Starting a soap making business is a great way to explore a creative hobby while earning a little extra income. Once you’ve learned how to make soap, gathered your unique soap making supplies, and planned out all the details of your business, you can get started selling your homemade soap. Here are six steps to get you on your way to selling soap from your own business:
1. Learn about the Soap Making Process
Before you officially begin your soap business journey, learn about the different methods of making soap. Homemade soap can be made using the melt-and-pour process, cold process, or hot process. Each of these three methods has varying pros and cons related to convenience, time, and equipment. The method you choose will depend on the style of soap you want for your business and your personal preference.
Melt and Pour Process
This process is one of the easier methods for making soap. It involves buying pre-made blocks of unscented soap, melting the blocks, and adding your personalized scents and colors. The melted soap mixture is then poured into a mold to harden before use. This process is simple and can be useful for beginners in the soap-making businesses.
Cold Process
The cold process is slightly more complicated and requires more time. It involves heating your oils, adding a mixture of lye and water, and blending it all until it thickens. You can add your own coloring and fragrance before pouring the soap mixture into a mold to harden and cure. This process is good for homemade soap making businesses because it allows for more creativity and customization.
Hot Process
The hot process for making soap is a variation of the cold process, but it involves adding heat before placing the mixture in the mold. This is done to speed up the saponification process. The hot process method can be useful for soap businesses that need to increase their inventory quickly. It also provides a more rustic look to the soap, which can be preferred depending on the brand image you want your soap business to portray.
2. Gather Your Soap Making Supplies
After deciding on the soap making process you want to try first, you can begin gathering your soap making supplies. These supplies include your soap base, molds, fragrance oils, dyes, spatulas, soap cutters, and other equipment, depending on your chosen soap process. You can also add raw or specialty ingredients to your soap, such as seeds, herbs, and dried flower petals. Depending on how big you plan to grow your soap making business, it may be beneficial to find a store or supplier offering wholesale products and ingredients.
3. Create Your Unique Soap Formula
This step in creating your soap making business is where you can let your creativity shine. Creating a soap formula that is unique to your brand involves experimenting with different colors, fragrances, essential oils, and other additives. This is done until you find a combination you like. There are many possibilities for mixing and combining different scents and colors to match the theme of your soap business. You can also explore different molds, sizes, and shapes for your soap.
4. Plan Your Soap Business and Brand
Give your soap business a unique name and logo. Decide how and where you want to sell your soap. This could be online through a website or marketplace, or in person at a local shop or farmer’s market. Choose the packaging for your soap and determine a design including your logo. This planning process can help you tie your soap brand and business image together.
5. Make Your Soap Business Legal
When building a homemade soap business, take the necessary steps to make it legal. The exact process can vary by location, but it often involves setting up your business through the state, filling out forms for the city, and meeting all tax requirements. A professional can help make sure you don’t skip any steps as you build your soap making business.
6. Start Taking Orders and Selling Your Soap
After you’ve completed all of the above steps, you are ready to start filling orders. You can start by keeping your soap inventory small until you’re ready to expand and grow. As your business becomes more established, you can decide whether you want to increase your level of production and create new products.
Start Your Soap Making Business Today
Creating a soap making business doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does involve multiple steps. Let your creativity lead you through the entire soap making process, from experimenting with scents to choosing the shape of your mold. Purchase soap making supplies and start your homemade soap making business today.
