extra money selling firewood?

[MotherBucker]

I began to cut a couple of years ago for personal use, and really enjoy the work. I've got about 20 acres of red oak, and found that with a little help I can fell, buck, and split about 10 cords in 25-30 hours total. Because i've had to buy wood for my stove in the past, I know that wood around here typically sells anywhere from 175-300/cord.

I would like to sell some wood for some extra cash, but dont know how quickly i could build a customer base, and how much wood i would expect to move in a year.

If i knew i could make a living doing this year to year, i would quit my job and cut for a living, but i just dont know where to start. any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[ropensaddle]

I began to cut a couple of years ago for personal use, and really enjoy the work. I've got about 20 acres of red oak, and found that with a little help I can fell, buck, and split about 10 cords in 25-30 hours total. Because i've had to buy wood for my stove in the past, I know that wood around here typically sells anywhere from 175-300/cord.

I would like to sell some wood for some extra cash, but dont know how quickly i could build a customer base, and how much wood i would expect to move in a year.

If i knew i could make a living doing this year to year, i would quit my job and cut for a living, but i just dont know where to start. any help is greatly appreciated.

I think I would keep the job until the business makes enough to make you quit. It all looks great on the otherside but expense and equipment cost eat up money fast. I would not even sell it if I stayed busy in my tree work. However as a side job it can be very gratifying imo just deliver when you say and in the amount you say and it wont take a huge amount of time to get clients. CL is actually a fair place to part with wood but the niche markets like bundles seems more profitable. I am holding my wood for now I only sell when I need the extra dough.

 

[Johndirt82]

I do it as a side deal aside from the military as my main job. If you have consistent access to good quality wood then start as a side gig . A couple good saws, a 3/4 or 1 ton truck that can haul cords at a time or a trailer. I use a 79 f250 with huge overload springs. and a fast home made log splitter. As stated start with craigslist , make a set of business cards. Once you get a few customers they , if you have a good quality product , will help you get your name out and more business as well. Yes its quite labor intensive but if you work hard the rewards can gratifying. I sell 3-4 cords a week. nothing crazy. The San Diego market is generally better than most would expect. It does get cold here , sometimes , contrary to popular belief

 

[MotherBucker]

any ideas on advertising? We live a pretty secluded lifestyle, and would rather not attract more attention to our property that is absolutly necessary.

As far as equipment costs, I own my truck, and i can rent a 20 ton splitter for 77 dollars from saturday until monday, and i'm sure with more experience could easily get 12-13 cords in the 2 days i would have it.

What would be a fair price to sell for? I was thinking around 150/cord, which would be cheaper than others around here.

do you think 100 cords sold/year would be too ambitious?

Again, thanks for the feedback, and I'm sure i'll have more questions coming as they come to me!

 

[Johndirt82]

I always deliver, so be it reasonable distance.That keeps people away from the homefront. I wouldn't lowball what you sell cords for. If your wood is good stuff. See whats on craigslist and see what others goes for and meet it in the middle somewhere. 100 cords for a 1 man strongback operation may be a bit hefty. I did 40+ by my self last year and that was alot for 1 guy in good shape. I get 300 to 400 for a cord of good oak. I don't mind drivin a little further and stacking for free if asked. Customer service will get you far too. Don't show up lookin like you just came out of the woods from Deliverance , appearance and professionalism can give the impression that someone has their act together and that will gain you more loyal customers as well.

 

[066Bigbear]

All I can tell you is what has worked for me down here in VA. Well I started off on CL and some in the local paper. Just were ever I could get a free add in, and from there it just took off. I am really looking at expanding the first of the year I also have a full time job but I have a extra hand help me when I need it. The main thing is to keep cost low on "everything" renting a splitter here and there adds up. If you keep your eyes open you will find a deal on a good used one I know I did (did just a little work and I had a free one that I am still using) but like stated before if you sell nice dry wood and you are true to your word about what you sell, than the customers will do the rest. Most of my new orders come from word of mouth "its a powerful thing". But just start off slow get your feet yet that way you can see if its for you that way before you get to deep into it you can get out if you dont like it and you will not have lost that much. Hope that you get some good info on here I know I have.

 

[millbilly]

any ideas on advertising? We live a pretty secluded lifestyle, and would rather not attract more attention to our property that is absolutly necessary.

As far as equipment costs, I own my truck, and i can rent a 20 ton splitter for 77 dollars from saturday until monday, and i'm sure with more experience could easily get 12-13 cords in the 2 days i would have it.

What would be a fair price to sell for? I was thinking around 150/cord, which would be cheaper than others around here.

do you think 100 cords sold/year would be too ambitious?

Again, thanks for the feedback, and I'm sure i'll have more questions coming as they come to me!

I think you are over estimating on how much wood you can easily split in two days with a 20 ton splitter. I think a realistic amount would be 4 cords in 8 hours, and thats a long grind

 

[lxt]

I was just thinking that...12-13 cords in 2 days, WOW! good luck on that!!




LXT.............

 

[rwbinbc]

Idk I'm lazy when it come to firewood Me and a friend can cut, split, and deliver 8 ricks a day in the winter buying tops, We would run three different ads in the paper with different prices and phone #'s, We used a 1/2 ton ford with wood sides so we could fit two ricks at time in it. Our prices where $60 a rick,$55 a rick, and 2 ricks for $90. The two for $90 sold like crazy, We was working sun up to sunset everyday of the week. When We would take a day off We'd have a stack of people wanting wood. Now everyone talks about seasoned wood, Tops that set for a year burn pretty good so that what We sold them as, All the wood I sell from doing tree service is all green and I'm already sold out, I get a couple cords in and its gone just as fast. The guys up here with boilers buy Me out. Dont cut Your woods up for profit find Your local foresters and Buy there tops off the logger, or get in to Lot Clearing. Keep Your woods full for a rainy day.

The Way I look at it...

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I can fell, buck, and split about 10 cords in 25-30 hours total.

What kind of "cords" are you talking about? That number is pretty hard to believe.

 

[Taxmantoo]

I began to cut a couple of years ago for personal use, and really enjoy the work. I've got about 20 acres of red oak,

Is that mature oak, or has it been logged in the last 50 years or so?

You might get $20-40k from a selective logging without doing any work yourself.
Then you can cut up the tops for firewood.

 

[MotherBucker]

What kind of "cords" are you talking about? That number is pretty hard to believe.

they are full cords, it was not me alone, I had help with the splitting, and we used a tractor to pull the downed trees from the woods so it could be bucked right where we were splitting.

And yes, it was just a smidge under 10 cords, 2 shorter days to fell and buck, 2 longer days to split. (wasnt stacked in that time) and as i thought about hours invested, it was probably closer to 30-35 hours work.

 

[ropensaddle]

While I admit I am gettin older I off and on did this pile estimated at ten 180 cubic foot cords as it's loose stacked! It was hot so I worked a while and posted a while lol two weekends and this was the sum. If I did not deer hunt I could have all my logs split already oh well late season lmfao

Note I could not have got near that done without the tw!

 

[ropensaddle]

While I admit I am gettin older I off and on did this pile estimated at ten 180 cubic foot cords as it's loose stacked! It was hot so I worked a while and posted a while lol two weekends and this was the sum. If I did not deer hunt I could have all my logs split already oh well late season lmfao

Note I could not have got near that done without the tw!

Oh yeah 100 cords at a 150.oo is only 15k If I were wanting to do it full time I would shoot for 350 cords or more!

 

[ropensaddle]

Which would be 35 times the pile I have there for 52.5 k gross not net!

 

[himiler]

Which would be 35 times the pile I have there for 52.5 k gross not net!

You're making an important point that needs to be heeded.
GROSS NOT NET
If you don't track expenses then you're on track to going out of business.

 

[ropensaddle]

You're making an important point that needs to be heeded.
GROSS NOT NET
If you don't track expenses then you're on track to going out of business.

yup the fuel alone would be 12k

 

[ropensaddle]

yup the fuel alone would be 12k

Prolly expect to net 32k realistic

 

[newmexico]

I

my story, I cut what I need, barter the rest for better firewood, and am too lazy to get more than one house worth of firewood for the winter.... I can't compete with /// it's time, equipment, and for what some people deliver pine fir mix... I'm lazy... and I just can't compete

charity work I do... selling, no way.

new sig

if you ever find one of those good pitch stumps.. red fir... pitch to the max, stuck by lightning, burned fifty years later, found untold years after that... only 2 feet remaining, honey gold in color--- better than gasoline, susceptible to a good match after splitting into little pieces and smelling like the holidays.. best to make little matchbook size stocking stuffers out of that... they Will appreciate the gesture in the cold cold night

 

[Cutler tree]

If you already have everything but the splitter and can rent that for under $100 what's the worst case senerio? You can't sell the wood and just burn it yourself over time. I agree no need to tear through your woods for $200 a cord. Maybe have your woods logged and if it goes good the first season or 2 invest that money back into your company. I would agree with splitting tops and also getting with all your local tree services about picking up the firewood they leave behind, There's a post about how most tree services charge to remove wood. CL is a great place to advertise. I don't think that if you start small there is a downside, however keep your full time job and reinvest your money into equipment. Buy everything cash so you can keep your overhead down.