Our business idea today is perfect for anyone who is trying to find their next big business opportunity – homemade candles!
It’s a skill you’ll find useful even for aspiring business owners who are hesitant to DIY if you are trying to create a product that will be both practical and hot – literally and figuratively.
We’ll show you in this guide how you can make money online by making candles and start a candle business.
Your journey in starting a candle making business begins here!
We’re going to talk about how to start a candle-making business to see if it really is the best business model for you.
Towards the end of this article we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions on how to start a candle-making business…
But most importantly, we’ll show you the exact system we used to build my own business to over $40,000 a month in mostly passive income.
According to MarketWatch, homemade candles have grown into a major home decor item. By 2026, the industry is projected to reach $5 billion. In recent years, candle use in commercial applications has grown rapidly, with scented candles being used at massage spas and restaurants to create aromatic environments.
National Candle Association data reveals that consumers also buy candles for home decor and aromatherapy for stress reduction and relaxation. Looking at Google Trends, we can see that homemade candles are of global interest quite consistently:
Candle Businesses: Google Trends Interest By Region
There is a lot of interest in various kinds of candles–from scented to soy, and everything in between–as evidenced by Google Trends. The candle market is not only strong, but also diverse.
This knowledge is a powerful insight for an aspiring candle business owner/ founder deciding what type of products to build to resonate with their potential customers.
Besides its popularity, candles also provide small business owners with several benefits, including:
If you want to start a candle making business, the following steps will help you get started:
Marketing efforts are directed toward your target market. These are the buyers most likely to buy your products and become customers. Generally, the candle industry categorizes target markets as follows:
Market research is essential for sourcing materials, brand building, and packaging. When you have a segment in mind, you can decide which type of candle will work best for that segment.
Building a brand is the next step in launching a candle making business. As you build your brand, your marketing efforts are influenced, and more customer-centric products can be developed.
Having a good brand is especially important for candle businesses. The industry has grown so much in the last decade that some people find it hard to get started.
Consider these three steps for standing out in the oversaturated candle market:
Interesting fragrances are one way to set yourself apart from the competition. When you create a new blend, you automatically make yourself known to the market.
Instead of offering standard floral and woodsy smells, try more complex, sophisticated smells consumers cannot find anywhere else: aromas that evoke a sense of comfort, recall, or curiosity.
Connecting with buyers is easier with a brand story. Essentially, it is the story that shapes and represents your brand. It lays the foundation for your business’ mission, message, and voice.
Candle brands are especially characterized by story-telling, personal elements, and honesty. This should cause people to feel something, which then gets them to act – whether they sign up, make a purchase, donate, etc.
You can find your story by asking yourself these questions:
The visual identity of your business (including the logo, photography, website, social media, and packaging directly influences how people view your candle business.
You must pay close attention to the aesthetics of your candle brand. Your candles will serve as both a scent and as a décor accessory, so it is essential to design products that match your audience’s tastes.
Your candle business is doing well at this point. There are probably a few names you’ve come up with so far, and now is the time to pick one.
Think short and simple when coming up with candle business name ideas. Thus, buyers will be able to remember and pronounce it easily. A name that is hard to remember will prevent you from getting free word-of-mouth marketing.
The success of a candle business is based on a business plan. This helps establish your strategy, determine your issues, and identify your resources before launching it.
Consider these questions:
In the case of starting a candle-making business from home or on a small scale, a one-page business plan will do if you do not need funding. There are just a few basics you need to consider:
As a small business owner, choosing the right business structure for your candle making business is extremely important. There are many options for forming a company depending on which state you’re located. You can form a sole proprietorship for less if you live in the United States, for example, but a limited liability company or LLC offers certain benefits at a higher cost.
Open a business bank account as soon as you receive the required documents. Talk to an insurance agent and choose the best coverage for you.
You will have to register for several state and federal taxes before you can open your candle business.
Tax registration requires that you obtain an Employer Identification Number, or EIN. The process is really easy and free!
You can make a wide variety of candles in your own kitchen. You are going to learn how to make a simple soy candle in this section. Using the same ingredients, you can create your own recipe by tweaking them slightly.
You will need the following ingredients to make this homemade soy candle recipe:
Although many of these items are likely already in your house, you can easily obtain the rest without spending a fortune. You can find soy wax in bulk on sites like AliExpress or Bulk Apothecary for around $4 per pound.
Those who need to source jars or other glass containers can find bulk-buying options on AliExpress or at thrift shops or dollar stores.
You can buy essential oils from your local craft store, on Etsy or on Amazon. The remaining ingredients are easily found in most grocery stores.
Next, prepare your candle wax materials. Place the soy wax in your double boiler and melt it. Pour water into the bottom pot and add soy wax to the top. Turn your burner to medium heat and break up any chunks using a spatula as you stir the wax.
As the wax melts, glue the end of the wick to the bottom of the glass container. This will prevent the wick from moving when you pour the wax later on.
After your wax has melted, stir in your preferred essential oil. You should use 1 ounce of essential oil per pound of wax. You can add chunks of non-toxic crayons to your candle wax to change its color.
Once you have melted and mixed your ingredients, allow the mixture to cool to 130–140 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure that the mixture reaches the correct temperature by using a thermometer.
You need to pour your wax mixture into the jar once the mixture has cooled to the proper temperature. Then, with one hand hold the wick upright, and with the other, pour the mixture from the pan. Three quarters of the jar should be filled with the hot wax mixture.
Make sure that your wick is upright by tying the end to a pen and placing it across the jar’s opening.
Wait for the wax to firm up before you do the final pour. The wax around the wick may show a small sinkhole. This is perfectly normal. Here’s where we fix the problem.
Pour the remaining quarter of the wax mixture into the jar. Wait until all of the wax has set. Cut off the excess wick with scissors as soon as the wax has hardened. Your candle is now ready to burn!
So, now that you’ve got your candles ready to sell, where should you take them? An excellent place to start is with your own ecommerce store.
Putting your candles on sites like Amazon or eBay does not sound as daunting as creating an online store. But these marketplaces eat up your profits and deny your brand flexibility. Having an online store not only makes you more money in the long run, but it also serves as your brand’s digital home.
To get started with an online store, Shopify is your best option. You can build an ecommerce website without any coding or huge budget.
By paying a small monthly fee of just $29 per month, you get the following:
Even better, you also get to access the Shopify App Store, which provides you with more than 4,000 plugins to enhance your store and boost sales.
Now that you know how to make soy candles or any other homemade candles, your next important step involves creating a marketing plan.
Starting a candle business does not only involve the making of the candles, but a lot of effort goes into marketing if it should be success
Like many B2C retailers, candles are one of the most profitable products sold online. Using digital platforms such as social media and your own ecommerce site, you can connect with customers around the globe.
While not all digital platforms will work for every entrepreneur, there are some sure places entrepreneurs can try to start. There are many channels merchants for their fledgeling business can explore, but these are a few good options for online marketing:
Even though selling online is a viable option for merchants, think about trying IRL too.
These homemade candles are portable and easy to carry, so they’re perfect for selling on the go. It’s perfect for showcasing at craft shows and pop-up shops where you can get feedback directly from customers who are looking for home decor items.
Still not convinced to sell in person?
Other advantages of going in-person for sales for your candle business include:
By now, you should have a good understanding of how to start your own candle business and become a legit candle maker.
Making and selling your own candles can be an easy way to earn extra income. With the tools and knowledge above, you can now start your own DIY candle business.
If you are someone who is crafty and creative and are looking for a way to express yourself while making money off of it, then this guide on how to start a candle business should help you get started.
Our review team has come across a program in the real estate industry that is next level!
Although it’s not real estate in the traditional sense, it’s all digital.
With digital real estate, you have the opportunity to completely walk away from your 9-5 job!
Sound too good to be true?
Of course it does!
But it isn’t…in fact, business owners wish they had this skill!
What exactly is the skill?
Well, basically you are acting as a conduit for small business to increase their bottom line.
What we mean is…
You are helping these businesses grow!
But how?
All you have to do is build and rank a website and forward certain jobs off to a business owner in town, you could even email it to them!
This works for literally any service based business… ie: tree service, plumbing, towing, etc.
Simple, after you forward the jobs off to a business owner and he makes closes the deal, you simply ask to agree to a WIN-WIN arrangement.
A fair price to charge per lead, depending on the industry is 10-20%… let’s just use the tree service industry for example and go by worst case scenario.
Let’s say you build and rank the site and only 20 jobs a month come in. The average tree service job is anywhere from $500-$2000!
That means at bare minimum you have an asset worth $1000 a month!
See why they call it digital real estate now?
That’s a rent payment.
The great thing is how easy it is to scale. You don’t have to answer the phone…all you have to do is get the phone to ring.
Truly passive income!
The training program takes making money online to a whole other level. The owner of the program walks you through how to build and rank a site hand in hand, with the occasional voice over when he is sharing his screen.
You will learn the importance of keywords, website name, how to send call notifications via email, backlinking, etc.
Once the training program is completed you will also have access to a Facebook group where you can ask questions and be in a community with others on the same journey as you.
Digital real estate allows you to have passive income with most of your day being spent OUT of the brick and mortar landscape.
Now, we know you probably have tons of questions…
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