Gone are the days when candles were only used as a source of roshni in households. Now they’re popping up everywhere as people love embellishing their homes with scented candles, radiating a feeling of coziness and warmth.
Not only that, candles are now in great demand thanks to the growing popularity of aromatherapy and for decor in spas, offices, massage parlours and what not. What’s more, candles are also being used by other businesses like independent brands, fashion houses, and beauty merchants, to create a welcoming ambiance at their space.
So are you looking out at setting up your own business and being your own boss lady? Or, you’re passionate about the craft and want to take it up professionally? No matter what your need, here’s a step by step guide to ease your nerves and get you started with the business.
10 Steps On How To Start A Candle Business
1. Hone Your Art
A good scented candle can light up your room (literally!) and your mood, set the ambiance and also serve your aesthetic needs. That’s when the candle is good, but when it’s not, it can be difficult to bear. Burns too fast, weird smell, smoky remains…you perhaps know what we’re talking about. So before you go out to people telling them about your homemade candles, it’s important to be good at it, so you’re confident in selling it.
You should spend a solid amount of time, honing your craft and mastering the art of candle making. Ensuring how a candle burns, what smell it emits. In addition you’ll need to do some experimenting on what kind of candles you want to make, and what will people want to buy from you? Would they be seasonal, themed? For homes? For gifts..so many questions! In the candle business, a strong scent and a reasonable price point may get you far, but you’ll also need to ensure that your brand stands out in a crowded market.
Read #DIYLife: 10 Ways To Reuse The Leftover Wax From Candles
2. Planning Your Business Strategy
If writing a business plan from scratch is not your forte, consider using a business plan template or business plan software to guide you through the process.
Making and promoting your candle business could be fun and fulfilling. But it could seem challenging to you, sitting down and panning out your candle business plan. But you’ll need to put both your sides of the brain to work so that you can create a business that lasts and creates value.
A business plan can help you define the essential aspects of your candle business and make the process of growing your business so much easier. If writing a business plan from scratch is not your forte, consider using a business plan template or business plan software to guide you through the process.
3. Naming Your Brand
You’ll need a name that is different, but conveys the spirit of your brand to your clients. A name that stays in their mind long after they’ve heard it once.
Ab namkaran ka time hai! Now that you’ve established what you want to launch, you’ll need an awesome name for your candle business. This will be one of the key aspects of your business, as it will be reflected literally everywhere. You’ll need a name that is different, but conveys the spirit of your brand to your clients. A name that stays in their mind long after they’ve heard it once. You’ll also need to ensure that the name is available for you to register your business. Once you have a name that you love, grab the website domain and social media handles before they’re taken.
4. Set Your Business Entity
If you’re having trouble deciding what form of business structure to use, a business attorney or tax specialist can guide you.
Another advantage of creating a business plan is that it will urge you to decide on a legal structure for your company. The decision to form the correct company entity is critical and should not be taken lightly. Sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation are examples of common business entities.
If you’re having trouble deciding what form of business structure to use, a business attorney or tax specialist can guide you. Because the sort of business structure you choose affects your taxes, risk level, and other crucial considerations. The extra investment may save you a lot of worry in the long run.
5. Spell Out You Service
You really need to sit on this one and think it through. To make this process easier, ask your questions:
- Do you only want to sell only candles?
- Will you take up custom orders?
- Will you include other services such as gift hampers, etc?
- What’s the production cost of each product?
- What will you charge for each candle?
Read Love Candles By Bath & Body Works? 10 Alternative Brands That Also Make Delicious Scented Candles
6. Getting The Legals Straight
When you start a business, you’ll need to be sure you have all of the licences, permits, and insurance that the government requires.
This may not be the most delightful step in the process of establishing your candle business, but nonetheless it is crucial. When you start a business, you’ll need to be sure you have all the licences, permits, and insurance that the government requires to give your business a legal entity. These criteria will differ depending on your area, type of business, and business structure.
7. Where Will You Sell?
You’ve got your product ready, legals set, so kya baki hai? Where are you going to sell these candles? Start an e-commerce? At a boutique? Or, sell through local shops and art melas? Consider all of your choices, and don’t be afraid to start small as you create brand loyalty and gather feedback from customers.
You can always sell your candles on a digital marketplace like Amazon or Etsy, if you want to sell online but aren’t ready to build your own ecommerce website yet. There are a plethora of excellent e-commerce platforms to select from, so take your time figuring out which one is the perfect fit for your business.
8. Finding & Collecting The Paisa!
When you start collecting the money from your sales, you should make efforts to keep your business and personal accounts separate.
Money makes money. You might already know this but it doesn’t make it any less true and important. Starting a candle company is no different. You will require company finance to pay for supplies, marketing, production, insurance, legal counsel, and other expenses. When you start collecting the money from your sales, you should make efforts to keep your business and personal accounts separate. Then look for an accounting software tool to help you manage your company’s finances.
9. Getting The Supplies
…when your company grows, purchasing materials in bulk from a wholesale source will save you a lot of money.
You might be able to buy some wax, scents, wicks, and jars for your candles at your local craft supply store at first. However, when your company grows, purchasing materials in bulk from a wholesale source will save you a lot of money. You’ll want to start looking for low-cost products right away, so you can check for quality and pick the best supplier for your needs.
10. Market It Right
…it’s time to promote your candle business with the help of social media.
Once everything is set to be let out in the wild, it’s time to promote your candle business with the help of social media. Call your friend, family, relatives and spread the word. Your business is ready to cater to people’s needs and preferences!
If you’re serious about taking your candle business to the next level, the steps described above can help you combine your passion for candles with a well-thought-out strategy. So #BeALittleMore confident of yourself and the ultimate result might be a candle business that will blow everyone’s mind.
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