Overview / Executive Summary Tourists roll into town, grab a cooler, maybe a few beers, and hit the beach only to realize they forgot firewood. Or maybe they just don’t want to haul damp logs from a gas station that smell like a wet barn. That’s the opening. A firewood business at the beach sells convenience, not just kindling. With low startup costs, strong seasonal demand, and a beach crowd that values ease over price, this is a smart, scalable seasonal hustle with solid year-over-year potential.
Value Proposition We sell ready-to-burn firewood exactly where and when people want it at the beach, on vacation, or during a holiday weekend. What makes this business different: Dry, clean, and easy-to-carry firewood bundles made for tourists and bonfire nights
Beachside pickup or delivery, so customers never have to leave their cooler
Local sourcing, which means sustainable and environmentally safe
Bonus products like fire starters, kindling, grilling wood, and even s’mores kits
We’re not trying to compete with Home Depot. We’re solving for convenience, experience, and beach vibes.
Target Audience Primary Customers: Beach tourists and vacationers staying in rentals, Airbnbs, or hotels
Local residents with outdoor pits or beachfront setups
Beachside bars and restaurants using firewood for ambiance or cooking
Campers in coastal parks or nearby campgrounds
Grillers and BBQ hobbyists who want specialty hardwood
What They Care About: Not having to haul logs from town
Wood that burns clean and hot
Bundles that are already dry and ready to go
Easy payment, delivery, or pickup options
These are casual users. They want fire, not friction.
Market Landscape The global firewood market is worth $1.03 billion in 2024, with expected growth to $1.61 billion by 2032 at a 5.7% CAGR. While heating drives winter sales, beach and outdoor recreation are fueling summer demand. Trends working in our favor: More short-term rentals = more people wanting outdoor fires
More urban visitors = less likely to bring their own wood
Sustainability matters, so people want locally sourced, clean-burning options
Most competitors are generic suppliers, not specialized in beach or bonfire setups
In short: this is a hyperlocal, under-optimized market with strong seasonal upside.
SEO Opportunities Your customers are searching for firewood on their phones in the car or while sitting on a towel. Top keywords: firewood near beach
bonfire wood for sale
firewood delivery [city/beach name]
campfire wood bundle
beach bonfire supplies
Local SEO and boosted Facebook Marketplace listings are where the conversion happens. We’ll show up with a mobile-friendly site, a Google My Business profile, and Instagram content that looks like it smells like smoke and sunscreen.
Go-To-Market Strategy Step 1: Set Up Shop Start with a small lot or pop-up stand near the beach access point or parking area
Use signage and a simple canopy or trailer setup
Secure permits if required by the city or state
Step 2: Source Smart Partner with local tree trimmers, landscapers, or arborists for free or low-cost wood
Invest in a log splitter, shelter for drying, and mesh bags or crates for bundling
Step 3: Sell Everywhere Facebook Marketplace and Instagram Ads: Target by zip code and travel interest
Campgrounds and Airbnb Hosts: Offer bundles, drop-off, or referral deals
Local stores or beach shops: Wholesale mini bundles or fire kits
Text-to-order or QR-based pickup stations: Frictionless and convenient
Your first 100 customers come from good signage, a $50 ad budget, and one bonfire video that goes mini-viral.
Monetization Plan Core Revenue: Firewood bundles: $15 to $40 depending on size and wood type
Specialty hardwood bundles for grilling: $25+ for oak, hickory, pecan
Beach bonfire kits: firewood, fire starter, lighter, and a roasting stick
Same-day delivery fees: $10 to $30 within a local radius
Wholesale to beach hotels or campgrounds
Add-ons: S’mores kits
Portable fire pits (rental or sale)
Kindling and fire starters
Custom engraved crates for premium gifting
This is a “one log, multiple margins” business.
Financial Forecast Year 1 conservative estimate (seasonal beach location) Startup costs: $12,000
Includes log splitter, trailer or kiosk setup, inventory, packaging, permits
Price per bundle: average $25
Bundles sold: 2,000 (spread across summer and early fall)
Revenue: Core sales: $50,000
Add-ons and delivery: $7,500
Total: $57,500
Costs: Inventory and fuel: $15,000
Labor, delivery, marketing: $18,000
Gross margin: ~43%
Net profit: ~$24,000
Break-even point: Month 4 of peak season. With additional sites or beach locations, the model scales easily. Year 2 could double just by showing up in two zip codes instead of one.
Risks & Challenges Seasonal business: Summer heat and Fourth of July are great. November, not so much
Supply gaps: Local firewood sources may dry up without consistent partnerships
Storage space: Wood needs time to dry, which takes space and planning
Regulations: Beach bonfires may require permits or come with burning restrictions
Soggy inventory: Wet wood equals bad reviews and no repeat business
Competition: Other small players or campgrounds selling bundled wood
We hedge with off-season prep, diversified wood types, and airtight delivery promises.
Why It’ll Work This business checks all the boxes: low cost, strong seasonal demand, high-margin impulse product, and multiple paths to expand. Most importantly, it solves a real problem for real people in real time. If you’ve ever tried to light a beach fire with damp wood from a gas station bag, you already know why this works. When the sun goes down and the fire’s not lit, you’re not looking for a bargain. You’re looking for wood that burns. We show up when and where the customer needs it. That’s the model. That’s the business.