Guides
How to start a candle business: steps, costs and packaging
To start a candle business, pick one candle you can make the same way every time, test it, work out your costs, register the business, and package it so it survives shipping. Do them in that order, because the box and the label are what customers see before they smell anything.
Making a good candle is the easy part. Registration, labels, broken jars and the first box order are where new candle businesses stall.
By Talha LoneUpdated
The steps, in order
- Pick one candle. One size, one vessel, a few scents. Ten products make testing ten times longer.
- Test batches. Burn each test candle from start to finish before you sell it. Note how it burns, how it smells lit and unlit, and how the jar looks at the end.
- Work out costs. Wax, wicks, jars, scent, labels, boxes and fees.
- Register the business. Pick a name, a structure and a state filing.
- Check licenses and zoning. They vary by state, county and city.
- Label and package. Warnings on the candle, a box that stops it moving.
- Sell small first. A market stall or a small online run teaches you more than a big order.
What it costs to start
The Small Business Administration splits startup costs into one-time costs, such as equipment, permits and licenses, and monthly costs. It advises counting at least one year of monthly expenses. For a candle business that means your supply order, your packaging order and the fees to register, plus a little for what you didn't expect.
Don't forget the box. Packaging is a cost you pay on every sale, so price it before you set your candle's price.
Register the business and check licenses
If you trade under a name other than your own, the SBA says most states make you register a DBA, and that requirements vary by state, county and city. See its guide to registering your business. Licenses are a separate step: the SBA's licenses and permits page notes that local governments set their own rules and that zoning can apply even to a business run from home.
Candles carry burn warnings. Ask your insurer, and any shop you sell through, which warning label they expect before you print anything.
Packaging a candle
A candle in a glass jar is heavy and breaks at the base. The box has to stop it moving, not just look good. Say you sell a candle in a tall tuck-end carton that opens at the top, 3 inches square and 5 inches tall. The opening is 3 x 3, so the box is 3 x 3 x 5. Order it as 5 x 3 x 3 and you get a carton that opens on its long side, which won't stand up on a shelf with the tuck on top. How to measure a box has the order.
- For the shelf or a gift: a custom candle box with a paperboard insert that holds the jar.
- For the mail: a corrugated mailer box, with B-flute and an insert for glass.
- For a natural look: kraft board. One or two strong ink colors work best, as custom kraft boxes explains.
When not to order custom boxes yet
- You haven't settled the jar. A new jar changes the box. Lock the candle first.
- You need fewer than 50. Custom boxes start at 50 units per design. A stock box with a printed sticker will cost you less.
- You launch next week. Production is 10–12 days from proof approval, plus shipping. Buy stock now, switch to custom on the next run.
Test with a small run before you commit. 50 units is enough to put a real box in front of real customers. Send the jar's height and width, or a photo of it on a ruler, and we'll draw the box for free.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a candle business from home?
Pick one candle, test batches, register the business and check local zoning. The SBA notes that zoning rules can still apply to home-based businesses, so check with your city or county before you sell.
Do I need a license to sell candles?
It depends on your state, county and city. The SBA says local governments set registration, licensing and permit rules, so check your local government's website and your Secretary of State.
How much does it cost to start a candle business?
It varies with scale. The SBA advises counting one-time costs, such as equipment and permits, plus at least one year of monthly expenses. Add packaging, since you pay it on every sale.
What box should I use for a candle in a glass jar?
For shipping, a corrugated mailer with an insert, usually B-flute for glass. For retail, a paperboard carton with an insert that holds the jar still.
When should I order custom candle boxes?
Once the jar and the candle are final and you can commit to 50 units per design. Before that, use stock boxes with a printed sticker.