kinipela

Those are just too cute. They would certainly grab my attention in a store/craft fair and I'd buy them. Great job!

Thanks Chantel, that does help. I'll do that.

My husband is most concerned with the idea that if we call our agent and ask, they'll put a red flag on our account. We talked about it last night, and he doesn't think it's worth the risk. I don't know. I'm going to make a few things, see how I like it. IMO, if I'm trying things out, how is that any different from buying a candle from a craft fair, not knowing how it's going to be? For right now, as long as I'm not actually selling anything, or giving items to people to test, and it's just for ME, it should be ok.... right?

They also have a 'secret' list of 7 breeds of dogs that, if you own & they know about, will cancel your policy.

I can think of 4 off the top of my head. We have one of those breeds, and our insurance agent told us, "It's a mix breed, right?" Hubby said, "No... she's purebred." Agent said, "No... she's a mix breed, right?". So yes, she's a "mix".

I did call another agent last night, just to get a reaction, without alarming ours about something I might do, and they said it's up to the underwriters.

So what if you get a candle kit from Michaels, do people call their agent and let them know? I doubt it...

just so your warned... you do need to let you agent know... but don't be surprised if they non renew your policy when the time comes.. not all companies do this... but some do....

Wonderful. Our vehicle insurance is with them too. If that happens, hubby will certainly put a stop to the candle business.

I don't belong to anything just yet SMG does cover candles according to their site, as long as you sell soaps as well. I read through the info on their site, but it just gave me a headache...

If my hubby gets home early enough tonight, I'll have him call our insurance guy and see what he has to say. And make sure he emphasizes that no candle making has occured yet, in case he freaks about it...

It's just so confusing, I don't want to get in trouble if something does happen and risk losing the house/horses/etc. But I don't want to spend a fortune either just getting started at something that might not even work out.

I checked out their website, and it won't work for me

"Candle Sales, excluding sales of candles made by individuals"

So if I'm reading your reply correctly, I'd need the SMG insurance, and an additional rider from my HOI company to be completely covered?

I'm brand new to all of this, but want to make sure I'm fully covered before I even hand out a tester melt/tart to my own mother to test.

I've done searches on this forum, but either I missed it, or no one's asked it (which I find hard to believe)... I plan on doing the insurance through the Soap Makers Guild (yes, I will be doing soaps too), but how does that work with your homeowner's insurance? Do I have to let them know that I'm doing this, even with the other insurance? What's the possibility they'll drop me? We live on acreage and they do cover our horses.... so I'm hoping they'll be ok with this?

Hubby thinks I'll be fine doing it without the expense of insurance, hassle of taxes/dba/tax id etc, but after reading some of the posts here... I'd rather have the insurance and if I don't do well with the candles/soaps, then I just don't continue any of it.