Jared and Jake spent some time talking at the DudeRanchDIY woodyard about how to start a firewood business as a side hustle. The key, they agree, is to start small with realistic expectations and consider how much time you have to invest, how much wood you have to sell, and how much you stand to make.
How to Sell Firewood the Easy Way
Jake speaks from experience when he explains that creating a roadside stand is the best way to ease into selling firewood. Answering the question, "Where can I sell firewood near me?" may be as simple as looking at the end of your driveway. If you're on a road with decent traffic, setting up a stand in your own front yard is a great way to get started!
Check out the video to see Jake’s DIY version of a self-serve-style firewood stand. When building your own, the key parts include a roof to keep your wood dry and a secure way to collect payments. Depending on your location, the honor system may work well and make launching your business even easier.
Firewood Business Equipment
Here are a few items you'll need to get started.
- Wood - It may seem obvious, but do you have a stable supply of wood that's good for burning? If you're planning to sell long-term, you'll need one. Options for obtaining wood range from cutting down trees on your land to asking a tree-care business to bring you what they cut down for other people. Often those companies have to pay to dump that wood, so you're helping them by requesting they deliver it to you instead.
- A reliable log splitter - The most important tool you'll use is your log splitter, so you'll want one that is durable and strong enough to split 20-inch diameter rounds. If you're unsure which will work best for you, watch Jake and Jared's video comparing RuggedMade log splitters to learn more.
- Firewood Storage - Seasoning your firewood can take six months or more, so you'll need a place to store it while drying. The more you want to sell, the more space you'll need. Consider watching our How to Stack and Store Firewood video, which answers all your stacking and seasoning questions.
- A secure money box - Once you've split, stacked, and seasoned the wood and chosen the right location to place your stand, you'll be ready to start selling. If you're beginning with honor system-based sales, you'll want to ensure your money collection box is securely fastened to your stand and lockable.
These basics will set the foundation for selling firewood, but there's more to a business than cutting, drying, and selling -- like making it profitable!
Is Selling Firewood Profitable?
The key to making a profit in any business is pricing your product correctly. When deciding how much to charge for firewood, consider your material costs and the time spent splitting, stacking, and seasoning it. On average, a bundle of wood ranges from $5 to $20, depending on the location and the type of wood. For a full cord, the current average price is about $300. If you're selling from a roadside stand, you'll be selling bundles, but that stand is a great place to advertise larger quantities when you're ready to grow your business.
We may be biased, but we think selling firewood is a great business, and we hope this guide helps you create a side hustle that pays off for years to come!
