Do you love candles? If so, consider the possibility of candle making and selling candles.  Candles are consumable products that find their way into approximately 80% of all U.S. households, either as gifts or intentional purchases. This means the potential for profit is huge.

Many successful candle makers are self-taught. There are countless books, online tutorials and videos that teach all aspects of a home candle business. There are also hundreds of candle making related websites and forums created expressly to help novice candle makers get started and advanced candle makers excel at what they do.

It is recommended that you start out slow, creating only two or three different candles at first. This gives you the opportunity to perfect the craft and helps to ensure that you will be offering the highest quality product possible.

Before you actually start selling the candles, you need to burn several of them yourself to make sure they burn properly. You also need to establish burn time. It is also a good idea to consider some type of liability insurance, in the unlikely event of a burn or house fire.

All candles must be labeled to include your contact information.  This makes it very easy for customers to contact you with reorders or questions.

It is not necessary to work full time, when it comes to making a profit with candles. Even as a hobbyist, it is possible to earn extra income.

Many candle makers purchase their supplies online, because of the vast selection that is available to them. More and more these individuals are leaning toward a more natural soy-based candle than traditional paraffin wax. These candles burn better and are actually better for people and the environment, as well.

There are several ways you can market candles. You can sell them at flea markets, advertise on sites such as Craigslist.org, sell them at home parties or through fundraisers and online via your own website or sites such as Etsy.com. (Etsy is a popular buying and selling marketplace for a countless variety of homemade items.)

You can also offer to make them for realtors and/or bed and breakfast proprietors, who often give their clients a small “thank you” gift in appreciation of their business.