Make money selling candles from home

Is it possible to make money selling candles from home?

You can make a full-time income, if not more, from making and selling candles from home. Candle making can start as a side hobby which can grow into your main form of income. You can start selling locally or branch out to online marketplaces like eBay or Amazon.

Imagine, being able to quit your job because you are selling candles. You don’t even have to quit your job if you simply want to enjoy some extra cash.

Candle making is the perfect opportunity for someone with a crafty soul. 

Luckily for you, I’m going to show you that it is possible to make money selling candles from home. I will even show you some of the best places to sell your candles. Most importantly, I will show you how to find which candles will sell the best.

This article may contain affiliate links which pays a commission and supports this blog. Thank you for your support!

Can you make money making and selling candles?

It is possible to make money making and selling candles from home. Profit depends on number of sales, candle price, cost of ingredients, and customer acquisition costs. Typical profit margins for a homemade candle range between 50 to 70%.

To make money selling candles, you need to focus on providing quality candles while reducing your expenses. The faster you can make quality candles, the better. Then, it is only a matter of finding a way to attract your customers.

The biggest setback with homemade candles is the labor-intensive process to make each candle. Most homemade candle businesses will involve you performing most of the work, so one of your biggest costs is time. 

Setting your candle price is a tricky process. Price your candles too high and nobody will buy. However, price your candles too low and you’ll miss out on money. 

A simple price increase of $1 per candle will give you an extra $100 for every 100 candles sold. For a candle business, that’s pretty good!

Choosing the right ingredients will be your biggest expense. Therefore, you should take great care to reduce this expense as much as possible. However, do not sacrifice the quality of your candles for the sake of profits. 

You will also need to consider the cost of acquiring your customers. How do you plan on selling your candles to people? For example, your Farmer’s Market might charge you $25 for a booth which should be accounted for in your candle price.

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How much can you make from selling candles?

New candle makers can expect to earn between $500 and $1,000 per month and work up to a full-time income. Homemade candle makers can expect to make between 50% to 70% profit margins on their candles. Hiring employees will reduce your profit margin so you’ll be earning between 25% and 50%. 

Yes, it is possible to grow this candle business to a full-time income. However, it’s going to take some work on your part to reach a full-time income.

Eventually, you’re going to run into choke points in your business. These ‘choke points’ will limit you from taking your business to the next level.

For example, your basic candle making equipment will only allow you to make so many candles. Eventually, you might need to upgrade your equipment to make more candles, faster.

Working through each of these choke points will allow you to grow. As a product based business, your income has unlimited earning potential.

So how can you earn $1,000 per month selling candles?

Standley Handcrafted put together a video explaining how he makes $1,000 per month making and selling candles. 

NOTE: The math in the video is incorrect – which he acknowledges in the YouTube comments. See chart below for corrected math.

	8 oz candle	16 oz candle
Cost to make candle	$2.60	$5.20
Sale Price	$10	$18
Number of sales	60	40
Gross Income	$600	$720
Total Cost	$156	$208
Profit (Rough estimate)	$444	$512
Total Profit	$956

As you can see, selling 100 candles would net you $956. However, you may have selling fees such as a Farmers Market booth or online marketplace fees.

How much does it cost to start a candle business?

It costs approximately $1,000 to start a candle business from home for a small-scale operation. For a larger scale operation with more inventory, brick-and-mortar space, and perhaps even employees, plan to spend upwards of $10,000 to start your candle business.

The best part about starting an at-home candle business is that costs are relatively low compared to other businesses, and most of the necessary labor can be DIY at first. 

Another good thing about candle businesses is that you can expand them as you make more money to grow your offerings, customers, storefront, and income.

What do I need to start a candle business?

Startup costs for an online candle business include:

1. LLC registration
2. Business license
3. Candle-making equipment such as jars, wax, wicks, molds, fragrances, scales, thermometers, pouring pots, and jewelry or crystals for jewelry candles or birthstone candles
4. Labels, and a printer to make those labels if you plan to do it yourself
5. Website or online store set up fees if you plan to use a third-party site to market and sell your candles
6. Marketing costs
7. Display and signage costs, if you’re planning to open a brick-and-mortar storefront

Candle business cost breakdown

Here’s what you can plan to spend when starting a candle business.

Candle business LLC registration

Depending on which state you register, it costs between $40 to $550 to register for an LLC for your candle business.

To start a candle business, you’ll need to register as a business entity so you’re legally allowed to operate. Most candle business owners will weigh their options between operating as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or LLC.

LLCs minimize the risk involved for the candle company owner by organizing the business to prevent anyone from coming after the owner’s personal assets if someone were to sue. Personal assets can include your home, car, property, etc., which can leave the company owner high and dry in the event of a lawsuit.

It is easier and less expensive to file for a sole proprietorship, averaging just $26 to file. However, the candle company owner puts themselves and their assets at risk this way, so it may be worth filing as an LLC and paying the additional fees upfront than risk high costs down the road.

Business license

Business licenses cost anywhere from $50 to $400 depending on your location and business type. Many cities, counties, and states charge additional processing fees on top of the business license cost.

A business license gives you the legal right to operate your candle company in the city, county, or state in which you live.

Candle-making equipment

Candle-making equipment and tools will cost approximately $90 on the low end and $320 on the high end for beginners. If you add additional tools that make the candle-making process easier and more consistent, startup costs will range anywhere from $50 to $375 more.

To make candles, you’ll typically need tools and supplies such as:

• Melting pitcher
• Pouring pot
• Thermometer
• Wick bars or holders
• Scale
• Wicks
• Wax bars
• Fragrance oils
• Jewelry or crystals if you plan to offer jewelry candles or birthstone candles for sale. 

The costs for these items vary, but an average can be found below.

• Melting pitcher: $10 to $30
• Pouring Pot: $15 to $25
• Thermometer: $5 to $60
• Wick bars or holders: .25 to .50 cents each
• Kitchen scale: $15 to $30
• Wicks: $13 to $19 for 6 to 50 yards
• Wax flakes or bars: $13 to $50
• Fragrance oils: $4 to $13
• Jewelry or crystals: $10 to $100
• Jars: $8 to $40

Most of the items mentioned above are necessary for starting a candle business. There are additional tools to add to your arsenal once your candle company grows, including:

• Heat gun for evening out surface abnormalities and preheating jars: $30 to $45
• Additional disposable metal wick bars for easily centering wicks on the candle: .25 to .50 cents each
• Presto Pot, Hot Plate, or Crock Pot for keeping wax warm while you work: $25 – $330
• Additional scents, colors, and the quality of the supplies and tools you choose will significantly impact the cost of starting a candle business.

For example, consumer preference is shifting toward natural products without synthetic ingredients. Therefore, you may need to invest in soy-based wax, unbleached wicks, and essential oil-based fragrance, which all cost more than the traditional candle-making supplies. You can, however, charge more for these environmentally friendly candles.

Tips for starting a candle business with no money

To start a candle business with no money, find the necessary equipment at second-hand stores or websites, visit a makerspace with the necessary equipment, borrow equipment from another crafter, crowdfund, or look for small-business grants or loans to cover the startup costs for your candle company.

1. Find equipment second hand

Find candle-making equipment for next to nothing on websites such as eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook marketplace.

Many people try their hand at making candles, and for every candle-making hobbyist, another person is trying to make money from that hobby.

This means that people invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in candle-making equipment that takes up space in their garages or closets when they decide they no longer want to make candles.

Think about it: how many times have you started a hobby only to realize you don’t enjoy it or can’t make money from it?

There are a ton of people just like you who want to offload their candle-making supplies for a small price compared to what they paid.

For example, eBay sells entire candle-making kits for as little as $20.

2. Visit a makerspace

Makerspaces are popping up everywhere these days as a place for people to fulfill their creative needs without an investment in the equipment and space required to perform their hobby.

Makerspaces offer the tools and supplies for various crafts, which often include candles.

The best part is that some makerspaces offer free access to these tools for a certain number of hours per week. Some charge a small fee (around $5 per day), but others allow you to use the makerspace just by showing your library card.

Makerspaces can do this because nonprofits, governments, and universities often fund them.

Even better? Many makerspaces offer free classes so you can learn how to make candles.

3. Borrow equipment

If you know anyone who also makes candles, ask to borrow their equipment for free. You can exchange this favor with other free favors such as making them a candle, baking some brownies, watching their dog, or mowing their lawn.

If you don’t know anyone who has candle-making equipment, consider joining crafting Facebook groups or other online communities in your area to make some virtual friends. Express your desire to start a candle company, and ask if anyone is willing to lend you the required tools and supplies to help you get on your feet.

Plenty of people have candle supplies at home that they’re not using 24 hours a day, and you may be surprised at the generosity of these online groups!

4. Crowdfund

Do you have a generous group of family and friends and a solid online network? If so, crowdfunding is a great option to start a candle company with no upfront money.

Crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Patreon allow creators to raise money through an online platform to start their company and grow it.

Friends, family, and complete strangers will pitch in small (or large) amounts of money to help you make your business dreams come true. Sometimes, these donations are offered in exchange for your eventual products, equity, or other perks.

To be successful in crowdfunding, you need to tell your audience a compelling story that makes them want to give, and your friends and family need to trust that you will use the cash appropriately.

You’ll also want to have an active online following so you can share your story and crowdfunding campaign with as many people as possible.

5. Find a small-business grant or loan

Many small-business grants and loans are available for people who want to start or grow their candle company but have little cash flow to do so.

Grants for candle companies

Companies like Nav offer small business grants each year, and grants are also available specifically for women-owned businesses.

Grants are like loans that you don’t have to pay back. To apply, you’ll usually need to show a business plan and explain why you’re deserving. Competition can be stiff, but it is possible to fund your candle company this way.

Small business loans for candle companies

Small business loans are also available for people who want to start or grow their candle company but don’t have the capital.

Consider the following options:

• SBA microloans for startups with no customers or sales yet
• Equipment financing specifically for equipment costs, where equipment will be used as collateral if the loan is not paid back.
• Business credit cards with 0% interest to charge candle company startup costs.
• Business line of credit from a bank in which you have a good standing relationship, so you have the capital to draw from as you require it.

Personal loans

As a last resort, consider a personal loan from a friend or family member who trusts you and your plan for doing a candle-making business.

A friend or family member may loan you the money you need if you can show that you have a solid business plan, a step-by-step process to build your business and sell your products, and a market for your candles.

They’ll also want to know when they can expect the money to be repaid and may even request that they own a portion of the company to profit from any earnings you make. If this happens, make sure the agreement is in writing, and perhaps even filed as a partnership as part of your LLC.

Legal requirements for selling homemade candles

No federal, state, or local licenses are explicitly required to make or sell candles, but regulations surrounding the business organization and business licenses vary by state.

In addition, your state or local jurisdiction may require additional compliance and adherence to certain regulations to ensure you’re legally running your candle business. 

Is insurance needed for selling homemade candles?

It is not legally required to have insurance to sell homemade candles in the United States. However, it is highly recommended that candle makers obtain general liability insurance.

General liability insurance will cover you if an employee is injured while working for you, your candle injures a customer, or a customer sues you for damage to their property.

In addition, general liability insurance pays for medical payments, legal defense, and personal injury if it comes to that.

Candles can be dangerous when left unattended, and even while making candles, you’re putting yourself at risk for burns from hot wax and heat guns or injuries from broken or exploded glass. 

Your entire business could be ruined from one simple mistake if you’re not adequately insured.

CLP compliant labels

CLP stands for classification, labeling, and packaging, a series of regulations that standardize what candle companies are required to put on their packaging for the safety of consumers.

These regulations state that a properly composed label must be affixed to the bottom or side of a candle jar to sell it legally.

If you don’t follow the CLP regulations, you could be subject to hefty fines, penalties, and, yes – even jail time.

What legally needs to be on a candle label?

According to CLP regulations, you must include the following items on your candle label:

• Product name, scent, and type – including whether this item is a wax melt or a candle
• Ingredients and known allergens
• A signal word that tells customers how dangerous the candle is, i.e. “Warning” or “Danger,” followed by hazard pictograms and statements
• The name, phone number, and address of your candle company

FDA approval

The United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, does not require FDA approval for candles.

Although the FDA does regulate fragrances, its regulations only apply to products regulated as cosmetics, meaning they’re applied to a person’s body.

Can you be sued for making candles?

You can be sued for making candles if your candle results in bodily injury or property damage.

This is why it’s important to hold general liability insurance or even product liability insurance in case the complainant charges that the candle was made incorrectly, used hazardous ingredients, or even burned in a way that caused a fire.

What if you sell candles that look like food?

It is risky to sell candles that look like food, even if it is legal to do so in your country.

For example, some candle makers like to make candles that look like cupcakes and parfaits, then scent them to smell as delicious as they look. But imitating food in this way confuses guests, children, and other people who enter your home or office, which could result in injury.

In most European countries, it is illegal to sell any product that imitates food.

Protect yourself and your company investment by avoiding selling candles that look like food to prevent being sued for injury.

How to make candles at home to sell

Making candles at home can be simple, enjoyable, and profitable. Follow these steps to understand how to use your candle-making supplies to make candles at home to sell.

1. Choosing jars or containers

Choosing jars or containers for your candle involves picking a non-flammable material and deciding on candle size and volume.

Candle jars and containers should be non-porous, something that won’t catch fire, a vessel without any holes or places where leaks could occur, and material that won’t crack, break, or worse – explode – upon high heat. 

Experts recommend using glass as a first choice, but metal is also acceptable if it has a diameter of at least 2.5 inches, so the side does not get too hot to the touch.

Wood and plastic are dangerous and should not be used.

2. Choose the wax

There are many wax types to choose from to serve as the base of your candle.

Soy wax

Soy wax is a popular choice because it burns longer, creates less soot from the burn, and is generally considered safer than alternatives since soy is derived from natural sources.

However, some candle makers say that soy wax does not carry as strong a scent, and soy is more expensive to use.

Beeswax

Beeswax candles have a brighter and longer burn with a more warm-toned flame.

Beeswax is also denser, so it is susceptible to fewer drips.

Scented wax

Some wax comes pre-scented, meaning you won’t have to add additional fragrance before pouring the candle.

Scented wax saves time and money and is generally made of paraffin because it can hold a higher amount of fragrance, making the candle more potent.

Unique ideas for wax

There are many other materials for wax candles, which allows you to make unique combinations to suit your needs for color, scent, and decoration.

For example, coconut wax is a good choice for jewelry candles or hidden treasure candles since it is plant-based and easier to clean from jewelry. Paraffin or soy-paraffin blends can be tough to remove from any hidden treasures you put inside the candle.

3. Measure the wax

Measure out enough wax to fill the container but not take it to the brim of your glass or metal jar.

For a 12-ounce container, you’ll want to measure approximately 9 ounces of wax on a kitchen scale, leaving some room for scented oils or other additions.

If you plan to add decorative elements to the jar, reduce the ounces even further.

4. Melt the wax

Melt the wax over a double-boiler, in Crock Pot, or in a Presto Pot, according to the wax instructions.

Paraffin generally needs to be heated to at least 185 degrees before adding any fragrance, and soy wax can be slightly higher.

Never put candle wax directly over an open flame.

5. Add fragrance

Once the wax is to temperature according to package instructions, add your desired fragrance and gently stir the wax until the scent is completely dissolved.

6. Coloring your wax

If you choose to add color to your candle and want the color to appear evenly distributed (as opposed to swirled or even layered), add it in now.

Some candle dye can be dropped in with a dropper that’s attached to the dye container lid, while other candle dye comes in the form of wax dye flakes.

Stir in the color until it is evenly combined.

7. Which wicks to use

The larger the candle, the larger the wick should be.

A larger wick more quickly melts the wax and dispenses scent more evenly.

To figure out which wicks to use, consider: 

1. The diameter of the candle container
2. The fragrance load and color (the more fragrance you have, the thicker you should make the wick)
3. Wax type (denser wax needs a thicker wick, so the burn doesn’t create a tunnel in the middle of the candle but rather a pool from which to dispense fragrance)

Different types of wicks include:

• Eco wicks, made from organic braided cotton and paper
• LX wicks, with a flat braid that reduces soot and is completely biodegradable
• Hemp wicks, which are non-toxic and come with wax tabs that make them easy to attach to the bottom of the candle container
• Wood wicks, which are sustainably sourced, all-natural, and even create some natural crackling noises

8. Insert wick

Attach the wick to the bottom of your container by using wick tabs, hot wax, or hot glue.

Make sure the wick is plenty long to stretch vertically from the bottom of the container past the top. You’ll trim the wick to an appropriate length in a later step.

9. Use wax bar to secure the wick

Use a wax bar to center the wick and hold it in place before you pour in the hot wax.

The wick must be perfectly centered to ensure an even candle burn.

Align the wick to be straight and centered, and hook it to the center of the wax bar.

10. Allow wax to cool

Remove your desired amount of melted wax from the heat source and add it to a pouring container.

Allow it to cool to the correct temperature (instructions can be found on the wax package) before attempting to pour the wax into the candle container.

11. Pour wax into container

Pour wax down the center of the candle container to allow it to distribute evenly and hold the wick steady, avoiding the wax bar so you can use it again.

Attempt to keep your pouring smooth and steady so the top of the candle has a nice, even surface.

12. Cool candle

Allow the candle to cool for a minimum of three to four hours, depending on the wax type. Sometimes, this process takes as long as 24 hours to complete.

13. Cut wick

Trim the wick to be approximately a quarter of an inch above the candle wax surface.

Keeping the wick short is important to minimize fire hazards.

14. Labeling your candle

Use the CPL regulations to label to candle with the appropriate, required information to prevent customer injury.

15. Storing you candle

Candles should be stored in a cool, dry place away from children or pets.

Do not store candles in direct sunlight, as it could melt the wax and cause a misshapen result or fade the candle’s color.

Where can I sell homemade candles?

Farmer’s markets are one of the best places to sell homemade crafts when you’re just getting started. However, you can reach a larger customer base by selling online. Online marketplaces such as Etsy, Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, Shopify, and Facebook Marketplace are good places to sell candles. Poshmark does not allow users to sell candles on its platform.

You need to find a marketing plan that works for you. In some cases, you may not even want to go online. You may want to hit up boutiques and local stores to see if they can sell candles for you.

The internet is a powerful place for selling products like candles. However, the internet can add a lot of hassles like shipping your products and out-of-state sales tax. Some online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon will collect and remit sales tax for you.

1. Etsy

Etsy is a good place for candle sellers because Etsy focuses on handmade and craftable items for sale. When people shop on Etsy, they know they are buying from individuals like yourself and supporting small-business.

Etsy currently has a $0.20 listing fee for each item. There is also a 5% transaction fee and a 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee for each transaction. You will need to take into account these fees as well as shipping fees in your item pricing.

For example, let’s say you sell a $10 candle. Etsy will charge you $1.15, and there may be additional shipping fees that you or the buyer need to pay. 

Can you make money selling candles on Etsy?

Some candle makers report making anywhere from $6.50 profit per candle to $20 profit per candle on Etsy, with Etsy beginners reporting around $1,000 per month in earnings for part-time work.

Etsy is a great platform to make money selling candles because the fees are low, there’s plenty of technical support, you don’t need to pay for hosting and maintaining your own website, and it is a platform that customers trust and know well.

Etsy makes it easy for candle makers to get set up and earn money quickly. You won’t need a ton of inventory to get started, and you can grow your business slowly by reinvesting the money you earn on Etsy back into your company.

For the best chance of high earning potential, ensure you have high-quality photos, a unique niche or selling point, a quick response to customers, and appropriate tags to describe your product, so you’re findable in Etsy search.

2. Amazon

Amazon is another good place to sell your product, but the fees can add up very quickly. However, Amazon makes selling online very easy because they have a large customer base. In addition, services like Fulfillment by Amazon lets you take advantage of Amazon warehouses.

For example, Amazon has a free plan with a $0.99 charge for each item sold. Alternatively, you can sign up for the paid Pro seller plan, which is $40 per month.

Now, do you want to ship the items yourself or let Amazon ship them for you? If you use Amazon FBA, you will have additional fees for each item. Fulfillment by Amazon is a highly beneficial service, but it will affect your profit margins.

I like the Fulfilment by Amazon because then I don’t have to worry about shipping out the items myself. I send the items to Amazon once, and then Amazon will send them out when a sale is made.

How to sell candles on Amazon

To sell candles on Amazon, you can set up an account through Amazon Handmade, which is similar to Etsy but on a larger scale because Amazon’s customer base is larger.

To do this, create an Amazon seller account before applying to become an Amazon Artisan. Then, list your products, and start using Amazon Handmade’s seller programs and promotions to market your products on the platform.

This process is completely free until you sell something. Every sale has a 15% fee tacked on.

3. Ebay

eBay is another Online Marketplace that is very popular for online sellers. Unlike Fulfillment by Amazon, you will be responsible for shipping out all product sales. However, some people enjoy selling on eBay more than they enjoy selling on Amazon.

Either way, eBay can be a very powerful Marketplace for your business.

4. Craigslist

Craigslist is a good way to get free advertising if you want to stay local. Like selling unused items, you can create an advertisement anytime you want. Selling products on Craigslist is completely free, so why not use it as part of your strategy?

5. Shopify

You can create an online e-commerce business by using Shopify. I would recommend using Shopify if you want to create your brand and rapidly scale a company. However, for most individual sellers, it will be a hassle.

As I previously mentioned, most of you would be more interested in selling at local farmer’s markets. Simply selling at farmer’s markets is probably the easiest way to get customers.

The next difficulty level is selling on a platform like eBay or Amazon. eBay and Amazon already have plenty of customers, but you must find a way to get customers to find your listing.

Shopify is the most difficult because you create an online store that nobody knows about. Once your candle business is live, you still need to find a way to drive traffic to your website.

That being said, if you want to grow into a large company and make this business more than just a hobby, Shopify may be the way to go. Remember that you will need to find a way to make candles, find customers, ship orders, and do everything!

6. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is another good option to generate some free sales. You can take pictures of your candles and sell them in local buy and sell Facebook groups. 

7. Farmers Market

I’ve already talked about farmer’s markets a lot for selling your candles. Most farmer’s markets are affordable for people like yourself to get a booth at. You’ll make many good connections to your community and maybe even generate some repeat business.

8. Local Stores

Local business owners love to support each other. You can find local stores all over town and see if they’d be willing to buy your candles at wholesale prices. The local store would carry your line of candles and resell them for a higher price.

Do candles sell well?

Candles sell very well in the United States, as proven by the $3.54 billion-dollar candle market in 2019 alone. According to Verified Market Research, the candle market is projected to grow to nearly $7 billion by 2027.

Candles sell incredibly well during the holiday season, which makes up approximately 35% of all candle sales each year. But year-round, most consumers agree that candles are a perfect gift for just about anyone.

In addition, candles are profitable because the barrier to entry is low for starting a candle company and making candles. Starting this kind of business is relatively inexpensive, and just about anyone with the proper tools and supplies can make candles.

Candles are also a product that runs out, meaning people buy multiple candles in one year. This makes the customer potential endless.

What are the top-selling candle scents?

The top 5 selling candle scents last year, according to the Harlem Candle Company, are:

1. Lavender
2. Palo Santo
3. Coffee
4. Eucalyptus
5. Fir

What size candles sell best?

According to Candles.org, consumers prefer container and jar candles, and 8-ounce to 10-ounce candles sell best.

How to sell candles from home

To sell candles from home, you’ll need an online shop, a third-party selling platform, or to host small events, garage sales, and parties from your home.

An online shop involves building and maintaining a website that supports e-commerce, which can be a big ask for novice candle business owners. However, going this route allows candle companies to avoid the fees associated with third-party selling platforms.

A third-party selling platform, such as eBay or Etsy, allows candle companies to operate without a business website or website maintenance and know-how. Etsy has an intuitive interface that allows candle makers to open a shop and have it up and running in minutes.

You can also sell candles directly from your home through pop-up sales at your house, in your front yard, backyard, or inside if you’re comfortable with that. Try hosting candle pop-up parties for friends around holiday seasons, or offer to host a candle party in their home.

How can you find the best selling candles?

To find the best selling candles, you must evaluate interest as well as competition for similar products. Free online tools such as Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner can help you estimate the demand for a certain product. Competition is more relevant when selling online, but can be estimated by the number of listings for a search term.

Google trends evaluates product interest

The first step to finding a profitable candle idea is to evaluate the candles popularity. Google Trends is good for evaluating how popular candles are in relationship to one another.

For example, maybe you’re not sure if you should be selling peppermint, vanilla bean, or lavender candles. You can type these terms into Google Trends and compare the popularity between all options.

As it turns out, the most popular candle is a lavender candle. Peppermint candles come in second and lastly vanilla bean is our third option.

If you’re selling online, you can also get an idea of what states are more interested in certain types of candles. For example, you can search for mosquito repellent candles and find out California has the highest interest.

Therefore, if you are going to pay for advertising then your best bet would be to sell in California.

Google Keyword Planner evaluates demand

Additionally, Google Keyword Planner can give you a search volume estimate. In other words, a rough idea of how many people are searching for a specific term on Google every month. 

For example, there are 1,000 to 10,000 Google searches for a mosquito candle every month. Therefore, you can reason there is demand for this type of candle. Avoid making candles that have low search volume, because there is minimal demand.

Search results indicate product competition

If selling online, how many results appear for your search term? The more results that appear for a search term indicates how competitive the product is.

Let’s take a look at an example. Let’s assume that you have two different candles that you are wanting to sell. You’ve already looked at Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner. Both products have an estimated search volume between 1,000 and 10,000.

Now let’s assume that you are selling these products on Etsy. The first candle you searched for produces 5,000 other results. In other words, there are 5,000 other listings that are competing for purchase. The second candle only has 2,500 results.

Assuming a search volume of 5,000, the first candle has 5,000 searches for 5,000 listings. The second candle has 5,000 searches for 2,500 listings. Therefore, the second candle is less competitive and more likely to deliver sales.

Is creating a candle business worth it?

Starting a candle business is worth it if you want to be your own boss, make your own hours, have the follow-through to start and manage your own business, and enjoy making and selling candles.

Candles can be extremely profitable, and the startup costs are low. These factors make creating a candle business worth it and generally low risk.

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Summary: Make money selling candles from home

As you can see, there’s a lot you need to know about making money selling candles from home. You can make a very good amount of money selling candles. Most individuals will start out making between $500 and $1,000 per month.

The best place to sell candles is locally at farmer’s markets or at locally-owned businesses. However, you can really scale your business by finding out how to sell online. 

You can use free tools like Google Trends or Google Keyword Planner to help identify candles to make. You can use search results to help estimate the  level of competition you will face on online marketplaces.