Candle Making as a Business

Candle making as a business is much different from candle making as a hobby. However, it's still a great deal of fun, and if you love making candles you will absolutely love your job! However, there are many things you'll have to take into consideration when selling your candles as opposed to making them for personal use.

When you're first starting out as a professional candle maker, you'll want to pick only a few products or types of products to produce. This helps on two levels. First, you'll only have to buy and store enough equipment and supplies to create a small line of candles. Second, you'll be able to target a specific group of consumers and create a regular client base.

There are a few ways to narrow down your specialty, the ingredients you'll use in your candles, the scents you'll offer, or the technique you use to make your candles. Some examples could be:

• Soy candles
• Gel candles
• Hand-dipped candles
• All-natural ingredients
• Votives and tea lights
• Painted candles
• Aromatherapy candles

Once you come up with a name for your candle making business and have some products on hand ready to sell, you'll want to figure out how to best package your candles to make them attractive to consumers. You're only limited by your budget here.

Boxes, decorated plastic bags, fabric sacks, ribbons, or pretty paper are all widely used as candle packaging materials. Consider using packaging that reflects the candles themselves. For example, for all-natural beeswax candles, raffia bows and labels printed on recycled paper would do the trick.

Your labels should include your business name and logo, your contact information, and any instructions that the buyer should consider when using your candles. You must also include any safety warnings that are applicable, warning the customer to "never to leave a lit candle unattended."

Candle making as a business is hard work, and the details that go into making it a proper business are what turn some people away from this type of career. The best way to approach all of this is to take it one step at a time.

There is a lot of information available to home candle crafters in print and online. Start at your local library and read up on current small business directives. Visit your city or town hall to find out what paperwork and fees will have to be dealt with to register your business. Finally, visit the IRS online and get a tax ID number, research what you'll be looking at as far as collecting and paying taxes.

If all of this is somewhat overwhelming, find an online candle crafters group or mailing list to join. Here are a few that are active and easy to join:

• Yahoo Groups
• Candle Business Corner
• Dave's Garden
• Candle Making Meetup

Candle makers tend to be a friendly bunch, and you can feel comfortable in an informal setting such as this to ask any questions you may have. Once you learn how many people have taken on a candle-making career, the details start to seem less overwhelming.

If you're starting a candle business from home, chances are that you already have lots of candle making supplies and even finished product on hand. Once sales start taking off, however, you'll be spending many days just making more candles to sell. This means you'll need some good suppliers to turn to.

Local suppliers are always best to deal with, as you won't have to worry about shipping costs. If you have a favorite retailer, ask them if you can purchase your supplies in bulk at a discount. For things like molds and packaging, get creative. Craft stores can tend to be expensive, but if you can find a wholesale paper supplier for labels and pamphlets, or a kitchen supply warehouse for all the tools you need for melting and pouring wax, you'll save money.

If you can't find a local supplier for all of the equipment and candle making supplies you need, look online. Many candle supply stores offer discounts on bulk purchases, such as Cajun Candles in the U.S. and Canwax in Canada. Invest in good quality molds, as you'll be using them again and again.

The best way to start selling your wares is to start small. Talk to friends, relatives, neighbors, and acquaintances to see if they'd be interested in purchasing your candles. Hold a candle party in your home, where you can demonstrate your products and let people see what terrific candles you've made.

Then, check out local craft shows and fairs. Look in the newspaper for upcoming shows, or try the bulletin boards at the library or craft stores. Once you find some, contact the organizers and ask to be added to their notification list for all upcoming shows. You'll reach a wider audience at craft shows, and be able to build a loyal client list.

Other places to sell your candles include consignment stores, gift shops, home décor retailers, and anywhere similar products are sold. Visit the stores you want to get your products into, and talk to the owner about carrying your candles there.

Start small, and watch how quickly your candle business will grow!

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