A lumber yard sells construction materials to building contractors and property owners for renovations or new building structures. As the owner of a lumber yard you will stock a wide variety of wood cut down into popular sizes. Other materials you may stock include wallboard, hardware, roofing materials, and fencing. You will likely offer services to cut wood down to required lengths for your customers and make deliveries to job sites.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
DIY: How to Start an LLC
Start a lumber yard by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Lumber Yard
- Form your Lumber Yard into a Legal Entity
- Register your Lumber Yard for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Lumber Yard
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Lumber Yard
- Get Lumber Yard Insurance
- Define your Lumber Yard Brand
- Create your Lumber Yard Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your lumber yard. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Lumber Yard Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a lumber yard?
This project requires a sizable upfront investment. You will need to purchase or lease a warehouse/store situated on at least an acre of land, although more space will permit you to stock a greater variety of lumber. Heavy-duty equipment needed will include forklifts, commercially sized saws, storage racks, pallet jacks and a complete retail store setup. There are also the initial orders to fill your shelves with lumber, hardware, and assorted supplies. If you offer delivery services, vans and trucks will also be part of the initial investment. Start-up will require capital from 500,000 to a million dollars.
What are the ongoing expenses for a lumber yard?
Your largest regular expenses will be payroll and maintaining inventory. Building maintenance, licensing, safety inspections, and marketing are other costs associated with doing business. You’ll need to keep your vehicles maintained and safe. Business insurance should also be kept updated.
Who is the target market?
Busy general contractors will be the meat and potatoes of your business, buying large quantities of materials from the yard on a consistent basis. You may offer them a wholesale discount price for their continued business. Homeowners and property managers will provide the more consistent business that helps to attract more customers, but they will not be spending as much as the contractors.
How does a lumber yard make money?
The more lumber you sell, the more money your business will bring in. For a lumber yard, numbers and volume will drive the bottom line. If you stock a greater variety of products, you will build larger sales as contractors use you as a one-stop shop for all their building supply needs.
How much can you charge customers?
A single nail can be sold for just a few pennies, while selling enough lumber to build a house will cost thousands. Your retail manager will constantly compare prices among your competition to ensure you are not pricing yourself out of business.
How much profit can a lumber yard make?
You can expect to see a profit margin for much of your lumber stock in the 15 to 20% range. Hardware and accessories have a much higher margin and require less manpower to stock. A small lumber yard can see a net profit of $50,000 to $100,000 while a large yard in a busy area can see a million dollar annual profit.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Careful management of your inventory will help to raise your profit margin. If a product does not sell and spends time taking up space on the shelf, remove it from your regular inventory. Make sure you don’t run out of popular products during the busy building seasons, and add new products on a regular basis to keep your customers interested and involved.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your lumber yard is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your lumber yard were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a lumber yard. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Certificate of Occupancy
A lumber yard is generally run out of a large indoor or outdoor space. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a lumber yard.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
If you plan to purchase or build a location:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your lumber yard will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Lumber Yard needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Lumber Yard.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a lumber yard
Your reputation for providing quality products, punctual deliveries, and reasonable prices will do the most for building your business. Local homeowners enjoy seeing ads on television and in their mailboxes with discounts, coupons, and ads promoting seasonal products. Don’t lose sight of the fact that you will sell a truckload of lumber to a contractor and a few pieces to the homeowner. With that in mind, a sales force that personally visits large construction sites and handles large orders will do much of your regular promotion for your lumber yard business.
How to keep customers coming back
For a grand opening, you will need to create a massive promotional presence in the neighborhood taking advantage of radio, television, print, social media, and local appearances. Billboards are a cost effective option for announcing your lumber yard’s arrival. Offering steep discounts for a short time on common lumber sizes and limited products helps to generate curiosity. Remember that standing behind excellent quality and service will keep them coming back.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
An individual with solid business knowledge and skills will do well managing a lumber yard business. Knowledge and experience of building materials, procedures, and operations will allow you to anticipate the needs of your target customer base.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a lumber yard?
- Placing orders to keep all varieties/sizes and accessories for lumber stock on hand
- Filling orders placed by customers
- Assisting customers in selecting the right materials for their projects
- Taking orders over the phone for clients
- Delivering orders to large job sites as scheduled
- Answering questions on practical applications of your different available materials
- Maintaining and training staff to work in the lumber yard
- Maintaining a safe working environment/ensure inspections are completed of lifting and cutting equipment per OSHA standards
- Balancing your books
- Completing all payroll responsibilities
- Learning about new products
- Maintaining active marketing campaign to attract new customers and clients
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful lumber yard?
- Knowledge of popular building materials, sizes, accessories, and their application
- Solid understanding of business management
- Good personal skills
- Ability to establish positive relationships with contractors and DIYers
- Good ability to geographically dissect demographics to be able to respond to changes in the local market
- Knowledge of OSHA standards to provide safe work environment and training for your staff
- Basic knowledge of construction techniques–although not necessarily required
What is the growth potential for a lumber yard?
Communities that are actively expanding offer the greatest opportunity for a new lumber yard business. This is one industry where starting small is the short line to failure. Once your yard is well-established with contractors stating that they wished you were located closer to their sites is an indication that you would profit by expanding to multiple locations. If you are looking at a small store front in an urban setting, a hardware store might work better as lumber inventory requires massive amounts of cubic footage for storage and sales.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a lumber yard?
Choose your location wisely by completing an in-depth survey of local construction, average household income, and other competition in the area. Establish a relationship with local lumber mills to determine what products you might be able to offer to your customers that cannot be found at other yards. This might include rare lumber, custom millwork, or flooring. Work some home shows in order to kick start your relationships with a variety of contractors who might need to use your yard on a regular basis. Personal interactions will be far more beneficial than ads on the local media.
How and when to build a team
As soon as your funding is in place, you’ll need to start building your team. You will need a person responsible for preparing the physical lumber yard, one for maintaining inventory, another for hiring and training staff, and at least a fourth to begin your marketing campaign. On opening day, you will have a staff between 30 and 100 people ready to service your neighborhood.