear, and whether you add a delivery vehicle. Insurance and storage also affect the total.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £4,000 to £15,000, depending on location, stock range, trade customers and delivery volume. Business is seasonal, so plan cash flow for the quieter summer months.

Check planning permission or business use of the site with your council, and fire safety and insurance requirements for storing fuel. Also check which fuels can be sold in your nation, weights and measures rules, and stock and liability cover.