Seem to be a lot of people on here who love firewood-burning, processing, scavengering, stacking, etc. Anyone ever thought about starting up a firewood business on the side? Anyone have a firewood business on the side? How'd you start/how would you start?
Firewood Business??
- Thread starter mcote
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There are quite a few on this site that do sell firewood. From big numbers of cords per years, to just a few.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
It starts when people know you want firewood and before you know it there is more trees to cut down then you know what to do with all of it. Put a sign in the yard and sell it quicker than you want to and on and on and on and on!
pinewoodburner
Feeling the Heat
It is hard to make money selling firewood. If you look at the time involvement and the equipment needed, it is hard to justify. You also need to look and see what the prices for wood in your area are. The best way to make money is wrapping the small units of firewood that they sell at the grocery stores or at campgrounds. There are alot of people here that sell it by the pickup truck load for people to burn in their fireplace. There are very few people that sell it by the cord around here.mcote said:
To start you would need a source of wood, a way to transport it, a processing area, saws and splitters, and then you would need to figure out if people pick it up or do you deliver.
TreePapa
Minister of Fire
Most, but not all, of the folks around here (urban So. Calif, not a lot of h/w forests around) who sell firewood are tree trimmers or actual arborists. It's a supplement to their income, not their primary business. There are a few "large lot" firewood sellers but I've never purchased from them (more $$ for better looking wood, trucked in from don't know where).
Peace,
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Peace,
- Sequoia
smokinj
Minister of Fire
smokinj
Minister of Fire
let them know after you get good with the firewood buzz your going to starting a tree sevice with out a "climber"BrotherBart said:
lol
Highbeam
Minister of Fire
I'm considering selling a few cords this year for fun really. I already own the processing equipment and the truck. I actually like processing wood, except for stacking it. I am already about 3 years ahead right now so I thought I would try it. Maybe sell it on craigslist. Would be fun to haul a load to someone's house and sure beats the alternative of sitting in front of the TV.
Heck, 3 cords at 200$ per cord would buy an awfully nice chainsaw or garage freezer or a nice hunting rifle or three chartered halibut fishing trips.
I only worry about the customers being picky and refusing to pay, or some other bad deal.
Heck, 3 cords at 200$ per cord would buy an awfully nice chainsaw or garage freezer or a nice hunting rifle or three chartered halibut fishing trips.
I only worry about the customers being picky and refusing to pay, or some other bad deal.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
just treat them right take cash only and they will call you back every-time. (you only need a few good customers to sell a low volume to) its 150 cord around here I sell 8-10 cords to keep the equiment game going.Highbeam said:
savageactor7
Minister of Fire
Around here's there's a $20 or so differential between green and seasoned wood. A couple of friends said it would be a good investment to buy only green and sell seasoned. Theory being if you only deal in seasoned wood folks that appreciate it will pay more for it.
As far as going into wood cutting/processing/delivery it's very labor intensive. But I suppose if you were only looking to make a truck payment and pay for your personal equipment you could make it a profitable part time pursuit without killing yourself.
Keep in mind a lost of folks will pay big money to have a trees taken down and removed. But you need serious skill sets and equipment to work around house and wires etc....I suppose you could just be picky about what jobs like that you'll take.
As far as going into wood cutting/processing/delivery it's very labor intensive. But I suppose if you were only looking to make a truck payment and pay for your personal equipment you could make it a profitable part time pursuit without killing yourself.
Keep in mind a lost of folks will pay big money to have a trees taken down and removed. But you need serious skill sets and equipment to work around house and wires etc....I suppose you could just be picky about what jobs like that you'll take.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
yep, I am not a climber if there is a good landing zone I'll take it. I have a part time helper and enough trees for atleast 6weekssavageactor7 said:
JustWood
Minister of Fire
Not a good time to get into the firewood biz. With all the layoffs, every Joe and his brother will be out there peddling wood for a few extra bucks to make ends meet. I'm guessing this winter wood will be cheap as there will be plenty of competition. Prolly none seasoned but lots of cheap wood.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
I have the same customers as last year and dont need any new ones just very small buz. I will be fine. Is it looing ruff for you this winter?WANDERING NAMELESSLEE said:
iceman
Minister of Fire
WANDERING NAMELESSLEE said:
not sure about where you live but nat gas is taking a dive around dropping like 35-40 cents a therm ... from $1.18 to like$0 .70cents so a lot of people like myself will be burning fireplace inserts a lot more this year (my nat gas insert)
so i am pretty sure wood will come down a bit and oil as well
iceman said:
i hope oil comes down some more, i only burn it for hot water .. but the cheaper the better
ikessky
Minister of Fire
Not to mention the loggers sitting on piles of wood because the mills are shutting them down.WANDERING NAMELESSLEE said:
I hang around Arborsite and the firewood section is pretty good. But don't get started about climbing
I have never sold firewood before. I figure I worked too hard to build up contacts with people to cut their trees, cut the trees, haul, split and stack the wood. Although several people have seen my c/s/s wood in my yard and mentioned they would like to buy wood off of me this coming winter. I doubt it will happen. A seasoned cord of oak goes for around $120. Not worth it to me to sell.
I have never sold firewood before. I figure I worked too hard to build up contacts with people to cut their trees, cut the trees, haul, split and stack the wood. Although several people have seen my c/s/s wood in my yard and mentioned they would like to buy wood off of me this coming winter. I doubt it will happen. A seasoned cord of oak goes for around $120. Not worth it to me to sell.
Chris S
New Member
It would make sense that a lot of people would be selling wood to get extra cash but... In my area because new construction is so slow, there is not a lot of wood around. The regular wood processor guys are buying wood, and predicting a shortage.
The logger I know says it's not profitable at the mills, and so he's only doing clearing work, and hauling the logs out for firewood is a break even at best venture.
I'm not really sure what to make of all of this. All I know is evey time I prebought oil to avoid higher prices ( gulf war 1&2
I lost.
We'll know in 4 or 5 months
The logger I know says it's not profitable at the mills, and so he's only doing clearing work, and hauling the logs out for firewood is a break even at best venture.
I'm not really sure what to make of all of this. All I know is evey time I prebought oil to avoid higher prices ( gulf war 1&2
I lost.We'll know in 4 or 5 months
I have a small fire wood bizz and its working out OK. We cut a lot of trees and haul them away for a lot of reasons . Then i need to get ride of them . I started splitting my own wood then splitting wood for neighbors friends family . Ive sold some wood stoves the last few years and i am obligated to supply the wood for the winter. Ive moved 28 cord so far this year @200 bucks . I need a faster splitter I like the supper splitter or a split fire but cant make up my mind . I have a dump truck and dump trailers and move the wood on pallets with a skid steer . My sons are 12 & 14teen and they will need a job until they get out of school . I wanted to sell 50 cord this year just to see how it gos . 22 cord to go . I was hoping for more help from my sons , next year they will be stronger and older .Its hard work but it keeps me louse John
ikessky
Minister of Fire
I have mixed feelings about trying to sell firewood (personally). I enjoy cutting wood right now because it gets me out of the house, I get some fresh air, and I know it will save me money and keep me warmer than the NG furnace in the winter. Turning it into a job would take the fun out of it for me I think. It puts too much pressure on me and then it turns into work.
If I had to sell wood that I personally harvested, then cut, then split.....Nobody could afford it. I'm thinking maybe $1000 a cord would do it.
I guess thats why I don't sell wood.
I guess thats why I don't sell wood.
Highbeam
Minister of Fire
I may end up selling out of necessity. My mother was going to have a few trees taken out and wanted me to save her money by taking away the bucked rounds, crazy I know. Well these six doug fir logs are over 150' tall and 2-3' across at the base, perfect saw logs but apparently not enough to make it worth selling. So I need to remove the wood and since I am three years ahead already I need to sell some to make room and prevent rot.
It's going to become a job whether I like it or not.
It's going to become a job whether I like it or not.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
And there you have It! I work all the time any way so its better to do something you love to do. imoHighbeam said:
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