Business Plan

[cestlavielumiere]

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.

[mountainmadness]

Visit the SBA (Small Business Admin) in your area. They will have someone available to answer your questions and they will often have classes on how to write a business plan.

The best advise that I can give you is to take it slow and make sure that everything is in place and done properly before you start selling.

HTH.

Jennifer

[cestlavielumiere]

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.