How to Start a Firewood Delivery Business
in 2026
📅 Last updated: March 07, 2026
Firewood delivery is a seasonal business with strong recurring demand and excellent profit margins. Homeowners with fireplaces and wood stoves order 1-4 cords per season. Stacking services add premium revenue per delivery.
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A firewood delivery business can generate income within days of setup. Wood sourcing and route density are the two levers that drive profitability.
Source Your Wood
Wood sourcing determines your profit margin. Build multiple supply relationships.
- Tree service companies - Free or very low-cost logs from tree removals. The best source for low-cost supply. Offer to take logs off their hands.
- Land clearing operations - Construction sites and land clearing generate large volumes of wood at low or no cost.
- Timber operations and saw mills - Slabs, end cuts, and low-grade wood available at wholesale prices.
- Your own property or leased land - Sustainable cutting from your own woodlot or leased rural property.
Seasoning time matters. Most hardwood needs 6-12 months of drying after cutting before it burns efficiently. Plan your inventory 1 season ahead.
Get Your Equipment
A chainsaw, hydraulic splitter, and truck with good payload capacity are the essential tools.
- Chainsaw - For bucking logs to length. $200-$600 for a reliable saw.
- Hydraulic log splitter - Dramatically increases daily splitting capacity. Rent or buy. $800-$2,500.
- Truck with high payload - 1/2-ton handles face cord loads. 3/4 or 1-ton for full cord deliveries. $10,000-$30,000.
- Loading forks or conveyor - For loading and unloading. $200-$1,000.
Set Up Your Business
Firewood delivery has minimal regulatory requirements. Standard business setup applies.
- LLC - Recommended liability protection. Filing fees vary by state.
- Business license - Required in most localities for delivery businesses.
- Vehicle and cargo insurance - Cover your truck and load for deliveries.
Set Your Pricing
Price per cord (128 cubic feet) and fractions. Premium species and stacking services add revenue.
- Face cord (1/3 cord): $80-$150
- Half cord: $150-$250
- Full cord: $280-$500
- Stacking fee: $25-$75 per cord (add-on)
- Kindling bundle: $5-$15 per bundle
- Premium hardwood (oak, hickory, cherry): Add 20-40% over mixed wood pricing
Build Recurring Customers
Repeat orders are the foundation of firewood business income. Build a client list and remarket every fall.
- Annual fall outreach - Email or text past clients in August-September. Most rebook without extra marketing.
- Subscription program - Monthly delivery throughout burning season. Predictable recurring income from a steady client base.
- Restaurants and pizza ovens - Wood-fired ovens need continuous supply year-round. High volume, commercial pricing.
- Campgrounds and glamping sites - Consistent buyers during camping season. Bundle pricing for high-volume accounts.
A client who buys firewood from you once almost always comes back. Build your list carefully and market to it every August.
Bizzby sends automated fall outreach and seasonal order reminders to your entire client listA truck and chainsaw are the primary equipment needs. Wood sourcing is the key operational skill that separates profitable operators from struggling ones.
| Item | Budget Start | Professional Setup |
|---|---|---|
| Chainsaw | $200 | $600 |
| Hydraulic log splitter | $800 | $2,500 |
| Truck (3/4 or 1-ton, used) | $10,000 | $30,000 |
| Loading forks or conveyor | $200 | $1,000 |
| Wood supply (first season) | $500 | $3,000 |
| Business registration (LLC) | varies by state | varies by state |
| Vehicle and cargo insurance | varies by state | varies by state |
| Marketing (website, social) | $50 | $300 |
| Business operations (Bizzby) | $199/mo (Starter) | $499/mo (Scale) |
| Total | ~$11,950 | ~$37,400 |
Solo operators delivering 5-10 cords per week during peak season earn $40,000-$80,000 per season. Year-round operations add mulch and landscape supply delivery.
Price per cord or fraction of cord. Stacking and premium wood species command significant add-on revenue.
Follow this plan and you'll have paying clients within your first month.
Week 1-2: Foundation
- Contact 5 tree service companies about free or low-cost log supply
- Source chainsaw and log splitter
- Register LLC and get business license
- Get vehicle and cargo insurance
- Start seasoning first wood inventory
- Set up Google Business Profile
- Design simple pricing menu
Week 3-4: Launch
- Build website with wood species, pricing, and delivery area
- Post on Nextdoor and Facebook marketplace
- Contact 3 restaurants with wood-fired ovens
- Contact 2 campgrounds about seasonal supply
- Post in local Buy Nothing and community groups
- Create referral offer for past customers
- Deliver your first 10 cord orders 🎉
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