Start a Firewood Yard With a Processor

Households, restaurants with wood-fired ovens, campgrounds, hardware and grocery stores selling bundles, and landscapers.

Bulk cord sales and delivery, bundled wood sold wholesale to retailers, and higher-priced kiln-dried wood. Repeat customers are strongest in cold months.

• Operating heavy equipment safely
• Basic bookkeeping and pricing
• Sales and building retail accounts
• Logistics and delivery planning

• Zoning for a commercial wood yard and noise limits, check with your city or county
• State rules on firewood movement and kiln treatment for pests, check your state's department of agriculture
• Sales tax registration and cord measurement rules in your state
• Workers' compensation insurance once you hire helpers, plus general liability
• Heavy equipment accidents and fire risk from large wood piles
• Strongly seasonal demand, plan cash flow for summer

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on whether you rent or own land, the processor you choose and any kiln or drying space. Insurance and delivery vehicles may add to this.

Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on volume, your mix of bulk and bundled sales, and retail accounts. These are estimates, not guarantees. Demand is strongly seasonal, so plan cash flow for summer.

Check zoning and noise limits for a commercial wood yard with your city or county, and your state's firewood movement and kiln treatment rules. Also check sales tax registration, cord measurement rules, and workers' compensation once you hire helpers.