You won't get rich selling firewood, but if you do it well, the proceeds from the sale will be a steady source of additional income in the winter. Prepare wood and comply with all existing government regulations regarding the sale of firewood. Once you have done these two things, then you can start selling firewood.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Part One: Preparing the Wood
Step 1. Use the right equipment
You will need equipment to cut and move firewood.
- A gasoline-powered chainsaw is a widely used cutting tool, but you can also use a hand saw, a Swedish saw, and a sharp-toothed axe. If you must make a niche, use a sledgehammer and ax.
- Electric wood splitters are also very useful because they can save a lot of effort and time.
- Small businesses can use pickup trucks to transport firewood, but if you want to grow your business, use a low-deck trailer.
Step 2. Find a good source of firewood
You can't just cut down all the trees. In order to get firewood, you have to get supplies from legal sources.
- Generally, wood from trees on your own land can be sold as firewood as long as there are no zoning laws against you.
- Usually, you can also harvest marked trees from state forests.
- Thin, fallen, and dead trees in private forests, farm fringes, and open ground are also usually acceptable.
- Buy wood waste generated by sawmills.
- Make a bid to cut down and remove unwanted trees that fell after a storm.
Step 3. Peel the bark
While not strictly mandatory, giving your firewood additional treatment will make it easier to sell to a larger market share. One of the easiest treatment techniques is to peel the bark.
If you choose to do this treatment, peel off the bark and wood to a depth of 1.25 cm below which is called the cambium layer
Step 4. For another method, use a tumble dryer
Another simple way to process firewood to be shipped far away is to use a drying mill to dry the wood and kill the larvae inside.
- The maximum allowable wood thickness is usually 7.6 cm.
- Use hot steam, hot water or a mill to heat the wood to a minimum temperature of 71.1 degrees Celsius. Maintain this temperature for at least 75 minutes.
Step 5. Store wood in dry conditions
Processed firewood is stored in neat piles in a dry place.
- Preferably, the firewood does not touch the ground to prevent the entry of water from the bottom.
- If you must store firewood outdoors, use a tarp or other covering to limit air-to-wood contact of water.
Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Taking Care of Legality
Step 1. Get government approval
While each place has its own regulations, most countries will require you to fill out a license to sell firewood.
- Get the permit, fill it out, sign it, and take it to your local forestry office for approval.
- Once approved, you will be given a stamp or ticket that can be used as a label. Your name will also be included in the list of government-approved sellers.
- You will need a different license for each area where you harvest your wood and for each different type of firewood.
Step 2. Renew your license annually
Since the source and supply of firewood may change annually, you will have to renew your license as a seller every year.
Make sure you renew your permissions on time. Usually, the deadline for renewing licenses is in early or mid-fall
Step 3. Do not sell firewood outside your state
While some states will allow you to transport firewood across state lines after meeting strict regulations, most states discourage the practice, making it easier and safer for you to sell firewood locally.
Firewood can transport invasive insects easily. Selling firewood from your area to another can introduce pests into the area. Not only that, because the insects are not organisms native to the region, the number of natural predators that can help reduce their population is not much
Step 4. Pack the firewood in chord units
Most states only allow you to sell firewood in units or in half chords. One chord is a pile of firewood with a volume of 39 m3. Half chord is 19.5 m3 and quarter chord is 9.8 m3.
- The dimensions of the pile do not have to be exactly the same as long as the total volume of the wood is correct. For example, a pile of wood can be 1.2 m wide, 1.2 m high, and 2.4 m long, or 0.61 m wide, 1.2 m high, and 16 m long.
- You are not allowed to sell firewood using the terms “face chord”, “rack”, “stack”, or “one truck.”
Step 5. Pay the taxes
No matter how much firewood you can sell, once you decide to become a firewood seller and get permission to do so, you are already a small business owner. Therefore, you have to pay taxes for your business.
- You will have to pay federal taxes and state self-employment taxes.
- If your income is below a certain amount, you won't have to pay business taxes, but your income will still be taxed. The amount will be different for each state.
Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Selling Wood
Step 1. Focus your efforts at the right time
Consumers will be more interested in buying firewood in late fall, winter, and early spring. You can sell wood at other times of the year, but your profits won't be as great as in the cooler seasons, when the demand for firewood is high.
You'll also notice that a drop in winter temperatures will increase your sales again, especially if the low temperatures last for a few days
Step 2. Install the sign board
This is the most traditional way to sell firewood, and in some cases it will be most useful. Look for the nearest busy street and put up a sign that says “Sell Firewood.” Include a phone number so passers-by can know how to contact you.
Another version of this method is to set up a booth on the side of the road. Park a truck or trailer full of firewood on the side of the road and put a “For Sale” sign on it
Step 3. Place an ad in the newspaper
Since most of your firewood sales will come from local residents, place a low-cost ad in the local paper. Write down “Sell firewood” along with your phone number.
Step 4. Share it with others
Usually, word of mouth is the best marketing source for small businesses. If you succeed in pleasing your customers, encourage them to spread the word about your business to their friends.
- You can also inform your friends, relatives, co-workers, and those closest to you about your business.
- Consider printing a business card. Include a business card with every shipment and pass it on to other potential customers.
Step 5. Sell on the internet
Even if your only aim is to sell firewood locally, having a website on the internet can be profitable for you.
- Put up a site or blog that allows consumers to buy online.
- Create a business page for your firewood business on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or other social networking sites.
- Place an ad on Craigslist or another online classifieds site.
Step 6. Apply for a delivery service
If you sell firewood from home, most buyers will order over the phone and ask you to send the wood they ordered. Since firewood will be ordered on cold days, consumers will want fast delivery.
Make sure you have enough time to make deliveries and set a delivery range that will give you plenty of extra time. For example, if you can ship firewood the next day, keep in mind that it will take between three or four days. An early delivery will always be much better than a late delivery
Step 7. Give the bill to the buyer
Legally, most states require you to issue a bill to the buyer when the transaction is completed and the goods are delivered.
- The bill must include information about the buyer and seller, including name, address, and telephone number.
- The type, price, and quantity of firewood purchased should also be recorded.
- Also include the date of delivery of the product.
Step 8. Make a list of buyers
Record the names of consumers who have purchased your firewood, including their names, phone numbers, and addresses.
- Call those customers early next winter, before the temperature drops too far, and ask if they'd like to buy your firewood again.
- Also make sure that you remove the details of the customer asking for their name to be removed from your list.
