Firewood business?

[bigblue12v]

I've searched and wade through tons of irrelevant crap for hours. I'd like to consider selling firewood in the future and curious about the basics. I don't really have any specific questions at the moment just would like some general info and do's and don'ts. Any help advice and info appreciated.
Thanks
Eric

 

[steven stern]

Do's
1. Find a easier way to make money

Donts
1. Start a firewood buisness.

Seriously.

 

[svk]

Do market your product like crazy. Craigslist, flyers, business cards, word of mouth, etc.
Do not do things that will cause you to lose money.
Do not short customers by volume or sell green wood that's advertised as seasoned.
If you are delivering be sure to figure out your expenses. Also if you are delivering be sure to let customers know you are dropping the wood where the truck stops. Carrying by hand/stacking is extra.
Do locate a reliable source of wood.
Big Do: Do set aside a slush fund for repairing/replacing your equipment.

I'm sure I'll think of more.

 

[svk]

Do's
1. Find a easier way to make money

Donts
1. Start a firewood buisness.

Seriously.

Smart man

 

[steven stern]

Smart man

I sell it myself lol.

 

[steven stern]

O.p. are you talking about getting logging truck loads or going up yourself? What experience do u have with identifying trees,running saws, falling trees etc? Lots of varibles. Spell out your plan and we can give specific advice.

 

[svk]

At least around here, firewood (especially seasoned) sells at a premium November through January. If you can afford to hold out until then you will sell out.

 

[farmer steve]

marry a rich woman.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

If you want to get serious into it, figure on somewhere in the area of 500k-750k in $$ to start, all depending on what kind of deals you can find.

That will get you some used logging equipment and firewood equipment.
Feller buncher, skidder, dozer, excavator, log truck, dump truck(s), firewood processor, skid steer... Tools, etc.

If you plan on buying from someone logging, unless you have a great hookup, it will eat real hard into your profits.

You NEED a firewood processor. No way you can make a profitable business doing it by hand without killing yourself in the process.

By business I mean something you are doing that supports you and maybe a few employees. Selling 50 cords a year on your spare time doesn't equal that.

 

[bigblue12v]

Lol lots of good replies!
I enjoy the work. I need to figure about 8 cords a season for myself. Everyone I know of that sells firewood around here sells out before winter is over. Some people who cut their own sell their overstock which is about all I was planning on doing, just trying to make an effort to have that be as much as possible. Word of mouth has been working well at lining me up wood so far. I have an OWB and consider myself decent with saws, still learning on felling but no catastrophic failures, most of the time they go as planned. I'd love to get log loads delivered but my driveway isn't accessible by semi truck. A straight truck might get in.
I'm still learning on tree ID. With my OWB this hasn't been a top priority as it burns whatever you throw in it. I'm learning and have desire to learn regardless. No plan yet as it's just a thought. I figured if I'm gonna have some equipment to do wood with I may as well sell some to help cover my costs of getting my own wood, any extra money made would be icing on the cake. I don't mean sell it cheap I mean if I sell two cords that's helpful if I sell 10 cords that would actually be putting money in my pocket. I live in the middle of nowhere and a lot of people in my neck of the woods have OWB stoves and cut their own but I know of tons of people that buy wood, and assured there are hundreds or thousands more I don't know about. I've got two decent size towns with 20 miles.
Besides my random word of mouth supply, a friend has wooded acreage he likes maintained for hunting etc. He cuts and sells everything that's dead and or down but he would rather not deal with it at all as he's too busy with everything else. He's told me i can have all i want and he'll even help with his skid steer. That's ten cords a year right there he usually gets from his property he says. I figure by selling my extra I could not only pay for equipment but also allow me to afford more and better equipment down the road. Maybe I'm being too enthusiastic lol. I enjoy outside work and so far really enjoy doing firewood.

Thanks

 

[bigblue12v]

Maybe eventually I could consider going big with it but it won't be any time soon for certain. I guess I should have specified it to be as a side venture.

 

[brenndatomu]

Any help advice and info appreciated.

Do market your product like crazy

Everyone I know of that sells firewood around here sells out before winter is over

Yeah, run ads later in the winter when everybody else is out. Also make it clear in the ads that this is actually dry wood, ready to burn, not this drippin wet "seasoned" crap that everybody else has

marry a rich woman.

Make that, marry a rich chain-saw-calender-model woman!

 

[steven stern]

Lol lots of good replies!
I enjoy the work. I need to figure about 8 cords a season for myself. Everyone I know of that sells firewood around here sells out before winter is over. Some people who cut their own sell their overstock which is about all I was planning on doing, just trying to make an effort to have that be as much as possible. Word of mouth has been working well at lining me up wood so far. I have an OWB and consider myself decent with saws, still learning on felling but no catastrophic failures, most of the time they go as planned. I'd love to get log loads delivered but my driveway isn't accessible by semi truck. A straight truck might get in.
I'm still learning on tree ID. With my OWB this hasn't been a top priority as it burns whatever you throw in it. I'm learning and have desire to learn regardless. No plan yet as it's just a thought. I figured if I'm gonna have some equipment to do wood with I may as well sell some to help cover my costs of getting my own wood, any extra money made would be icing on the cake. I don't mean sell it cheap I mean if I sell two cords that's helpful if I sell 10 cords that would actually be putting money in my pocket. I live in the middle of nowhere and a lot of people in my neck of the woods have OWB stoves and cut their own but I know of tons of people that buy wood, and assured there are hundreds or thousands more I don't know about. I've got two decent size towns with 20 miles.
Besides my random word of mouth supply, a friend has wooded acreage he likes maintained for hunting etc. He cuts and sells everything that's dead and or down but he would rather not deal with it at all as he's too busy with everything else. He's told me i can have all i want and he'll even help with his skid steer. That's ten cords a year right there he usually gets from his property he says. I figure by selling my extra I could not only pay for equipment but also allow me to afford more and better equipment down the road. Maybe I'm being too enthusiastic lol. I enjoy outside work and so far really enjoy doing firewood.

Thanks

Valley firewood is spot on, to make real money without the equipment he outlined will destroy your body. But it sounds like your planning on something quite small scale? If so than my number one advice for you is find someone with lots of experience in your area to learn from. Remember saftey first!!!! when wood=money you tend to go faster than you should which ends often enough in injury.

 

[Guswhit]

Just Don't! Some of us are in too deep to quit now, take our advice and get out before your brain gets infected with the disease and your paralyzed by any thought processes other than wood! Run hard and fast, set your computer to block this site or you will eventually be like the rest of us!

 

[steven stern]

Just Don't! Some of us are in too deep to quit now, take our advice and get out before your brain gets infected with the disease and your paralyzed by any thought processes other than wood! Run hard and fast, set your computer to block this site or you will eventually be like the rest of us!

Wish i got this same advice

 

[moondoggie]

I've searched and wade through tons of irrelevant crap for hours. I'd like to consider selling firewood in the future and curious about the basics. I don't really have any specific questions at the moment just would like some general info and do's and don'ts. Any help advice and info appreciated.
Thanks
Eric

Dont sell tulip poplar......poisonous word...........

 

[moondoggie]

8 cords a year cut it split it . it will sell.......guaranteed.

 

[jrider]

Show up when you said you will. If you are behind, call and let them know. Accept cash only.

 

[Oldman47]

If you want to end up with a small fortune selling firewood it is best to start with a large fortune.

 

[Marshy]

Show up when you said you will. If you are behind, call and let them know. Accept cash only.

And full payment on delivery.

Selling a few cord a year (even 10) does not make you a firewood business. A business is insurred and has a business name and all that tax stuff to go with it. I dont see how anyone can afford a business by selling such little volume. The good news is you dont have to dive right into trying to process 100 cord a year. There are plenty of people that run a weekend warrior firewood "business" that just do it on the side. You need to choose what level you want to start at. Your best move would be to do some on the side and save some money to use for equipment or logs. When the opportunity arrises buy a crap load of logs. Unless you have equipment to go into the woods your business is going to hinge on availability and cost of firewood logs/tops. Good luck.