Last updated Mar. 23, 2023 by Favour Chinaza
Do you know you can make $1,000 selling candles from home? The first step to selling candles from home is learning how to make candles. Then, you’ll need to set up an online store to market and sell your product.
After that, you can turn it into a part-time business or full-time, whichever you choose. One thing for sure is that it’s possible to make $1,000 selling candles from home.
However, note that the candle venture is not an overnight adventure. You’ll need time, persistence, patience, and constant learning yearning.
Don’t expect to earn massively in your first few months, but with time, you’ll begin reaping your rewards. So first thing first, you need to learn how to make candles before starting your journey of selling candles from home.
Good Read: 20 Ways to Make Money from Your Hobby
Is Selling Homemade Candles Lucrative?
According to MarketWatch, homemade candles have become an essential home decor item, with the industry expected to reach $5 billion by 2026.
Candles have seen a surge in commercial use in recent years, with spas and massage parlors using scented candles for soothing effects and restaurants creating aromatic customer environments.
According to the National Candle Association, consumers buy candles as a focal point for their home decor and aromatherapy purposes, such as relaxation and stress reduction.
A quick search on Google Trends reveals that global interest in homemade candles is consistent:
While candles are used for various purposes worldwide, most searches for homemade candles are concentrated in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
This is useful information for candlemakers looking to find a market for their homemade products:
Afterward, Google Trends showed much interest in specific types of candles, ranging from scented to soy and everything in between.
Customers’ interest in candles is not only strong but also diverse.
So, when a budding entrepreneur decides what products to develop, this knowledge can be valuable in helping you build a collection that will appeal to potential customers.
Why Start a Candle Business?
Aside from the popularity of this hot product, candles provide several other advantages to business owners, including:
- Entry is inexpensive. Although some homemade candle varieties require more expensive materials than others, candlemakers can create their wares with very little money upfront.
- It is simple to sell anywhere. For example, do you want to sell home decor items at craft shows and farmers’ markets? Because homemade candles travel well, you can sell them online and in person.
- Opportunity to learn a scalable craft. Whether you’re an experienced DIYer or a beginner, the basic candle recipe is simple. The formula is straightforward, as evidenced by the infographic below.
- Simple to create and customize to clients’ satisfaction. With so many different types of candles available, it’s simple to personalize your products and distinguish yourself from direct competitors.
Learning how to make candles is a skill that can be turned into a viable income stream for a DIY business.
But before we get into making your own homemade candles, let’s take a look at the popular types that are piquing shoppers’ interest.
What You Need to Make Candles at Home
Items you’ll need to purchase for homemade candles are:
- Wax melters
- Candle wax dyes and colorants
- Thermometers (for monitoring the temperature of the candle wax)
- Heating source (hot plate or stove)
- Measuring equipment and digital scales
- Fragrance oil
- Wicks
- Candle wax ( preferably either soy wax or paraffin wax)
- Jars (depending on the type of candles you intend to create, mason jars of various shapes and sizes can be used)
- Labels for glass jars (glossy white labels are great for excellent packaging, you could also go for clear labels)
- Caution or warning labels for individual candlesBoxes and shipping materials.
How To Start Selling Candles From Home
Now that you are equipped with the candle-making skills and know how to make candles, it’s time you begin cashing out on your new skill.
Remember that selling homemade candles can fetch you as much as $1,000 or more, depending on your dedication.
The following ideas will make your candle business profitable in no distant time.
1. Create Your Candle Brand
Branding is key to making your candle business stand out. Remember that they’re other competitors out there, and hence, yours have to be exceptional to create an appeal.
You can start with something simple and continue to improve as time goes on.
Also, establishing a brand gives your business direction. With this, you’ll know your target customers, the production level, marketing strategies, and more.
Your brand should be unique and convey your candle business idea to your customers and potential customers.
Unique Candles and Themes Sells Faster
Now it’s time to distinguish yourself from the competition by emphasizing what makes your candles unique—what makes them you. Don’t be afraid to look within and incorporate personal characteristics.
- Are you concerned about the environment? Consider using eco-friendly candles.
- Do you like crystals and healing energy? Then, you can make a series of candles with various gems and crystals (i.e., rose quartz, jade, amethyst, etc.).
- Do you enjoy swimming in the deep blue sea? Candles made of seashells!
- Do you enjoy reading horoscopes? Then, create a candle series for each zodiac sign, using scents best suited to each type.
Don’t confine yourself to only delivering pleasant scents. Another consideration when purchasing candles is their appearance and energy.
Some people like having flowers in their candles because they look nice. Some people like manifestation candles because they attract good luck and energy.
There are numerous opportunities and niches to explore. But your goal should be to sell candles that are so unique and useful that customers won’t be able to find them anywhere else.
2. Create Your Business Logo
Creating a unique logo is also essential to start a candle-making business.
Therefore, you should be creative when designing your logo. It’ll appear on every candle you sell, and a good logo will attract customers.
Your logo should be appealing yet simple so that wherever one sees it, they’ll recognize your product.
If you’re having trouble coming up with the perfect logo, check that of your competitors so that you may have an idea of what it looks like. Then, compare different designs and see which appeals more based on your verdicts.
However, do not copy that of your competitors to avoid legal issues. Creating candle products that connect with your customers and convey the current conditions and the product (candle) you’re selling.
3. Create A Website
Next is to create a website for marketing and selling your candles. It’s much easier to sell your candles when you have a website.
Your website will bring you closer to your customers and your customers closer to you with just a simple click and purchase. If you are looking for how to start, there are best and cheap web hosting services for beginners to check out.
You can create a website to sell your candles directly or use your site for advertising the product but making them available on another platform.
You can sell candles on sites like Etsy or use options like Shopify to sell on your website.
The main advantage of selling directly from your website is that it eliminates the service fee attached to other solutions like Etsy.
4. Create an Online Presence
Creating a website to sell your candles isn’t enough. You’ll need an online presence on social media to reach more customers.
Today, using social media management tools for marketing any business is very effective.
You can launch a social media presence to market a candle-making business on various platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and even Snapchat, whichever you’re familiar with.
Choose a page name or URL that reflects your candle-making business and brand. Make sure it’s similar to your website domain name so that it will create a linkage between all of them.
Also, it’s a great idea to streamline your social media accounts and give them the same title, URL, logo, and description.
To get good optimization and SEO, or search engine optimization, always include links to your official website, Etsy shop, or eBay account, and gallery across all your candle company’s social media pages.
How to Build Your Online Candle Store
Where should you sell your candles now that they’re finished? Your own e-commerce store is a great place to start.
When compared to listing your candles on online selling sites like Amazon, creating an online store appears daunting.
However, these marketplaces eat into your profits and do not allow you to express your brand freely. Your online store makes more money in the long run and serves as a digital home for your brand.
There are a lot of eCommerce stores that are user-friendly for establishing your candle business online. In addition, you can create an e-commerce website without any coding knowledge or a large budget.
You get a monthly fee for a beautiful storefront, SSL certifications, high-speed web servers, cart abandonment recovery, and other beginner-friendly marketing and sales tools.
You will also have access to the Shopify App Store, which has over 4,000 plugins to help you improve your store and sell more online.
5. Start Creating Candles to Sell
It is best to keep your candle collection small and manageable at first.
Begin by making five different candles at a time and soliciting feedback from friends and family on which ones they prefer. Continue until you have three or four all-time favorites.
Once you’ve determined your products are well-liked and enjoyable, take them to market and see how they fare. Consider the following selling options:
Online marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon, and Etsy. Fair booths, craft shows, farmers’ markets, and so on. Starting an Etsy shop can provide excellent exposure for your handmade candles.
You can use your own website
As the company grows, keep repeating the creation process. You’ll eventually have many collections of well-loved candles that speak well of your brand. The best teacher is feedback.
Don’t be afraid to promote your products on social media, allowing your personal network to help you and spread awareness. In addition, friends, family, and peers can offer valuable advice and assistance to help you get a head start.
6. Create an Effective Marketing Strategy
You must ensure everything is near perfect for making $1,000 selling candles from home. It also includes setting the right online and local marketing strategy.
You can use techniques like PPC (pay-per-click) marketing, SEO, direct mailing, and social media to market your candle business from home. There are marketing automation software to use for this.
Creating a marketing strategy that reflects your brand, fits your budget, and reaches your target audience is best.
Consider what will make you stand out amongst your competitors when marketing your candles.
In addition, use a voice that will resonate with your intended audience to reach and appeal to them.
Furthermore, strategies like discount offers and promotional codes are most likely appealing to people online and locally.
6. Choose The Right Shipping Solution
Not all candle-making businesses provide the same shipping services and solutions, so it’s important to research and weighs your options.
Compare private and federal shipping companies to know the lowest shipping costs near you.
Also, research shipping materials, packaging materials, and cost-effective and high-quality boxes for your customers.
In addition, consider how you’ll offer to ship your candles to your online customers. For example, will you include the shipping cost in the candle price or advertise the free shipping offer?
Calculating your profit margins with the shipping costs of each candle for sale will help you evaluate these factors and make a profitable decision for your business. Of course, you can ship yourself now, but there are the best product fulfillment services to use.
7. Set a Pricing Structure
Your target market, budget, and brand marketing strategy determine your pricing.
For example, if you decide to enter the mass market and are just getting started in the candle industry, you may want to start low. It is an opportunity to establish your brand and become well-known, which is critical in the early stages.
A good starting point is to price basic scented candles between $10 and $18, depending on the materials used.
Going overboard with pricing without the credibility and trust to back it up is not the best idea at this stage, as the candle industry is full of sellers trying to achieve the same things you are.
First, consider how you can get your candles out there. Then, to entice buyers, offer competitive prices or promotions. For example, in your first month, you could run a two-for-one promotion or offer a 30% discount to customers who refer a friend.
You may lose some money at first (which is common for many businesses at this stage), but getting your candle business and products out there and exposed to the world is priceless.
Always prioritize long-term outcomes. Rome was not built in a single day.
The best pricing strategy for your candle business will be determined by several factors, including the cost of materials, the time it takes to make each candle, and the perceived value of your candles.
What you value your time at is an important factor many sellers overlook when calculating. Remember to include an hourly cost for your time in your cost calculations.
8. Keep Track of Your Finances and Revenue
Starting a profitable candle business requires a level of commitment that includes keeping track of your earnings.
Keeping efficient and accurate financial records will help you in your bid to grow your business.
You need to keep track of your net income, gross income, and expenses incurred to maintain the business.
You can use manual methods to do this, or better still, use finance tracking apps to minimize the chances of errors in calculation and documentation.
What is The Most Popular Candle Scent?
Citron blossom cassis is the manufacturer’s choice regarding candle scent. It is a dewy, floral, and sensual scent perfect for night candles. However, this fragrance is mostly masculine.
Another top scent for candles is Huckleberry Sugar Blossom. It is mostly a feminine scent that evokes feelings of comfort and coziness.
Other popular candle fragrances are Amber and Vanilla Blossom, Water Lily and Hyacinth, Red Currant Persimmon, and Saltwater Sea Musk.
Other Candles to make more money are:
Soy Candles
Soy candles, one of the most popular candle types on the market today, are made from a base of soy wax.
This wax is made from vegetables because it is derived from soybeans (opposed to regular oil- or paraffin-based candles).
According to Grand View Research, the soy wax segment will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.5% from 2019 to 2025.
Soy candles are not only made from a renewable resource, but they also burn cleanly and for a longer period.
Customers get more bang for their buck when purchasing a longer-lasting candle this way.
Decorative candles
You’ve probably noticed candles in various colors, shapes, and sizes when you walk into a homeware store.
Some candles are made solely for decoration; they are not necessarily scented and are not made with special ingredients. Instead, they add a special touch to a room in your home.
Aromatherapy or scented candles
This is one of the most common candle types. Scented or aromatherapy candles come in various scents for customers who want to fill their homes with pleasant aromas.
These candles come in dozens of scents, so a scent will appeal to almost everyone, whether meant to mask a common household odor or create a unique scent scape.
Aromatherapy candle manufacturers market their products as providing specific benefits associated with particular scents.
These candle recipes generally incorporate essential oils intended to improve physical or mental well-being.
Lavender scents, for example, are frequently associated with relaxation.
Vegan Candles
Many customers are concerned about the materials used to make their products, particularly those containing animal ingredients.
Basic candles frequently contain animal byproducts such as beeswax, which some consumers find objectionable.
But vegan candles come to the rescue! Vegan candles are made with modified formulas, including soy wax, plant-based waxes, fragrance oils, and natural fragrances.
Tips To Sell Tips Homemade Candles and Make $1000
● Research your top competition
Before you start marketing and selling candles from home, spend some time researching your top competitors, both locally and online. Learn how your main competitor sells candles and what types of candles they currently offer.
When researching your competition and learning more about the candle industry, ask yourself the following questions:
- What kinds of candles do my main competitors sell?
- What are the most popular candles and fragrances?
- Do my competitors cater to a specific demographic or range of demographics?
- How do members of my community perceive my main rival?
- How can I differentiate my candle-making business from those already successfully selling candles in my area or region?
● Offer something unique
To succeed and thrive as a candle-making business, you must distinguish yourself.
While direct-selling candle companies have their advantages, learning how to make unique candles to sell from home allows you to offer a more specialized product that can stand out.
● Maintain Consistent Quality
Because of your processes, maintaining consistent quality may be more difficult if you are a smaller producer.
Making candles in smaller batches can make mistakes more likely. To combat this, create a list of procedures that will allow you to produce the same candle repeatedly.
● Connect with your Customers
Understanding your customers from the inside out is what successful businesses do.
It would be best if you tailored your candles to their preferences. You want to build long-term relationships with your customers to keep them returning for years to come.
● Take Amazing and clear product photos.
Great product photography is essential for persuading people to buy your candles. Check that you can see the shape and label of your candles clearly.
Are you up for a challenge? First, display an image of the candle in your home so customers can imagine it in theirs. Then, you can either hire a professional photographer or take high-quality photos with your smartphone.
What’s more, if you have a good camera, you can make money selling pictures, too(well, some of those pictures).
● Increase your sales opportunities.
Having recurring customers is more profitable than constantly finding new ones. To increase revenue from existing customers, try out different cross-sell and upsell opportunities.
You could also provide subscription boxes, like Frostbeard Studio and other Customer Relationship Management software. For example, customers'” Candle of Month.”
● Expand your product line
Some soap companies repurpose their scents into soaps, shampoos, balms, perfumes, and other products they make and sell online.
Many candle makers find the transition simple because the scents are already developed; all that remains is creating a new product.
You can then upsell customers based on the scents they frequently purchase, create scent-centric care packages, and reach out to new audiences. Expanding your product line means having more customers.
● Create and Customize your online store.
Where should you sell your completed candles now? A great place to start is with your own e-commerce store.
Creating an online store appears to be a daunting task compared to listing your candles on online selling sites like Amazon.
Ultimately, your online store is truly what you have, not your Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook page, because these platforms can take down your business anytime. You will lose returning customers, and building them is hard.
These marketplaces, however, eat into your profits and prevent you from freely expressing your brand. So, in the long run, your online store makes more money and serves as a digital home for your brand.
● Keep up with consumer trends.
Keep up with what’s going on in your industry. Use tools like Facebook IQ, Think with Google, and Nielsen to understand customer pain points and track breakout trends.
You can use this knowledge to develop new product concepts, fragrances, and marketing campaigns to promote your brand.
Where Can I Sell Homemade Candles and ake $1000?
Now that you’ve established your website, it’s time to consider where you’ll sell your candles.
You can sell them on your website, online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon Handmade, or local stores and markets.
The best option for you will be determined by various factors, including the type of candle you sell, your target market, and your budget.
Selling luxury candles in high-end stores may be the best option if you’re selling them.
If you’re selling more affordable candles, selling them online may be the best option because it allows you to reach a larger audience.
Selling candles at local markets and fairs is another excellent option for getting your products in front of potential customers.
Whatever path you choose, do your homework and figure out what will work best for you and your candle business.
Online Marketplace to Market Your Homemade Candles Fast
Etsy
Etsy is one of the first places I tell people to look into if they want to sell handmade stuff online.
It’s focused on vintage and handmade items, so people sell everything from handmade clothing to refinished furniture and jewelry on the site.
People seem to have a lot of success selling on Etsy, too, especially once they’ve gotten a few glowing reviews for their products.
Etsy generally favors very active sellers with lots of 5-star reviews, so once you get a few sales under your belt, follow up with your customers to encourage them to leave you a review. How to sell and make money on Etsy is a good place to start learning how you can grow your homemade candle business.
eBay
eBay is another option, although it’s much more generalized than Etsy and is more of a place to sell used stuff or rare items that are part of a collection.
Still, people do sell handmade stuff here, too, so it’s possible that you’d find buyers for your candles.
eBay is also pretty versatile in how you sell. For example, you can ship to buyers in another location or sell locally with the pickup-only option.
You can also list your candles as auctions, fixed price listings, or even let buyers make you their best offer.
Shopify
Shopify isn’t necessarily a website for selling candles, but it can be used to create an online shop for your candles in the simplest way possible.
Shopify has premade shop templates that you can use to get your candle shop up and running quickly and easily.
It also includes backend tools and analytics to help you keep track of sales, inventory, and other data.
It essentially handles everything you need to run your shop, from when someone visits your site to when they click the Place Order button.
Shopify also connects to several other marketplaces so sellers can dropship items they want to sell, which doesn’t require holding any inventory!
Learn how to boost sales on Shopify because it can be a great solution if you have handmade candles you want to sell but can’t keep up with the demand of a fast-growing business.
Flea Markets
Selling candles at flea markets could be one of the best ways to make money at Flea markets, get them in front of the public, and sell them quickly.
Flea markets can draw people from all over the surrounding area and locally on their busiest days, usually on weekends throughout the summer.
It’s a great way to get people talking about your homemade candles and telling their friends and family about them.
Flea market prices are generally low, especially if you sign a contract for a longer term, such as three or six months, which allows you to set up shop weekly.
All you’ll have to worry about is keeping your supply in line with demand, while the flea market owners worry about the building’s overhead.
You get built-in access to Facebook users in your area when you use Facebook’s Marketplace, making it an excellent place to sell items to locals.
Listing on the Marketplace is free and only takes a few minutes to get started.
Add some pictures of your candles and pricing and description information, and you’ll be on your way to selling immediately.
You can also share your listings with others in your groups or on your profile or page on Facebook. You can even market yourself and sell directly from a business page!
Craigslist
Craigslist is a fantastic website for selling almost anything.
It may not be the best option for your primary selling channel for candles, but it may be an option if you have the old inventory you want to get rid of for reasonable prices.
Listing on Craigslist is free in most areas (though some large cities charge a fee), and it’s simple to list, write a description, upload photos, and respond privately to people.
You can arrange for several people to meet you in a public place at the same time to buy candles.
Craft Fairs
Many towns hold craft fairs to fund local programs, usually in the spring.
You can check with your local Chamber of Commerce (if you live in the United States) or your local business oversight agency to see if any similar events will be held in your area.
Other Ways to Sell Your Homemade Candles
Instagram: Many lifestyle brands have successfully grown a sizable Instagram following.
Curate a feed of beautiful images related to your brand, stage photos of your candles to show off to customers, and expand your reach.
You can also use Instagram to reach out to brand evangelists and show them how your candles are made behind the scenes.
Pinterest: Home decor is a popular category among users who use the platform to discover new brands and products.
As a result, homemade candle retailers would be wise to include Pinterest as a pillar in their marketing strategy.
Snapchat: Snapchat, as another highly visual platform, is a viable option for maker merchants. DIY hustlers can use one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, with over 200 million users, to market to a growing audience.
Giveaways and contests. You can use some of your merchandise as prizes in a series of giveaways and contests as part of a social/content marketing strategy.
Not only can these contests help you gain followers and raise brand awareness, but they also allow you to demonstrate how well your products work.
Email Marketing: Email marketing allows you to deliver your message (along with promotions, discounts, and other brand news) directly to your customers’ inboxes.
How To Make Homemade Candles that Sell Fast
Making candles is a simple procedure. It does not necessitate much knowledge, research, or training.
However, it is critical to carefully follow the steps of making candles to get them right and avoid the frustration of starting over.
1. Get Your Candle Making Supplies
The first step to making a candle is purchasing all the necessary items.
These supplies are available in chemical stores near you or at the market. But, again, it’s best to go in person or assign someone experienced to shop for you.
It’s advisable to compare the different items and products, including dyes, fragrances, melter, and wax types.
2. Measure the Wax
Use the measurement equipment to measure the required wax to fill the candle jar. For example, if your candle jar is 16 oz, you’ll need 13-14 ounces of wax, and 1-2 ounces of fragrance, depending on the outcome of your measurement.
3. Melt the Candle Wax
Melting the candle wax is the next important step in making your candles from home.
To prevent burning, You may require a double boiler to melt the candle wax, depending on the wax you choose (soy wax or paraffin wax).
If you chose soy wax, please refer to the instructions from the specific wax brand, as soy waxes have varied melting temperatures.
On the other hand, paraffin waxes will need to heat for a minimum of 185 degrees Fahrenheit to begin melting.
4. Add the Scents of Your Choice
Adding scent to a candle isn’t much different from creating an unscented candle. But if you must, once the wax reaches its melting point, you can add fragrance and other ingredients to the candle mixture.
Pour and stir the scent (of your choice) into the melted wax. Make sure you stir in the scent entirely and thoroughly.
5. Add Dye and Colorants
If you want your candle to be colored, or if you want to beautify it with designs, you should add dye(s) and colorants.
To do this, measure the required dye based on the instructions on the dye of your choice. Then stir and fold in the dye and colorant into the melted wax. Continue until it is completely mixed.
6. Add Your Wick
Before pouring your candles into the designated jars, attach the wick to the jars or containers you intend to use.
However, if you’re pouring multiple candles simultaneously, it’s advisable to add the wick to containers and jars beforehand to help save time.
7. Pour the Candle Wax
Before pouring the candle wax, ensure the candle wick is secured, the wax is completely melted and mixed with the fragrance and dye, and the jar is ready. Pouring the wax into the designated jars shouldn’t take long.
8. Check the Wick
It’s important to double-check the candle wick to ensure that it is still in the right place and upright. A wick that isn’t visible after a candle has been poured will damage the entire candle.
However, if you’re experiencing trouble placing the candle wicks and getting them to stay properly, you can find a few tools in the market to help secure wicks easily.
9. Allow the Candle to Cool
The intro states that patience is essential to candle selling and making. So, give enough time for the candle to sit and cool.
It’ll help it to set and harden well. However, in most instances, you’ll need to wait at least a few hours or even up to 24 hours for the candle to cool and harden before you can use or sell it.
The time you need for the candle to set up mainly depends on the size of the candle you created and the type of wax and ingredients you used.
10. Trim The Wick Before Using
Once your candle has hardened and set successfully, you can trim the wick. Trim the wick of the new candle by at least .25 inches before using or selling it to a customer.
A professional wick trimmer is advisable to help avoid damaging the wick and guide you through cutting it properly before use.
11. Add the Labels
If you intend to sell it, add your logo label and any specific candle level you might have created for the candle container or jar.
It’s also important to add a warning or fire label on the candle jar on at least one of the sides to abide by candle regulations in the US. It will also help you avoid legal concerns or becoming an illegal business.
On the other hand, if your candles are not for sale, there’s no need to add labels. Adding labels to them will waste time and resources since you won’t sell to anyone outside.
12. Store the Candles
It’s highly recommended to store the candles in a cool and dark place. Do not allow the candles to sit outdoors or remain in hot temperatures for a long period.
Furthermore, use bubble wrap and other packaging materials to keep the candles protected and safe while you store them away before selling.
How Much Money Do You Need to Start a Candle Business?
The initial investment in a candle business is the most significant, so budget around $1000 to get started, or more if you have the capital.
Investing in additional wax and scents after you have all your starting equipment is much more affordable and increases profit margins.
When you first start, you should have the following items on hand (with approximate prices):
- A wax melter (between $75 and $100)
- Temperature gauges ($10-$20)
- A sliding scale ($5-$10)
- Molds ($10-$25 each)
- Dye (on average, $2-$3 per 100 grams of dye)
- Fragrances range in price from $3 to $5.
- Wicks (a starter kit costs between $20 and $35).
- Wax ($2 to $5 per pound)
- Jars (prices range from $1.50 to $2.00 per jar, depending on size and quantity).
- You will also most likely need labels ($.25-.50 per sheet of the label) and packing supplies.
The candle industry sector is growing, with a market value of $3.54 billion in 2019 and a projected increase to $6.64 billion by 2027.
As previously stated, all you need to get started is a heat source, a melting pot/double boiling pot, wax, containers, and wicks. But, of course, if you want to sell your candles, you must invest in a few other items.
You’ll need labels for the candle jars and possibly more expensive tools like thermometers and pourers.
Depending on the size of your operation, the average cost of starting a candle business is between $200 and $500.
Of course, the cost will be even lower if you want to make a few candles for fun.
Is Candle Making Profitable?
Yes, candle-making can be profitable with proper planning, research, and a well-executed market strategy, especially considering that candles generate $2 billion in revenue annually in the United States alone
There is a large customer base, and the entry cost is relatively low.
Candle selling, in particular, is profitable once you start purchasing supplies in bulk and increasing your profit margins, especially as you gain followers and loyal supporters.
Like any other, your candle-making business will be as profitable as possible if you implement proper financial and inventory management and understand the target market you intend to reach.
How Much Money Do You Make Selling Candles?
Your profit from selling candles is determined by your investment and profit margin(s), with earnings for new candle businesses reaching $1,000 monthly.
Typically, the profit margin for a candle ranges between 50% and 80%.
However, depending on the ingredients and time invested in each candle, you can expect a markup ranging from 100% to more than 400% for homemade and boutique candles.
Do You Need a Business License to Sell Candles?
You do not need a business license to start selling candles from home or marketing candles online.
However, remember that you must file taxes as a sole proprietor or obtain an EIN, or Federal Employer Identification Number, to keep track of your candle shop’s income and gross revenue.
Is FDA Approval Required to Sell Candles?
To start selling candles from home, you do not need FDA approval. However, following the current Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations for candles, candle making, and candle selling in the United States is critical.
Here are the legal requirements for selling homemade candles.
As you can see, they require you to include a fire alert symbol and a label with a fire warning (with the word WARNING) on each jar of candles you produce and sell.
Do I Need Insurance to Sell Candles on Etsy?
No, you do not need insurance to sell candles on Etsy. Generally, Etsy doesn’t require users to have insurance to sell or operate a store, and they don’t provide e-commerce insurance or product liability for sellers.
If you check the Etsy Help Center, you’ll only find a single reference for insurance: shipping insurance. But shipping insurance isn’t enough to protect you from product liability.
Notwithstanding, the platform does feature an Etsy Seller Protection Policy but doesn’t cover product liability.
Instead, it claims not to hold you responsible (financially) for “non-delivery or not-as-described cases resulting in a refund.”
How Much Does It Cost to Make 100 Candles?
It costs about $150 to make 100 candles. Candle-making cost starts at approximately $50 get the starter kit. So you’ll need to consider these factors if you’re starting for the first time.
You can make 110 8-ounce candles using 1 case (50 pounds) of soy wax. It also includes buying fragrances and containers (candle jars) in bulk. However, it doesn’t have shipping; it varies depending on location.
Is it Worth Starting a Candle Business?
If you want to make money quickly with little investment, candle selling may not be for you. However, if you’re dedicated to making your own candles and enjoy the process, it might be worthwhile to investigate selling candles from home.
Overall, the value of starting a candle business is subjective and will be determined by your passion for scents and candle making and your ability to create and sell candles regularly.
Good Read: How to Recycle Glass Bottles and Jars for Money
Bottom Line
Making and selling candles from home is an excellent way to supplement your income while fulfilling your creative desires.
First, you should learn how to make scented candles and a few test candles to determine which fragrances, waxes, and colors you prefer.
When you’ve mastered the art of candle making, it’s time to turn your hobby into a business. First, you must choose a name for your candle company and how you will market your products. After that, you can register your company with local government offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Average Price for a Candle?
Generally, the retail price of a candle ranges from approximately $35 for a large pillar or jar candle to $1.99 for a votive. Furthermore, scented candles in well-decorated containers and elaborate boxes usually cost about $200 or more.
Q: How do I start a candle business from home?
Now that you’ve decided on the style of your candle, it’s time to practice making them. Then, when you launch your business, you should be comfortable selling and confident that you can provide a safe, dependable product.
Your finished product should be something you are proud of. Don’t worry about being perfect; you’ll learn more.
Q: What Is a Good Size for Candles?
A good size for a candle is 8 oz. While it’s essential to offer a variety of sizes if you intend to sell the candles, 8 oz candles seem to be the best seller, according to most candle makers. Making any larger than 8 oz, you may sell more expensive multi-wick candles. On the other hand, any smaller candle wouldn’t get large enough.
Q: What Type of Candle Sells the Most?
Soy wax candles are fast becoming the best-selling type of candle. Although paraffin wax candles still enjoy many purchases due to their affordability and availability in commercial retail. However, even some commercial bug candle manufacturers have recently begun switching to soy wax duo for the obvious reasons mentioned above.
Q: Where Can You Sell Candles?
The best place to sell your candles is on your website. Using a website, you can control everything and be in charge of all aspects of your business. You can create your website on Shopify or WordPress. There are other platforms, but these two appear to be the most popular and easiest.
If you don’t want to sell on your website, you can sell on already established platforms such as Etsy, Artfire, Amazon Handmade, Zazzle, etc. However, using these sites means you’ll need to pay a small fee for using their platform to sell your product, so keep this in mind.
Q: How Much Money Can You Make Selling Candles?
The profit you make selling candles depends on your investment and profit margin(s), with earnings for most candle businesses reaching about $1,000 monthly. Typically, the standard profit margin for selling candles ranges between 50% and 80%.
However, expect to rake in 100% to over 400% for boutique and homemade candles, depending on the ingredients and efforts put into each candle you create.
