Part-Time firewood and kindling seller

Households with wood burners and open fires, campsites, holiday lets and people buying for the winter months.

Price per net bag, crate or loose load, plus kindling bundles and a delivery charge. Sales are strongest in autumn and winter, so plan for a quieter summer.

• Safe use of a chainsaw or log splitter
• Basic sums for pricing by volume
• Planning storage and drying time
• Friendly customer service

• Logs need time to season, so you may have months before the first proper batch is ready; buying in already dried logs can speed this up
• Check the moisture content of what you sell, as rules on selling wood fuel in England and elsewhere can apply, so check with your council or Trading Standards
• Public liability insurance and training for chainsaws and splitters
• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council allows trade storage and deliveries at home
• Heavy manual work and noise, so think about neighbours

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on whether you buy in unseasoned or dried logs, and what splitting, storage and bagging equipment you need. Treat this as an estimate and price your own setup.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on volumes, prices and how many customers you reach. Logs also need time to season, so early months may bring less unless you buy in dried logs. Treat these as estimates.

Check the moisture content rules for selling wood fuel with your council or Trading Standards, and consider public liability insurance and chainsaw training. Also check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council allows trade storage and deliveries at home.