- 1). Determine where you will sell your candle supplies. Opening an online e-commerce store is one option, but you can also sell them via an auction website such as eBay, an artisan website such as Etsy (the least expensive option), at a local flea market, or in your own brick-and-mortar retail store.
- 2). Decide what type of candle supplies you will sell. Not all candle supplies are created equally. For example, you may decide to specialize in discount supplies without regard to quality, sell fragrance oils and waxes that can be used in bath and body items in addition to candles, or include incense-making supplies in your line of offerings.
- 3). Name your candle supply company. Example names include "All Soy Candle Supplies" and "Essential Candle Supplies". Conduct an Internet search to see whether your name is already in use--you can conduct a more thorough search through your county clerk when you actually register the name.
- 4). Obtain an assumed name certificate from your county clerk--this is also commonly referred to as a DBA. The fee for this is usually less than $20, but varies by city or county.
- 5). Get a resale permit or tax identification number, if your state collects sales taxes. Contact your local Small Business Administration (SBA) or small business development center to see whether this is necessary for you.
- 6). Choose a space to store your inventory--since you will likely be carrying fragrance oils, you will need a space that is free of dirt, dust, and odors and that remains at room temperature most of the time. If you do not have a suitable space in your home, you can rent a temperature-controlled storage room from a company such as Public Storage or U-Haul.
- 7). Purchase wholesale candle supplies, such as paraffin blend, bee and/or soy wax, fragrance and essential oils, incense sticks and cones, votive containers, wax melters, candle jars, coloring, DPG oil (if you will sell incense making supplies), warning labels, and thermometers from a company such as Candles and Supplies or CandleChem.
- 8). Establish your selling terms. For example, you can decide that all orders must meet a minimum dollar amount, that you will not ship outside of the U.S. or you can require that all purchasers present a valid resale or tax identification certificate--this is not recommended, as it will exclude home candle makers from becoming your customers.
- 9). Promote your candle supply company by joining an industry network such as the National Candle Association, listing your business in directories such as Craft Site Directory, SuppliersbyState.com or MangoButter.com, buying an ad on a popular candle or general crafting blog or website, such as Crafster, and offering coupon codes on candle crafting forums.
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