Most people will buy a decorative candle at some point in their life, which is why choosing to make them can be a great product choice. To start a candle making business, you must learn the necessary skills required to make candles, but you also have to consider how you can legalize your business while also figuring out how you can brand and market them to the public.
This article will highlight the steps for how to start a candle business.
How to Start a Candle Business: Initial Steps
What Type of Candle Do You Intend to Make?
First, you will need to decide the type of candle you want to make. In the beginning, it might be best to make just one or two types of candles.
When it comes to candle making, one of the easiest candles to make is container candles. But you could also choose to create taper or mold candles. Most decorative candles are scented, too. If you plan to sell scented candles, choose fragrance oil that matches your product line. Do some market research with potential customers to try to determine what type of handmade candles will sell.
Here are some examples of popular candle types:
- Votive Candles
- Container Candles
- Pillar Candles
- Dipped Candles
- Rolled Candles
Choosing the Type of Wax to Work With
The next step is choosing the type of wax you want to use to make your homemade candles. You can use various types of wax, and the one you choose depends on your preferences.
One category is beeswax, which is a natural product made from bees. It gives it a light honey smell. Many candle makers prefer this type of wax because it is natural, while others like to mix it with other types of wax.
Paraffin is another category of wax, which is a by-product of petroleum. Paraffin has different melting points, and which option you use depends on the type of candles you're making. For example, taper candles or pillar candles need a higher melting point compared to container candles.
The third wax category is soy wax, where the most popular type is soy. One benefit of soy wax is its pure white color. Another advantage is that soy wax doesn’t shrink when poured, so you don’t have to pour the wax multiple times. Another wax in this category is bayberry wax.
Learning and Practicing the Technique
One of the most effective ways to learn how to make candles is to attend a candle-making class. You can find these classes in local recreation departments. Simply sign up for a course and learn as much as you can.
If you prefer to learn by yourself, you will find many tutorials for making homemade candles online. You are more likely to find everything you need online to make a candle that suits your preference. While learning, you must practice the technique. You need to build your skill up before you begin selling. To do this, you might try to work on your business every day by simply taking time out to practice.
How to Start a Candle Business: Legally Setting Up Your Business
Employ the Services of a Lawyer
When starting a business, you must have a legal representative to help you fill and file the appropriate paperwork required. A lawyer can also help you get the correct licenses you need to start a business.
While many people might be tempted to skip this part, mostly because of the additional cost, it will save you money in the long run. You won’t be guilty of non-compliance that might cost you more money in fines.
Choose a Business Name
Naming your business is an important part of starting one. But if you can’t think of a name at the start or have a plethora of names to choose from, simply go with a temporal name for a start. You are legally allowed to operate under a different business name if the first one you pick is filed later under “doing business under”.
Choose Your Business Structure
Once you have figured out your business name, you need to choose the structure of how you will run your candle business will run. For example, if you plan to keep your candle business on the small side, you can choose a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a sole proprietorship.
Remember that a sole proprietorship business is run as a one-person organization. You will be held liable for all the debts your candle business incurs.
Nevertheless, it is simpler to file a sole proprietorship than an LLC. Running your business as an LLC means that your personal finances are legally separated from the business. This means that you would not be held responsible for any debt your candle business incurs if it stops operating.
You can file for either of these in your home state. You should note that most states tend to charge a filing fee, which should be too much in most cases.
Another business structure you can file for your state is under a partnership. In a partnership, you spread the responsibilities of a sole proprietorship among two or more people. Want to learn more about the tax advantages of having an LLC? Read this quick guide.
How to Start a Candle Business: Selling Your Candles
Make a Logo
Having a logo is an important aspect of any business, including a candle business. You could choose to hire a professional designer or simply design the logo yourself.
Your logo is important since it is what prospective customers will see and associate with your business. The logo needs to be recognizable, interesting, yet simple. Once you create your logo, you can use it to design business cards and labels for the candles you make.
Selling Your Candles
Selling your candles is the main purpose of starting a candle business. You can choose to sell your candles at craft fairs. Most towns and cities tend to have local craft fairs for artisans to display their wares.
There are many fairs you can consider selling your candles – even wine and food fairs might cater to craft vendors. If you are selling at a craft fair, you might consider having complementary items on sale. Items such as candle bowls and homemade candle stands can be great accompaniments to your candles.
You can sell your specialty candles in local stores and gift shops. Using this avenue offers endless opportunities. You could choose to sell your wholesale candles. Or the stores might host your products and receive commissions when your candles sell. A third option is to rent a space or a booth in your local craft store to sell your wares.
Generally, you will find better luck getting your candles into a store that provides booth space, so long as you pay for the space. That said, it isn’t always easy to see a return on that booth space.
When you decide to approach a store with your candles, it is always best to come with samples. Make sure that you look very professional by dressing up appropriately and being polite. Additionally, it is always best to call ahead for an appropriate time to make your proposal.
Alternatively, you could choose to sell your candles online. Craft sites have become a lot more popular in more recent times. You can even create a storefront on a larger e-commerce website. The large site handles all the transactions while you simply mail your candles to customers who place orders.
The great thing about using a well-known e-commerce website is that you don’t have to worry about maintaining a website. You only need to focus your time and efforts on driving traffic to your storefront.
Marketing Your Brand and Products
Marketing your product is another important aspect of starting a candle business. If no one knows about your product, it will be nearly impossible to sell them.
One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through social media, so you must create a social media account for your business on various social media platforms. After this, create hashtags or friend and follow people to attract customers.
If you want to promote your content, you can do this organically by promoting someone else, and they return the favor by promoting you and your business. You could also choose to share content about your candle-making process, what makes your candles special or anything candle-related that might help draw attention to your products.
You can also use hashtags and keywords to your advantage, which can be a great way to advertise your products. For example, if you sell your candles using a craft website, you might have to find the perfect keyword that ensures your product stands out.
Pick keywords relevant to candles and your candle-making business. Also, the keywords have to be trendy. Start by thinking of the words you would use if you were searching for your candle business. The same goes for your hashtags. Use hashtags that connect your customers to your candles.
