The candle industry is huge, in fact, it was reported to be worth about $7.15 billion with the US making up over $3 billion alone! With the rise of websites like eBay and Etsy, the ease with which you can set up a small craft business from the comfort of your own home has never been easier.
With this in mind, the answer is clear.
Yes, you can make your own candles easily and sell them. The demand for homemade candles is growing as people are moving away from mass-produced candle manufacturers because they often blend low-quality waxes into their candles to increase revenue. In fact, in the US a candle only needs to have 51% of a certain type of wax to be classified as that wax type.
How much can I make selling homemade candles?
The amount for a single candle can vary depending on the wax, the volume and type made, the packaging, and the marketing costs but a rule of thumb is:
Basic cost = $5
Basic selling price = $20
Basic profit = $15
So making and selling 100 candles per week will make you $6,500 a month before taxes.
There may be additional costs like insurance, other taxes, and extra labor if you need it. The good news is that many of these costs can be offset as business expenses so you will be able to maximize your profits.
Having a great marketing plan and a good brand could find you doubling or even tripling these figures.
Are homemade candles as good as shop-bought candles?
As long as you use high-quality materials then yes, your homemade candles will be just as good if not better than the shop-bought equivalents.
Many candle manufacturers have to use lower-quality materials to maintain a large market presence while remaining profitable. As mentioned many of them use lower-quality wax blended into a higher-quality wax in order to mislead the buyer about the true quality of the candle. Whilst not illegal, it does pose an ethical issue where you believe you are buying quality but in reality, only 51% of your candle is of that standard.
Luckily for us, we have access to the internet for research and information so we can not only see what the big guys are doing but we can also learn how not to do it.
What does this mean for the little guy? It means that homemade means quality as more often than not it costs about the same to obtain smaller quantities of wax so it’s just not worth buying low-quality variety.
Buyers are becoming more aware too. No longer are they willing to be blindly misled about the ingredients. They perform just as much research as we do when it comes to what they are willing to spend money on so, in today’s world quality is no longer an option but a must.
What is the cost of making candles at home?
Basic Materials – The basic essentials needed to produce your MVP. (Minimum Viable Product)
- Wax
- Color
- Scented oils
- Labels
- Containers
- Boxes
Testing– You may not succeed in making the perfect candle the first time so you will need a bit of trial and error through testing to get to where you have made the perfect candle.
Shipping – Includes not just the shipping cost, but will also include outer containers and labels as well as time and transport costs of getting your parcels ready and taking them to the courier/post office, etc.
Insurance – No small business can run without insurance, this is very specific and can vary from state to state and country to country so make sure you do your homework here.
Utilities and Sundries – Your need utilities like electricity and water to make your products as well as a safe clean area in your house to work, you will also need items like candle-making equipment, packing tape. cleaning materials. Fortunately, many of these costs can be absorbed by your business as expenses reducing your overall tax liabilities.
How expensive is it to make candles?
Luckily candle making is one of the cheapest hobbies/businesses you could choose to start. For around $50 you can buy a candle-making kit to see if this is something you would be interested in doing as a career or hobby. Take a look at our recommended kits here to get an idea of what you would get in a start-up kit.
We have looked at the kits and have found that if you make the candles and sell them then the kits will pretty much pay for themselves, covering the cost of the equipment supplied so you can begin making profits making this an almost risk-free venture, which cannot be said for many business startups!
Is candle making a good/easy business to start?
When you are looking at factors like risk, outlay, and growth, a candle-making business is one of the best options for you in today’s market. You can start small, be unique, and grow as slowly or quickly as you need/want to.
- Cheap to begin: Buying a kit can be an easy, inexpensive way to start as you will get some equipment to use as well as materials for making a set of candles.
- High demand: Given the huge global demand you can sell them locally or internationally. Online or in local shops and markets, pretty much anywhere you choose.
- Scalable business model: You can start off making them yourself in your kitchen for a few extra dollars and steadily grow into your own 6 or 7-figure business with a team of workers sending your creations around the world.
- Customizable: You can make the brand your own, candles are quite limited in scope meaning you need wax and a wick but that’s about it. The size, the shape, the color, the scent, and the packaging. That’s all you so you can really shine and stand out from the crowd with something truly awesome.
Conclusion
If you are looking to do something rewarding, fun, and interesting that allows you to have a steady income and job security then a homemade candle business could be right for you. Check out our kits, have a try, and begin your new life today!
Looking to make money from crafts?
Click here to learn how with our step-by-step guide showing you everything you need to know.
