Your business, your way – sell with Printify
Learning how to start a candle business is an excellent way to monetize your creativity and tap into the $588.6 million scented candle market.
With a projected growth rate of 4.1% from 2023 to 2030, selling candles is a profitable small business opportunity.
Keep reading to learn how to start a candle-making business at home or with Print on Demand – no upfront costs necessary.
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Step 1: Decide on your business model
Sell custom candles without handling production
Breaking into the candle industry has never been easier, thanks to the flexibility of print-on-demand (POD) services.
Instead of making candles yourself, partner with a print-on-demand service like Printify to handle the production for you.
Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Little to no startup costs. Forget investing in candle-making supplies or equipment. With POD, you only pay for what you sell.
- Grow your business quickly. POD lets you scale seamlessly without worrying about inventory or storage space.
- Convenience. Focus on marketing, customer service, and refining your brand identity while your POD partner handles production and shipping.
Print on Demand suits both new entrepreneurs and established brands looking to expand into the lucrative candle market.
Enjoy the benefits without the complexities of traditional candle making and start selling candles in four steps with Printify.
1. Sign up and explore
Create a free account and browse our scented candle Catalog, featuring a variety of eco-friendly soy candles.
2. Apply your design
Use our beginner-friendly Product Creator to upload your logo or create custom labels. Personalize your candles to perfection, choose the scents, and check out the auto-generated product mockups.
3. Let Printify do the rest
Sit back and profit! Our global Print Providers take care of production, packaging, and shipping, so you can focus on growing your business – saving on startup costs while refining your designs.
Learn more about Print on Demand and starting a print-on-demand business.
Making candles yourself
Learning the candle-making process from scratch is a fulfilling way to build your home-based candle company.
While it requires more effort and skill than a print-on-demand model, you get full control over the production process to sell unique scented candles for a niche target market.
Essential waxes and materials
Small-scale candle makers will need to determine the right wax for their needs:
- Soy wax. Perfect for eco-conscious buyers, soy candles burn longer and work well as mid-market candles.
- Paraffin wax. Commonly used by brands like Yankee Candle, it’s affordable and produces strong scents but burns faster.
- Other waxes. Coconut, beeswax, or hybrids are premium options for small businesses aiming to create luxury candles.
Tools for candle making
To learn how to start a candle company at home, you’ll need:
- A double boiler to safely melt the candle wax.
- Thermometers for proper blending of fragrance oils.
- Custom labels for packaging to tell your brand story.
- Custom containers, wicks, and various fragrance oil blends.
Make candles in 3 steps
- Melt the wax. Use a double boiler or microwave, heating in small intervals. For soy wax, heat to around 180°F/80°C but avoid exceeding 200°F/90°C to prevent yellowing. Paraffin wax melts best at 150°F/65°C to 190°F/85°C.
- Add scents. Cool the wax to 150°F/65°C before adding fragrance or essential oils. Stir thoroughly for at least one minute.
- Pour and set. Pour the wax into containers at 150-170°F/65-75°C for soy or around 170°F/75°C for paraffin. Align your wicks using centering devices and let the candles set naturally for 24-48 hours for paraffin or up to a week for soy.
Costs and scalability
A home-based candle business start-up cost typically ranges from $100 to $200.
As your small candle business grows, consider expanding your distribution to local markets, farmers’ markets, or retail stores. Unlike with Print on Demand, scaling your candle-making business may eventually require you to hire employees or explore other fulfillment options.
Enable order routing with Printify to avoid out-of-stock issues, or upgrade to Printify Choice to let us automatically connect you to the closest Print Provider for the best prices.
If you’re handling your own fulfillment, most website builders offer resources to manually create shipping profiles by location and carrier.
Start selling candles today!
Step 2: Find your niche
Regardless of your production method, choosing a niche helps attract customers who connect with your brand.
Whether you offer eco-friendly, decorative, or uniquely scented candles, focus on what defines your brand and its audience.
Are you passionate about different fragrance oil blends or specific styles like luxury candles?
Discover the best niches for print-on-demand.
Analyze competitors and research the market
Before launching your own candle business, conduct thorough market and competitor research.
Analyze their candle wax quality, customer reviews, and marketing strategies.
Explore various channels like local markets, farmers markets, or even pop-up shops to see how other candle business owners engage with their target audience.
Identify any gaps your product line could fill. Use insights from the National Candle Association to pinpoint emerging trends in the candle market.
Do keyword research
To make your online store rank higher, research what potential customers search for online and offer candles that match their searches. Find keywords with high search volume but low competition.
These top industry tools give insights into which keywords people are looking for:
- Google Trends: Type keywords related to your product and niche, pick a country or state, and the tool will return results and related queries for free.
- Semrush: Research up to ten keywords per day with the free plan. Paid plans with advanced features start from $139.95 monthly.
- Ahrefs: Use SEO tools like the Keyword Generator and Content Explorer. Paid plans begin at $129 monthly.
- Ubersuggest: Conduct free keyword research, domain analysis, and track top SEO pages. Paid plans start at $29 monthly or $290 for a one-time purchase.
Step 3: Choose a business name
Choose a name for your candle business that reflects your brand personality. Keep it short and easy to spell and remember, and check if a matching domain is available with tools like GoDaddy.
Use AI-based name generators such as Namelix to brainstorm different candle business ideas, and don’t forget to trademark your business name.
Step 4: Write a business plan
A business plan describes your candle company’s goals, budget, purpose, strategic objectives, business structure, and main competitors. As a business owner, this lets you prepare for any challenges ahead.
Include a clear target market, sales strategy, and marketing plan.
Open a business bank account to keep your small business funding and personal finances separate – this helps with getting a business license and a standard business loan.
Don’t forget to list all expenses to price your candles competitively while maintaining a solid profit margin.
This is not financial advice. Please consult a finance professional for advice tailored to your business needs.
Download a free business plan template from the US Small Business Administration website.
Start selling today!
Step 5: Set up your store and list your products online
Create your candle shop’s eCommerce site by choosing from the leading eCommerce sales channels.
- Marketplaces like Etsy or eBay are easy to set up and have massive traffic, but come with strict internal compliance policies. They often involve additional expenses like transaction or listing fees.
- eCommerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce have built-in functionalities that let you sell online fast. However, they can be costlier and more time and skill-intensive than marketplaces.
- Open-source platforms like WooCommerce for WordPress and PrestaShop are free to use. They require technical skills and additional web hosting, but you’ll have full control without being tied to a platform membership.
- All-in-one solutions like Wix or Squarespace are user-friendly and provide solid eCommerce and blogging capabilities. They provide stunning built-in website templates to get your candle store up and running quickly.
Step 6: Monitor your performance
Monitor your store’s performance and make improvements as necessary. Check which candles sell most, who buys them, and which keywords bring in the most traffic.
Google Analytics is the standard tool for acquiring this sort of data. It has a learning curve but provides great insights into traffic, demographics, candle sales, and conversion sources.
Other free or freemium eCommerce analytic tools to monitor website data include Matomo, Hotjar, and Smartlook.
Candle business FAQ
The average cost to start a candle business varies, depending on your approach. For a small, homemade candle line, you can begin with around $100-$200 for essential supplies and equipment.
New business owners opting for Print on Demand can start selling custom candles without upfront costs since there’s no need to buy inventory or handle shipping.
Starting a candle business makes for a profitable side hustle, especially with the rising popularity of candles as both decor and self-care items.
The global luxury candle market was valued at $497.7 million in 2022, and is expected to grow annually at 10.1% through 2030. This mass market growth is driven by the demand for luxury candles, particularly among younger consumers.
Yes, candles can be a lucrative venture, particularly for those who establish a strong brand presence. Candle entrepreneurs who carve out a unique niche tend to see more success, whether with homemade candles or print-on-demand candles.
Selling through various outlets, such as your own business website, a local farmers market, retail stores, a local craft store, or gift shops, expands your reach and can increase sales.
Closing thoughts
There are many ways to make and sell candles from home with affordable supplies and a passion for candle making. But if you want to enter the candle industry quickly and start selling without upfront costs or inventory risks, choose Print on Demand.
Follow our candle business tips and create your own candle line with Printify. Launch your own website or sell on marketplaces to build a thriving candle brand and grow long-term profits.
