cestlavielumiere

Thanks very much. My shop is not very big at all. I am starting out of my house for now.

Awesome! Good luck.

Does anyone know what type of fire extinguisher is required in a candle shop? Also, what regulation first aide kit? I am just trying to get this information together so that I can be prepared for the worst. I figured if you have it, "it can help ward off evil." Thanks, Tilly

Shell, I posted some information in the business section to a question asked of the thread getting legal. It has a lot of great information. I would be happy to send it to you via email also if you like. I have 2 other partners in my business, one is a stay at home mom. She brings her 3 year old with her. Lets just say, children have an uncanny knack to get into things when you are at a point that you can't stop what you are doing at that second. My 2 children go to school so that make it easy. When we hear quiet , we say oh no what did Anna do now. Myself and the other parter work shift work (we are both nurses). maybe in your new house you could have a room dedicated to you for your restful retreat to make candles. My husband has he garage and I have the front room for my shop. My husband is my biggest critic. Like Vicky said, most of us have spent a lot of money on research and development ( if you look at it in this light, you use it for your taxes). Good luck. Tilly

Shell, I agree with Valerie. Cajun Candle Factory has a great starter kit, plus, everyone is very friendly and very helpful. I had no idea what I was getting into either. It is very addicting and fun.I would be happy to help you if you need it. Take it slow and get your ducks in a row, especially when it comes to the legal aspects. I am just starting the business aspect after an extended time in testing. I am going to file my papers tomorrow for my LLC and what is required for the state of Louisiana. :DYou may want to visit some of the competition in your area to get an idea and feel for the market. This site has excellent information especially the basic instructions section. Good luck, Tilly:wink2:

Congrats on your store. It looks great. It is not work when you like what you do.

I am in the same situation as you. I have not been doing craft shows but I supply 3 shops. I found the pesto pot to be very helpful. You can get them at Walmart for $21.00. Each pot can hold up to 7 pounds of wax. Just look on the general information section on this site and it will give you step by step how to make one. I also found some cheep at Thrift stores. I don't have a lot of capital, most of it is out of pocket for me. Cajun Candle Factory's web site also has some great advise on equipment. I am in the process of filling out all of the "Legal Gumbo" stuff. Check to see in your area if there is a small business association (you can go to your Secretary of State Web site). Most of those are not for profit and give free counseling on how to start a business (Old retired business people and attorneys). My 2 partners and I went and it really opened our eyes to a few things that you just don't think about. Of course I am not an economics major so I needed a economic for dummies to understand some of the lingo. Good luck to you. What will be the name of your company? Tilly

There is no shame in what you have done. I confess I have done it myself. I went and bought a few of my competitor's candles. I had to keep telling myself "it's for research and development". When I got home though I repented and ate chocolate. Chocolate cures all.

I envie' you guys. It takes a really special person to do the job that you do. My husband started me on the candle making spree. Bless his heart, he thought that I needed a hobby, something to occupy my time other than work and teaching classes, something to help relieve the stress from the day in and day out of my job and help me spend more time at home with our 2 children and a challenge (since I am creatively and decoratively challenged.) I am a trauma and surgery nurse. Don't get me wrong, I really love what I do, but a few times in the past year I have come home and asked myself "Why do I continue trying to make a difference," and then I get a few glimpse of why, enough to keep me going. I guess it is sort of a day care metaphor, trying to help people who don't follow through to help themselves only to see them back again in a few weeks with the same problem but much worse. One day I had a rough day at work and wanted to quit nursing all together when I saw the candle making box that had globs of dust on it. No one was home so I opened it and as I was going through the steps, it was like a release. My first candle, well let me say, went to the genius book of the creatively challenge people. I have not stop making them since and have gotten much better with time. Recently, my partners and I have decided to open a small candle shop after a few years of testing. We are doing the legal work our self. It has given us a since of accomplishments doing as much as we can on our own. Our business consist of my self, another nurse and a stay at home mom. My friend and I are trying to help the stay at home mom develop a since of independence and to show her how to take time for herself, if only for an hour. She has 5 children and is home with them most of the time by herself. I don't think our spouses think we will go through with it but last night my spouse asked me how did the SBA (Small business association) meeting go? When I told him that we have started filling out our forms and started on our plans he got real quiet. He has seen us working off and on about "the candle business" and I guess it is starting to hit home to him. Sorry I got off on a tangent. Best of luck to you guys. I will keep you in my prayers. Please let me know how everything turns out.:smiley2:

Thank you for you advise and time. I have set up a business meeting with the group called SCORE, a small business association in my area comprised of business majors and local legal offices who have volunteered their time to help those who wish to start a small business. We are trying to do most of the legal work ourself. I have spent countless hours pouring over site on the internet about LLC. I have all of the proper forms to fill out. I also checked on the Louisiana Secretary of State web site and called them. They have sent me a customized check list to follow. I have a lot of competition in my area. Unfortunately for me my college degree was not in business. All of this has been Greek to me. I am applying for my LLC, occupational license, tax ID's, and I did my own name search. This originally started out as a hobby for me; my husband thought I needed a hobby besides teaching and my practice so he bought a candle making kit for me for Christmas a while back. I had put it aside for a while and when I took a month off I rediscovered it and have been steady at it ever since. I see how it is addicting. Now I have my practice schedule around my candle making. Sorry I have gotten on a tangent. Thanks for your help.

I am a novice wanting to be a proficient/expert in making candles (realizing I have a long way to go). I am in the process of setting up my candle company and I have a few questions I am hoping someone can answer: I have been testing my candles for almost 2 years and I have found a great "method to the candle madness product" that my partners and I agree with. I have been researching for how to make a business plan. The information I have come across has didly squat about candle plans. Does anyone have an outline that I can use as a guide (if they do not mind sharing)? I have a rough draft of a brochure developed. I have a question about this also: Does anyone put pictures of their candles or a picture of each scent candle they make? Also, I am having trouble finding a label company who has a decent price because my labels do not follow the standard square and round shape. can anyone recommend one? As of now I print all of my labels and cut them individually. We do get help from our children from time to time but we need a better method and starting out, we don't have the funds of a lottery winner. I have been looking for information about product liability insurance. I have located loads of definitions of product liability insurance but I have hit a brick wall so to speak about finding a quote. I have a call into my home owner's insurance company and I am trying to patiently wait for a return call. Can anyone suggest a company? I would appreciate any help.

I started searching at legalzoom. com and went to the state government web site, usually it is the secretary of state. Most state government web sites have a "first stop shop" site for people trying to start a small business and it has a check list for you to follow. If you call them, they will ask what is the nature of your business and provide you with a custom check list, a step by step, what to do. Also look in your area for small business ie chamber or commerce or small business associations. Be ready to be taken "from Egypt to Antarctica or a Wild Goose Chase" so to speak to acquire forms you need ( you may need to go to the local sheriff's office only to find out that you need to go to the clerk of courts office and they send you to the permit office who then tells you no you need to go to the court house and finally back to the sheriff's office where you get "oh yeah from someone in the office walking by who finally knows what to do. Sorry if I sound sarcastic but that was what happen to me on Tuesday.) A lot of those have free counseling for starting out. Your state should provide you with the pros & cons of each type of business; most start out as LLC (Limited Liability Company). In my state (LA) we have to have an Occupational license, an certificate of occupancy (if it is other than in your home), a certificate of good standing if you will be selling out of state (I would not purchase it unless you are asked by a particular company for it because they can range from $25 to $50 and most are only good for a couple of weeks, if your name is not in the company title you may have to issue a DBA (doing business as ) statement and some require you to post them in your local newspaper for a couple of weeks, you need to get your state tax ID and may have to apply for one in you county also. Some area may make you submit a monthly or quarterly tax report. You may want to check on domain name if you are setting up a web site. You can also search on your state government site to see if the name is already in use. These fees in most area must be renewed each year. We are in the process of setting up a small business for candles and are trying to do most of the legal work ourself and researching on line and in law libraries. Your state will have laws about small business. Also, if it is out of your home, (like mine will be) you might need to check into subdivision restrictions. I don't plan to have people coming to my home to look at and purchase candles (if I did I would have to have a handicap ramp, handicap parking increase my homeowners insurance and be subject to Board Of Health inspection and etc). There are different laws if you are selling on line for, shipping or local for tax purpose. Contact an accountant to help you in keeping records and designing forms. I did find a CD from office depot that was very very helpful on business forms and starting an LLC and making contracts and general agreement contract (all of which were design and approved by attorneys). You may want to start "getting in the habit" of keeping your receipts and organizing them in a file box ( ie entertainment, equipment, research and development, etc) and at the end of each month up them in a separate folder and label it. It will make it a heck of a lot easier when you go to do your taxes at the end of the year. If you are deciding in having a partnership you may want to decided full or limited depending on who you will be working with and funds you have available. I found out yesterday that there are small business grants (some you do not have to pay back) that you can apply for to help start a first time small business. I am learning something new everyday and feel a since of accomplishment of getting this on my own as much as I can and in the end before (like you check your research school papers) have a professional "proof read it). If you will be having employees one day you may want to look for the employee bill of rights and minimum wages and EOE signs (you can get them free on the internet). You also need to have MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets --which tells you about the dyes, wax and scents ) for all chemical you will be using; the person you purchase them from should issue them to you. I am in the medical field and I have set up my in the process of setting up my shop according to OSHA Fire and Safety Regulations (fire extinguisher, basic first aid kit, noting on the floor, boxes at least 16 inches from the ceiling, date and initials on all open bottles and containers, well ventilated area, monthly inspection of the equipment, set up a QI (quality indicator for daily systems check (fire ext in date, candy thermometer working, heat gun working, glue gun working, refrigerator temp check (I have a small fridge in my shop). Lets just say I am anal about a few things and leave it at that. For my personal protection, my partners and I are developing a policy and procedure for distributing products and testing candles (in case something happens and you are asked in court about how you test or distribute ((for those clients you will never make happy)) we can say we adhere to that. We have a lot, probably of unnecessary steps but it is the anal retentive in us and our nature to protect. Getting set up I highly recommend the Dollar Tree (you can get cheep plastic containers to store wax in and cheep cooling racks and stirring equipment, paper towel ((LOT AND LOTS)), pot holders etc. I also recommend Harbor Freight excellent tools for low prices (The Male WalMart once you go you will be hooked too). I am sorry that this information is all over the place like confetti but I hope it helps you. These are things that I wish I knew before Tuesday, maybe I would not have been so frustrated and needed a margarita (but hey a Margarita a days sometimes keeps the stress away. If this advise in unwanted I am sorry. Good luck in your business. Please let me know how it turned out.

What about Wick N Glow or Flick & Wick or Wickn' Glow. Amber and flames or Glamor and Flames. Good luck in your business. I am trying to get my paper work going and in my state, there are so many fees for LLC, DBA statement, Occupational License, Trademark and name reserve that all I want is just to make candles. I finally came up with my name while talking to my mom on the phone on my way home from a trip. If you try too hard, you will get frustrated, just let the name "find you."

I not only do my own testing but I have others test as well. I have developed a survey for them to fill out on the candle. It helps with the research and development portion of your company. The feed back is invaluable. you would be surprised what matters to one person and what matters to another my be something simple as the color of the candle, the jar, the burn time, the label. I guess what I am saying is not only test what is inside the container but make the most out of the testing test everything.

I am very sorry to hear that this has happened. I am just starting or should say, gathering the necessary forms to start a small business making candles from my home. Everyday I learn of some new form or fee. Also, I can see why people do not undertake starting a business because of all of the hoops the government makes you jump through. We are trying to do all of the legal work as much as we can on our own. I admire your courage and determination. Keep your chin up. You obviously must be selling well for that individual to feel threaten by you. I hope that everything works out for you. I wish the business world was not so "tic for tat" but unfortunately it is and the currency of the realm, the all mighty dollar and climb the ladder to success without care for who gets stepped on or bumped off in the way has been a big issue. Good luck, don't give up !

I am using 10 oz frosted jars. I have been using the " 1 oz. per pound" . I will starting tomorrow try 1.5 oz per pound of wax. Can anyone suggest companies that they have had success for buying high quality FO from? For example, I am having trouble finding the "Bird of Paradise" smell similar to Circle E candles. The FO I bought that was labeled "Bird of Paradise" smells like something from a funeral parlor which is horrible. The closest I have come (which is putting it mildly) is Coral Delight. What temperature do you add your FO? I am using a Pesto Pot using the "Warm " setting. I also sit there (like a paranoid nut) stirring for 2 minutes to get the FO to bind with the wax. I am using the Honeywell J223 which the supplier posts that there is no need to add any additives to it. Can anyone given me a guide as to what is the best container wax to use?

I am using the Honeywell J223 on pour wax. What wax do you suggest for container candles?

Hi I am starting a candle company and we will be working out of my home for the time being. Can someone tell me what type of insurance we would need? Also, are there any guidelines as far as Board of Health issues or OSHA issues that we need to be aware of? Also, does anyone have a sample partner contract that I can look at for advise to set up mine? Any help would be great.

Can anyone tell me how much FO to add for a wick-less container candle that will be used on a candle warmer? Also, is there any special warning labels?

If you can find some friends that can be total honest to help you test your candles would be great. It is hard to be judgmental or critique yourself, because naturally you want it to be a success. From my experience, from the business aspect, I created a survey about the candle (ie, Did you like the label, the color, how long did it burn, did it burn even, did you trim the wick before you lit the candle, did it smoke, did it throw a great scent, did you avoid putting the candles in a area with a lot of drafts, etc..) and put it towards research and development. Testing can get expensive over time. You will be surprised what you can find out. What you may consider insignificant may be a determining factor for another in purchasing your product. It is hard to test especially if you make many different scents in a day. I like to write notes also to help in creating a new design from what worked and what did not. I hate to use my good jars to test in but, unfortunately it is the only way. I also take pictures of the candles to put with my notes (sometimes not matter how hard you try, you will never be able to recreate the masterpiece but you can come close to it), helps to build a portfolio of your accomplishments. For votive molds-- I have used the 3oz Dixie cups, they work great (a trick I learned from a few of the "Well Known Candle Makers who shall remain nameless". It is hard to tell the difference from the other high price molds. Also, at Walmart, the "dip" metal cups work just as great also to make votives. Hope this helps.

The Justin Wilson way is a "dab of this, a pinch of that and a drop of this and a little extra to make it better." I do have a lot of competition. I have researched my competitors very carefully, even brought some of their products to test, looked at their web site, and of course the best way "word of the Cajun Mouth." My partners and I are trying to do most of the legal work our selves. One choice was to use frosted glass. I can use help.

I have recently emailed the companies that I purchase from for the MSDS information. This is all new and Greek to me in the candle world.:undecided

I am fortunate to live about 1 hour and 45 minutes away from Cajun Candle Factory. I find that the people in the shop are very helpful. When it comes to mixing colors my partners and I use the "Justin Wilson way" of mixing. Some of the creations are very interesting.

Thanks for your help. I didn't think that making candles involved this much intricate details as far as MSDS. What about OSHA?

Thanks for the information. I never received any MSDS sheets from the companies that I ordered my scents and dyes from. I will contact them on Monday. My friend told me that I needed to have one for liquid paper; when she said that, I began to wonder just how "nit picky" it should be. My shop is out of my house at the present time. I have my self and 2 other partners. I had a friend tell me that I needed to have a policy and procedure for how to melt, dispose and store wax; how to make the candles, a chain of command, and on distribution. I am familiar with the OSHA aspects from a medical stand point which some parallels candles : Nothing up against a wall. Nothing stored on the floors, nothing under the sink except for cleaning agents, stacking stuff must be at least 14" from the ceiling, all bottles that are opened must have a date, time and initial on them, no food or drinks in a work area (well we try when we think about that), first aide kit and a fire extinguisher must be available. We have developed all of our own forms as far as work logs, expense, product distribution, productivity, product inventory, etc.. design our own labels and logo and working on a brochure (doing our own marketing to help cut cost). I have found excellent places for equipment with extremely reasonable prices (Harbor Freight--- the "Male Wal-Mart" and the Dollar Tree). Does any one have any suggestions? Any words of advise when you started out? Did you draw up any special contracts other than a general partnership with specifics spelled out? ANY help is appreciated.:smiley2: