Home Soap Business -- Getting Started

Getting started in a home soap business can be a little daunting.  No need to feel overwhelmed, you have picked a great home business!  Soap making is fun and if treated as a business, can be very profitable, too.

You can get a step by step guide that will have you up and running in no time.  Here are the basics.

--Get your business license.  Just like any business, you want your home soap business to be legal.


Photo courtesy SXC.hu/Samuel Rosa

--Decide on your niche.

--Price your bars accordingly.  You will need to understand what your true costs are.  Factor in materials, ingredients, postage etc.

--Determine how you will market your soap.  Locally, nationally, internationally... it is all possible with the internet.

--Keep proper records.  Know what you are spending and keep track of it.  You will need it at the end of the year for tax purposes.

A soap home business is so much fun.  It is very rewarding to have your own profitable home soap business and to enjoy it too!  Not many people get to love what they do.  This gives you that opportunity.

Selling Homemade Soap -- Finding Your Niche Market

Selling homemade soap is an easy way to have a low cost home business.  Hand made soap is finding it's way.  There are many who have been purchasing it for a long time and once you have a handmade bar, it's very difficult to go back to commercial soap.  This is why once you get a customer, you will likely be able to keep them.

If you are interested in a soap selling business, you may want to find a niche.  While you may think that handmade soap is a niche, there are many who sell it.  You will want to be able to stand out from the crowd and be found easily.

Photo courtesy: SXC.hu/M.Zeynep Dagdevirenoglu Kubaseck

Some niches to consider:

--Natural Soap
Natural soap is made from all natural ingredients.  This is becoming a hot product line with many people now very conscious of what they are putting into and onto their body.

--Organic Soap
As with the natural product line, the organics are serving a very select but faithful niche.  You will need to be sure to use only certified organic materials when making your soap or you won't be able to claim organic.

--Pet Soap
Bear with me.  The pet business is big business.  People love their pets and want the best for them.  Many will purchase products that are good for their pets or are gentle on their skin.  This can be a very profitable niche.

--Baby Soap
New parents are willing to pay for the best for their little one.  Give it to them.

--Aromatherapy Soaps
These are fun to work with... mixing and combining to produce just the right scent.

--Gardener Soaps
Gardeners hands really take a beating.  They need special attention for those rough and dirty hands.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea.  The options are endless and fun to think about.  Although a niche isn't as big as everyone who wants handmade soap, you may find that having a soap business that is selling homemade soap to a specialty niche is much easier and more profitable.

Making Soap at Home --Your New Home Business

Making soap at home is a really fun activity.  If you have been doing it for a while, you may be ready to take the plunge and start a home soap making business.


When you begin a home business, it can be a lot.  You will initially focusing on the business side of things quite a bit.  You want to be sure to get your home business off to a great start.  Pace yourself, set goals and dive on in.


Be sure to have your licensing, materials and a good idea where you want your business to go.  Everything you do will be market research.  Whether it is trying out a new fragrance or recipe on friends or setting up a website and evaluating your marketing.


Take your time, allow yourself a learning curve and don't overextend yourself.  This business is great because it allows you to grow at your own pace.  Sell to family and friends, attend a local craft show, set up a website.  All of these are easy ways to start off a new soap selling business.  Grow slowly and you will find that you have a thriving soap making business in no time.


If you are already making soap at home, consider a soap business.  If you are new to soap making, take a look around.  Either way, you can see if this home business if right for you.




Photo courtesy: SXC.hu/M.Zeynep Dagdevirenoglu Kubaseck

Selling Handmade Soap -- Your New Soap Making Business

Selling handmade soap is an easy progression.  You may have been making soap for years and not only have lots at home, but have been giving it out to friends and family.  They love it and have often commented "You should sell this stuff!"

Or conversely, you have been laid off or need to stick close to home (stay at home mom) and would like to begin to earn some money.

Either way, you have decided that selling handmade soap might just be the ticket.

Making and selling soap has been a great home based business for a long time.  With the potential to now reach customers from all over the world with a website, the possibilities are endless.

A soap business doesn't just happen, though.  It is real work, albeit really fun work.  You will need to make sure that it is run like a business to see any profits.

• Have a business and marketing plan.
• Use great recipes.
• Keep up to date with customers.
• Try new recipes and get feedback on them.
• Use ingredients that are sought after, often the high end ingredients.
• Be sure to understand your true costs so you can price your products to make a profit.

If all of this seems a little overwhelming, don't worry.  There are resources that will allow you to do all of this and more and allow you to really concentrate on the fun part... making soap.  Selling handmade soap is a great home business, lots of fun and financially rewarding, as well!

Photo courtesy: SXC.hu/Marc Garrido i Puig