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It can be tough to start your own business, especially if you don’t know where to start. 

Not only is candle-making a fun and creative hobby, but it can also be a great way to make some extra money or even start your own small online business.

Once you have the right supplies, making candles is an easy and inexpensive process that can be done from the comfort of your own home.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the basics of how to make candles at home to sell and provide some tips for getting started.       

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

What You’ll Need to Get Started Making Candles at Home

Before you get started making candles, you’ll need to have your supplies.

Here are the basic items that you will need for candle-making:

Candle Wax

Most candle-making supplies will tell you to use paraffin wax.

Paraffin wax is a solid white substance that comes in flakes and typically has around 5% oil content.

It’s relatively inexpensive, which makes it great for beginners, but there are other options out there that can give your candles a unique look such as beeswax or soy wax.  

Wick  

When it comes to candles, you’ll need a wick that is specifically designed for candle-making.

You can buy pre-tabbed wicks, meaning the metal tabs are already attached, so all you have to do is put them in your candle molds and start pouring wax.

You can also buy wicks that you can attach yourself with metal tabs.  

Wax Pouring Pot

A wax pouring pot is usually a double boiler-style pot where you place your wax flakes in one side, and water in the other side.  

Once the water boils, the wax will melt.

You want to make sure that the wax will not get too hot, or else it could burn and ruin your candles.  

Fragrances

Adding fragrances to your candles can give them a pleasant smell and also serve as an added marketing tool.

You’ll need a few drops of oil or wax to help your candle hold the scent better.

Candle Wax Dyes

For coloring your candles, you can use candle wax dyes that come in a variety of colors.

Just remember that adding too many dyes can give your candles an unappealing look.

Candle Molds

To create candle molds, you can easily make them yourself out of silicone baking pans.

Silicone is a great material for making molds because it’s easy to work with, flexible, and doesn’t stick to the melted wax.

You can use any type of mold you want, whether it’s the shape of a person, an object, or something more abstract.   

How to Find Suppliers

Now that you’ve decided how to make candles and start a small business, the next step is finding suppliers for candle supplies.

Not all of them will carry everything you need so it’s important that you contact several suppliers before you make your purchase.

This is important because you’ll need to find a supplier that carries the supplies and materials you will need as well as offers good prices and discounts on bulk buys.

Here are a few sites to find your supplies:

Alibaba

if you are looking to create bulk candles and need a large amount of supplies then this site is perfect for you.

You can find a variety of suppliers that ship all over the world and provide custom deals.

Amazon

If you are just starting out and need some materials to get started then Amazon is just what you need.

You can find most of the basic supplies and tools needed for candle making on this site and it’s all at competitive prices.

eBay

This is more of a last resort simply because there are so many different sellers with varying types of products, but you might be able to snatch up some deals.

It’s also a good idea to check out your local craft stores and even department stores like Walmart or Target because you might be surprised by what you find!

Once you have found the suppliers for your candles, follow these steps on how to make candles at home!     

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Basic Steps for How to Make Candles at Home to Sell

Once you have all your supplies, it’s time to get started making candles!

Step 1: Fill the Wax Pouring Pot about ¾ of the way full with water, and put it on high heat.

Step 2: Add your wax flakes to the other side once the water is boiling.

Step 3: Stir the wax until all of the flakes have melted into a smooth consistency.  

Step 4: Turn the heat down to medium-low and add your fragrance, if desired.

Step 5: Add a few drops of colorant, if desired.

Make sure that you test this in an inconspicuous spot on your pan or mold first because some colors can stain.

Step 6: Once all of your ingredients are mixed, carefully pour the wax into your molds.

Step 7: Let your candles cool for a few minutes before removing them from the mold.  

Once you remove your candles from their molds, let them sit and harden overnight before using them or storing them.

Making candles is a great way to make extra money as a side business.

It’s an affordable hobby because it doesn’t cost much to make your own candles.

Making candles at home is also a great way to save money and avoid harmful chemicals that often exist in store-bought candles.   

7 Best Sites to Sell Your Candles for a Profit

Once you have an idea on how to make candles at home, the next step is selling your product.

Here are some great websites that can help you sell your products online!

Etsy

Etsy  is a website where crafters and artists can create shops to sell their work.

You’ll be able to customize your shop to show off your products and attract a larger audience.  

Etsy makes it easy to set up a shop, manage orders, and provide potential buyers with an easy checkout process.

Click here to get started and learn how to make candles at home to sell on Etsy.

eBay

If you’re looking for a place to sell more unique items, consider eBay as a way to start selling online.  

You can sell just about anything on eBay, so it’s a great place to sell your candles if you think they are too unique or specialized for other websites.

Click here to learn how to sell on eBay.   

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace  is a great place to sell your candles because it’s easy to use and built right into the Facebook app.  

You can post photos of your products with a description, as well as set up price options for buyers.

Just write a quick description of what you’re selling and users on Facebook Marketplace will be able to find your post and contact you with any additional questions.

Click here for more information on how to make candles at home to sell on Facebook. 

Amazon Handmade

Amazon has a great platform that is perfect for selling your candles.

Just like Etsy, Amazon Handmade is dedicated specifically to handmade products.

You can set up your own shop on the site and start selling products right away.

Click here for more information on how to make candles at home to sell on Amazon Handmade. 

Bonanza

Bonanza is another great website that can help you sell your candles easily.

The platform is fairly similar to eBay in that you can sell just about anything on Bonanza.

Click here for more information on how to sell candles on Bonanza. 

Shopify

Shopify is an easy to use e-commerce website that makes it simple to manage your own shop.

You can quickly choose from 100’s of different store designs and start customizing your own right away.

Click here for more information on how to sell candles on Shopify. 

BigCartel

BigCartel is another website where artists and makers sell their products.

The platform is an affordable way to set up your own store and start selling online right away.

They offer several membership options:

• A free membership called “gold features” that allows you to list 5 items
• The “Platinum features” where you can list 50 products
• The”diamond features” that allows you to list up to 500 items.

Click here for more information on how to make candles at home to sell on BigCartel.

Tips on How to Make Candles at Home to Sell Online

Now that you know how to make candles and where to sell them, it’s time to understand some other important tips and tricks when selling online.

Here are a few things to consider:

Quality

Make sure you’re offering a quality product in your candle-making business.

This means paying attention to things like the wax and wicks you use to make your candles.

You don’t want to use cheap materials that may result in poor-quality products that don’t burn properly or even melt after a few minutes of being lit.

This will result in unhappy customers and they may leave negative reviews which can be difficult to recover from.

Customization

If possible, try making custom candles that reflect the interests of your target audience.

Bridal stores might offer custom wedding-themed candles as a way to draw in more customers looking for items like this.

A college bookstore could  offer candles with college mascots, colors and crests on them to attract more students.

This is a great way to stand out from competitors and give your customers something they can’t get anywhere else.

Pricing

Decide on a pricing strategy that makes sense for your candles.

It’s important that you don’t price yourself out of the market with too-high prices.

However, you also do not want to underprice and end up selling your products for next-to-nothing and barely making a profit.

That is why it’s important to look at your competitors’ prices so you know what they are charging and how much room you have to offer your own candles at a lower cost.

And don’t forget to factor in your labor, material expense and taxes when setting your prices.

Packaging and Shipping

Make sure you’re also considering the packaging and shipping of your product when making candles at home to sell online.

You’ll likely want to use custom packaging and consider how fast you can deliver your products when they are ordered.  

Also, think about shipping costs in your pricing for customers so you don’t lose money when shipping is included.

Though it may seem challenging at first, selling candles online is not only an easy way to earn or make extra money, but it’s a great way to expand your business and start earning passive income.  

As long as you’re willing and able to do some marketing and pay attention to detail in the product creation process then you should be well on your way to success!

How to Start a Candle Making Business Online

Now that you know how to make candles and where to sell them, it’s time to understand to start an online business.

Here are a few things to consider:

Find the right website to sell your handmade candles

There are several website where you can sell handmade candles for a profit.

Some of them offer monthly fees while some charge a percentage depending on the sale.

The most popular sites are Etsy, eBay or Amazon handmade.

Using these websites allows you to reach a bigger audience and expand your sales.

Brand your Business

Today, there are many people that sell homemade candles and other items.

That’s why it’s important to brand your business and create a unique identity for you and your products.

You’ll need a catchy logo, an attractive social media page and well written descriptions to draw in customers.

At the same time, you don’t want to be so different that it’s difficult for customers to relate with you.

You’ll need them to trust your brand and believe in your product.

Create a unique selling point

Every business needs a unique selling point or USP.

Why are you better than the others?  

Think about this question carefully because it’s the only way you’ll be able to stand out among your competition.

You should present what you’re offering in a better way than other similar options.

That can be anything from lower pricing, faster shipping or even personalized service.

This should shine through in your product descriptions and social media pages to make it clear why customers should choose you over others.

Keep the momentum going

Even when you have customers, you need to keep them interested.

That’s why it’s important to post new items regularly and create your own unique designs when making candles at home.

This will allow you to build a stronger customer base that is always interested in what you have to offer them.

Once you have these things in place, selling candles online is just like any other business.

It takes some time and effort but it’s well worth the end result especially if you’re able to make a solid profit from your efforts.

How Much Money Can you Make Selling Candles Online?

Many people underestimate the amount of money that can be made selling candles online.

However, if you take the time to research the right supplier and create custom designs then you could find yourself running a successful business in no time.   

The key is knowing where to start!  

Typically your profit margin should be around 25%- 50% and the average cost of an 8-ounce candle is around $3.

You can then sell them for around $10 to $15 dollars depending on your market and competition.

You should plan to spend around $100-$200 in materials for one complete candle-making kit.

So, if you invest $300 in supplies and sell the candles for about $15 dollars each then you could see a weekly profit of anywhere from $20 up to $450.

Of course, these are just estimates but it proves that making candles at home can be a great way to make a small business profitable.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to make candles at home to sell for a profit, it is time to get started.

Making candles can be a great way to earn extra money or even start a small business.

You’ll need the right supplies to get started, but once you get set up it’s easy and inexpensive to keep your new candle-making venture going! 

So, if you’re looking for a fun new hobby or interested in making some extra income then consider trying your hand at making candles!

It will take some work but you’ll love the results.

Now that you know the basic steps, what are you waiting for?   

Get started today!

And don’t forget to comment below and tell us how your candle-making business is doing.

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