When it comes to products that delight the senses, soap is near the top of the list. The look, color and, most of all, the scent of soap all make for an enticing product that people will want to buy for themselves and for affordable yet special gifts.

You can start a business making and selling soap and make money. Here is some information to help you weigh your decision.

PROS:

  • Home-made soaps offer you a chance to be creative and have fun. Use your imagination to come up with different scents.
  • Homemade quality soap is an affordable luxury and makes great gifts, and therefore is much in demand.

CONS:

  • You must have recipes that will result in soaps people will want to buy.
  • Just getting people to buy that initial bar of soap is not enough to make a profitable business. You must have an attractive product and unique strategies to persuade customers to come back again and again.
  • You need to purchase soap-making tools and ingredients so you need a substantial amount of money to get started.
  • Look into the rules and regulations governing the manufacture and sale of soap. Start with the FDA and the soap guild.

How to get started:
NOTE: Before you start your business, you should read the page on this website entitled “things to think about before you get started.” After you have taken the preliminary steps for starting any business, you can take the specific steps outlined below.

  • Go to fairs, local shops and markets to see what other soap manufacturers are doing.
  • Try out a few recipes and give soap samples to family and friends and ask for feedback. Would they buy your soap? What do they like or hate about it? Adjust your products as needed.
  • Figure out where you can buy your tools (e.g. molds) and ingredients cheaply and safely. Google and check blogs on soap making and selling for this information.
  • Create a brochure showing all of your products and pricing and place them on community bulletin boards.
  • Create a website and spread the word through social media.

How much to charge:
At the very least, you want to cover your expenses. If you have created a business plan for your endeavor (which hopefully you have), you know how much your expenses will be for the amount of business you expect to do.

Consider giving discounts to incentivize customers into buying more. If your soap is unique and has qualities customers want (such as the right moisturizing quality or the right fragrance), you can justify a higher price.

Taking it to the next level:
Once you have gained an appreciative customer base and feel that you are ready to expand, here are some steps you can take:

  • Look into renting booths at street fairs, festivals and other public events.
  • Explore adding eCommerce to your website. It is not especially difficult to do, though you will need a parent or adult to set it up for you.