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Soap making can be a wonderful hobby but if you've ever thought of turning your hobby into a business you know how overwhelming the idea can be. Here are some questions to help you think through your decision:
*How much of a business do you want to be Do you really want to this to be a full-time job Or would you rather just make a couple hundred bars a year for your church fundraiser Your answer to this question will determine your next steps.
*Do you really want to be in business Every day Seven days a week Any entrepreneur will tell you that when you own a business it's on your mind every single day.
*Are your sales expectations realistic As with any other small business, it's going to take 3-5 years for you to start seeing a profit. How will you live in the mean time Do you have another source of income
*Do you fully understand the chemistry of soap making Too many new soap makers focus on the creative aspect of the craft and never really learn the chemistry behind it. Getting a good handle on the basic chemistry frees you to experiment without fear of wasting huge amounts of raw materials. I suggest Dr. Robert McDaniel's book "Essentially Soap".
*What's your niche It's important you distinguish yourself from the hundreds of other soap makers and avoid falling into the trap of trying to please everyone. Find a niche and work on becoming an expert in it. Are your soaps particularly artistic Are they especially "natural"
*Do you really believe that successful soap makers hang out in online chat rooms and message boards Don't fool yourself into thinking that you're going to learn from the "experts". The people who are really making a living making soap don't have time to post 20 messages a day-they're on the phone with clients or just taking a much-needed coffee break.
*Are you willing to put in several hours a week for recordkeeping Incorporated businesses require submitting monthly or quarterly reports even during periods of no sales. Even a sole proprietorship has at least some paperwork that must be dealt with regularly.
*Are you going to operate out of your home Before you get your heart set on working out of your home make sure you're allowed to. Not every community will allow you to operate a business from your residence.
*What are you going to do with your children What about your pets I have never made soap in my home and I can't possibly recommend that you do, either. Sodium hydroxide is capable of producing horrible chemical burns, especially if ingested.
*Can you deal with criticism Honest criticism from a potential customer is one thing but a catty remark from a jealous competitor is something else
If you can answer these questions with a firm "Yes! I want to be in business" you're to be congratulated. You've done more homework than 90 percent of your competition.
Lisa Barger is a traditionally trained naturopath who puts her knowledge of herbal products to work in one of the oldest and most respected personal care companies on the internet. Learn more about Lisa at her website http://www.LisaBarger.com
County proposal puts Roeder Home crafts sale's future in doubt Bellingham Herald, WA - Balancing the Whatcom County government's budget may end up costing the local arts community one of its signature events for the past 36 years. ... |
For goodness’ sake MidWeek, IL - Other fun activities for the children include games and crafts inside the middle school, including take home crafts like make-it-yourself gift bags and ... |
Be wary of scams to work at home South Bend Tribune (subscription), IN - You pay for a useless guide to work-at-home jobs — a mixture of computer-related work and the same old envelope-stuffing and home crafts scams. ... |
 Sandy Post | Making memories with scrapbooks Sandy Post, OR - ... Sandland advises on creating unique greeting cards and gift card holders as well as altering photo frames and making memory boards and other home crafts ... |
A Stitch in Time / Project brings new life to Cabbage Patch Kids StandardNet, Utah - DeeAnn Dickson, who oversees the homecrafts department at DI, said she found out about Hansen's work in 2001 and began giving the dolls to her so Hansen ... |
Staying the distance ARNnet, Australia - ... videos, microwaves and toasters to retailers that have since disappeared from the landscape including Waltons, Homecrafts and Norman Ross. ... |
• Oregon City briefs Hillsboro Argus - OregonLive.com, OR - Each Friday, the center will host "Take Home Fridays," during which visitors can "play like the pioneers," creating and taking home crafts such as candles, ... |
Official canvass set for Tuesday Bucyrus Telegraph Forum, United States - This session will include books and a take-home crafts. Registration is not needed. For information, call Andee Wildenthaler at 419-468-3203. ... |
Holiday Calendar Muncie Star Press, IN - Make and take home crafts. Information: 649-8128. Christmas Treats, 10 am-3 pm, Cardinal Greenway Depot, 700 E. Wysor St., Muncie. ... |
VALLEY VIEWS: Let's talk turkey over coffee at Mickey D's The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - AMISH HOME CRAFTS: Visit an actual Amish farm and shop for fun and practical gifts made by local artisans 9 am 4 pm Nov. 28 and 29. ... |
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