Start a local firewood delivery business on weekends
Source, split and season logs on your own land, then deliver by the cord or part cord to nearby homes.
- $2.5k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
7,703 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.2% in a year
NAICS 454310 “Fuel dealers”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small firewood business run from your property. You buy or cut logs, split and stack them to dry, then sell seasoned firewood and kindling to local households, delivered or picked up.
Your first three steps
- Find a steady log supply, such as tree service companies, land clearing crews or local sawmills, and learn what hardwoods sell in your area
- Set up a drying and stacking area, buy a splitter and basic safety gear, and start seasoning your first batch
- Price your cord and half cord, list on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, and ask your first buyers for reviews
Who pays
Homeowners with wood stoves or fireplaces, cabin and vacation rental owners, and people who want firewood for fire pits and camping.
How it makes money
Price per cord, half cord or face cord, with a delivery and stacking fee. Bundled kindling adds a little extra on each order.
Skills that help
- Safe use of a chainsaw and splitter
- Physical fitness
- Planning ahead, since wood needs months to season
- Customer service
Watch out for
- Many states restrict moving firewood to stop invasive pests, check your state's department of agriculture rules
- Your state may have rules on how firewood is measured and sold (a cord is a set volume), check with your state's weights and measures office
- Zoning, home occupation rules and HOA or lease limits on storing and splitting wood at home
- General liability and commercial vehicle insurance, check with your insurer about delivery
- Chainsaw and splitter injuries, wear proper protective gear
- Selling unseasoned wood leads to complaints and lost customers
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: local firewood delivery on weekends
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a firewood delivery business?
Startup costs are typically around $2,500 to $10,000, depending on your equipment, how you source logs and what you use for delivery. Protective gear and insurance are also worth budgeting for.
How much can a part-time firewood business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on how much wood you season and sell and how far you deliver. These are estimates, not guarantees. Wood needs months to season, so plan ahead.
What rules should I check before selling firewood?
Check your state's rules on moving firewood to limit invasive pests, and how your state measures and sells a cord. Also check zoning, home occupation, HOA or lease limits, and insurance for delivery with your insurer.
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