Your Candle Making Business Budget.

With some careful attention to your candle making business budget it is possible to start a business for as little as $200.

So pour yourself a drink, sit back with paper and pencil and jot down answers to the following questions. Before you know it you’ll not only have a budget for your candle business but you’ll be well on your way to a business plan as well.

Type of wax… What kind of candles do you plan to make? Paraffin, Beeswax, or Soy Wax? When making this decision consider what’s available locally and what you’ll have to have shipped to you. Also, think about where the wax comes from and what’s good for the environment.

Type of Candle… Pillar, Jar or novelty candles? These are just some of the questions you’ll have to answer before you can move on. Do you need to stock up on jars or should you be buying molds?

And though I know when you’re starting a candle business you’ll want to offer a HUGE line of products… DON’T! At least not right off the bat.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew. You’ll need molds (which can be as much as $30 each) coloring and fragrance oils for EACH product you offer. Starting with a smaller product line keeps costs down, helps you to ease into large scale production and keeps your customers excited as they wonder what you’ll be adding to your product line next.

How will you find your customers... Retail, Wholesale, Fundraising, Online or traditional store front? Will you take out adds in the local paper or advertise online? Perhaps you’ll set up a kiosk at the local mall or do craft shows. Don’t forget about brochures, business cards, signs and labels.

Once you decide on a marketing plan for your home based candle business you’ll need to figure these expenses into your budget.

Some of the things you’ll need to start a candle making business are…

Stove

A double boiler

Wax

Wicks

Containers

Molds

Fragrance

Coloring

Labels

You may have some of these things around the house already. If not you’ll have to add their costs to your budget. Don’t forget to factor in shipping charges. Wax is heavy and shipping charges can add up so either buy locally or look for suppliers that will reduce or wave shipping fees when buying in bulk.

Do you plan to spread the news about your candle business thru word-of-mouth or will you buy ads? Is a website in your future or will you put up flyers around town? If people don’t know about your candles they can’t buy them. Decide how you will inform them about your wonderful candle making business and add these expenses to your budget.

There… That wasn’t so hard, was it? Now take your newly formed candle making business budget firmly in hand and start making candles!

Let’s work together to create a home based candle business for you!