Start Your Own Candle Making Business

Start your own candle making home business. Making and selling candles can be a great way of making money from home. Use these free guides to find out more about this home business income opportunity.

All about a candle making home business.

Tips for starting your own candle making business at home

How to make your own candles

Marketing and selling candles

A candle home business - retail sales

Find out what the competition is charging.

Look around and see what is offered in the area where you live. Browse craft shows, gift shops and craft shops to see what candles are on offer at what price. This will give you a guide to what customers expect to pay for a particular type of candle.

Calculate your costs.

The prices you set for your candles must reflect the costs of your product. These costs include the cost of materials for the candle, the cost of marketing and selling the candle and the cost of running your home candle business. Consider these factors when working out your costs.

• Business start up costs. Factor your start up costs into the price of the candles. These will include any equipment purchases, business license, business name registration and any office supplies purchased.
• Marketing and advertising costs. Factor a percentage of these costs into the price of each candle. Include the cost of your business cards, fliers, advertising, hosting parties, travel, booth rentals at shows etc.
• Candle making supplies. Add up the costs of your materials for each type of candle. This would include the wax, wick, dye, fragrance, container, packaging and labels. If you have not used a local supplier remember to include any shipping costs. Experienced candle makers suggest that when pricing your candles work out the cost per ounce of your wax and any additives. Then work out the number of ounces in a particular candle and multiply that by the cost per ounce. Add the cost of a wick. If the candle is in a container add that cost to the figure. Add the packaging and labelling costs per candle. This will give you the total cost of making the candle.

Decide on a price for each type of candle

• Set your price per candle. Once you have calculated your costs for each type of candle you can set a specific price for each type of candle you offer. Theoretically your price should cover the supplies costs for making each candle, the labor costs, the delivery costs and a proportionate share of advertising, marketing and running costs for your home candle business plus a reasonable profit.
• What sort of profit can be expected? Generally when selling your candles you can mark up your total cost 3 to 4 times. This will vary according to factors such as where you are selling your candles, how expensive the candle was to make, if you are paying commission on retail sales etc. You need to get sufficient money for your time. Your profit should include reasonable payment for the time spent sourcing and getting your candle supplies, making the candles, packaging them, marketing and selling them.
• Don't undersell or overprice your candles. Often new home businesses make the mistake of charging less than the going rate for their products to try and get customers. When you start your own candle making business don't underprice your product. You need to be seen to be competitive and you need to make a decent profit. Have confidence in your product. It is as important to not overprice your candles. Keep up to date with with what similar candles are selling for and make sure your prices are competitive.

Tips to help you start your own candle making business

• Create unique candles. People will pay more for a special homemade candle. Use your creativity to come up with unique candle designs.
• Create distinctive packaging. Eye-catching packaging will really help sales. This does not mean your packaging needs to be expensive, just something unique and special.
• Come up with a catchy business name and memorable advertising material. Your business name reflects the image of your candle business. Choosing a business name. Professional looking advertising and marketing material is key to successful candle selling.

The reason to start your own candle making business is to make a profit. Produce high quality, value-for-money candles and you will succeed in selling your candles. Show customers good service and a good product and they will keep coming back.

All About a Candle Making Home Business.

Tips for starting your own candle making business at home

How to make your own candles

Marketing and selling candles

Candle home business - retail sales

Start your own candle making business and become part of a successful and profitable industry