Candles are no longer
what they used to be. In the good old days, candles were used only as tools for
illumination. Today, with the advent of electricity, candles are not considered
as essentials anymore. But despite that, candles are still popular and people
still buy candles; especially in countries that still experience power failure
or places with absence of electricity.
Are you a stay-at-home
mom, nursing mother or full time housewife looking for something to keep
yourself busy with; while still earning some extra income. Are you interested
in starting a candle making business from home? If your answer to the
above question is yes, then this article is for you.
Candle making is one of
the home based businesses you can start with little or no capital investment.
Yet, the returns and profits can be overwhelming especially when you are doing
business in a market like Nigeria. Now I know some of you reading this article
doubt the potentials of starting a candle making business from home. Why should you start a candle
making business? Well, you will find your answers below:
Uses of Candle and Why
You Should Start a Candle Making Business
·
Candles serves as a source of light during power failure
It is a known fact that
some developing countries like Nigeria have been having power supply challenges.This
constant power failure serves as an advantage especially to a candle producer
because nobody wants to be in darkness.
People also buy candles
for emergency purposes, especially in times of disasters that disrupt power
supply such as hurricanes, or just a mechanical problem down at the power
plant. Another reason why candle making is a lucrative business is because of
its affordability, especially when compared to fuels such as domestic gas and
kerosene.
·
Candle is used for religious and ceremonial purposes
In countries like
Nigeria, China, Italy, India, and many other countries of the world, candles
serve for religious purposes (shrines and temples) and ceremonies such
as birthdays, burial procession, etc. Also, the sale of candles thrive during
festive seasons like Easter, valentine, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas
etc.
·
Candle is for beautification or decorative purposes
People also use candles
for decorative purposes in places like restaurants, halls, places of worship,
etc. Most candles today come in many colors and designs. Others come in an
array of scents. Extremely popular nowadays are aromatherapy candles, where a
whiff of their scent will have an effect on someone’s mood.
·
Candle making is not capital or labour intensive
Yes, candle making as a
business is neither capital intensive, nor labor intensive. You can start this
business right from home and grow from there. You can also have your customers
come buy from you at home or you may choose to take the wares to them. Either
way you choose, it won’t cost your neck.
I believe that the few
reasons stated above is enough to convince you of the profit potential of running
a candle making business. So now that the doubt is cleared and your pessimism
crushed, you can read on to discover the step by step approach to setting up
your own candle making business from home.
Starting a Candle Making
Business from Home – Sample Business Plan Template
1. Decide on the
type of candle you would be making
To start a candle making
business from home, first decide what type of candle you intend to make and
sell. As mentioned above, you can make candles for emergency, decorative or
therapy purposes. There are also other kinds of candles such as jar candles, tarts,
candles that use soy wax or paraffin. The choice is entirely up to you.
2. Do your fesiable studies
A lot of research needs
be carried out with respect to your home based candle business niche idea. You
need to determine if there is an existing market that you can reach out to. If
yes, then you need to ascertain the level of competition and the exact type of
candle your potential customers would need.
3. Learn as much as you
can about the process of making candles
Yes. Since you will be
starting this business on a small scale, you need to make sure you are on the
right track and you know what you are doing. Knowledge is very important
because it can be a huge determinant between your cost of production and your
profits. The first place to start your research is on the internet because
there are many candle making forums where seasoned candle makers are willing to
assist you.
All you have to do is to
gather as much information as you can, but ensure that the information gathered
is aligned with your aims and objectives. If your aim and objective is to make
soy candles and tarts, do not explore paraffin alternatives. Experiment with
different candle making techniques and perfect the technique you think work
best. You will be able to earn more if you master your craft. Practice makes
perfect.
4. Set up your work area
Clear a space in your
home, whether in your garage or even your own craft room, where you can create
your candles. Candle making is a messy craft and your space must be easy to
clean and handle.
5. Write a
simple one page business plan for your candle production business.
6. Register
your business
You will need to legitimize
your business. Everyone knows that before you can start your candle making
business from home, you need to get the appropriate permits and licenses from
both your state and local government. You don’t want the government closing you
down for illegal business operations.
Before you start your
candle making business from home, speak to an attorney or an accountant. Get
advice on tax structures and insurance. You will need it for future purposes.
7. Simplify your
marketing plan
There is nothing wrong
with ambition. Ambition will drive you to business success but being overly
ambitious will be detrimental to your business. Start small. You have just
begun your candle making business from home. Don’t attempt to go global when
you are only capable of producing a small amount of candles. It will only lead
to frustration and eventually, you will give up.
8. Build an
online presence
Going online to sell your
products is the most ideal way to get a lot of buyers. Use social media to your
advantage. Since you started your candle making business from home, you may not
have a presence in your community because you don’t have a shop. But that
shouldn’t stop you from succeeding. Make some noise in the internet and before
you know it, people will be buying your candles left and right.
9. Create your
brand
The first step in
branding your candle making business is to make a name for yourself. What would
you like your business or your candles to be called? Think up creative business
names for your business. After that, you should design your logo and print out
business cards.
10. Learn
other business skills like accounting, financing, marketing and sales. Your
candle making skills won’t go very far if you don’t know how to budget your
finances and sell your products. As the producer of these candles, you are the
one who know exactly what your candles are and what they can do.
11. Find reliable
vendors of candle and craft supplies
To start your candle
making business from home, you need to establish relationships with your local
suppliers. Not only will they be able to give you good deals and good payment
options for the supplies you buy from them, you will also be able to promote
your candles in their shops.
List of Candle Making
Equipment and Kit
·
Rubber
plugs
·
Stainless
steel scoop
·
Thermometer
·
Votive
candle wick pin
·
Automated
candle making machine
·
Gel
filling system
·
Wax
dispensing machine
·
Gravity
candle pouring system
·
Wax
transfer system
·
Round
glass tumblers
·
Gum
leaf aromatherapy essential oils
·
Candle
fragrance oil
·
Dye/color
for candle
·
Palm
wax patterned effect
·
Soy
container wax
·
Soy
pillar wax
·
‘Mini’
refill kit for rainbow candles