I am intrested in making and selling my own candles.How and where do I start?
463090
First try to attend a trade show/fair that is candles related. That way you get to see the big picture and whats out there. Your idea/design could already be in production but has not been distributed within YOUR reach.\nTrade shows/fair are a great source for info and inspiration.\n\nGood Luck!
1074658
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Publish Your Own Magazine, Guide Book, or Weekly Newspaper: How to Start Manage, and Profit from a Homebased Publishing Company by Thomas A. Williams\n* Starting & Running a Successful Newsletter or Magazine (4th Edition) by Cheryl Woodard\n* How to Start a Magazine by James Kobak\n* Producing Successful Magazines, Newsletters and E-Zines: Great Ideas, Practical Help, and Straightforward Guidance…by Carol Harris\n \nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
728479
Buy a large glass vase from Wal-mart (I picked one up this weekend for $1.97), a strand of 20 count lights ($.97 at Wal-Mart), and a bag of potpourrie ($1.00- I did a christmas scent, but this "craft" can be used year round, so maybe a scent/color combo that works well in thier homes?).\n\nPut the end few lights in the vase, add some potpourrie, add more lights, add more potpourrie, etc, etc, but leave the end of the cord out. I had some ribbon in my fabric bin that I used to tie a bow around the neck, and secure the cord down on the glass. When it's plugged in, as long as you have a vase with a large mouth and only slightly narrower neck (avoid the type that cinch in tight), enough air circulates that these light up air freshners are perfectly safe to use. The lights warm the potpourrie to give off scent, while looking pretty. They look nice in baskets, too.
864059
start small and smart. eBay will help. start on eBay. it gives u inventory, pricing and all general experience u need. it might even give u enough to start Ur business when Ur ready finally if u don't want Ur business after that just sell all Ur inventory for  as much as u can then Ur done
724791
Best Be Real and Start a Home Based Business Based on YOUR OWN Know-How\n\nFind the type of business on the link below that best describes what it is that YOU do (or want to do). Then see how to truly use the Net to make your specific business (or business idea) thrive.  http://www.wotsnext.com
507689
Take samples and talk to managers/owners but first you need to figure out how much you paid for them and how much u want to make.  Give the watches to manager for the amount you need to make a profit on and he will raise that price to make an amount HE needs to make.  So let's say you paid $5.00 each and u want to make $10.00 on each.  You tell manager you want to sell them for no less than $15.00 ea.  Whatever he sells them for you don't worry about.  He will make a profit on any price OVER $15. A good place to sell these things is Hair Salons, Gift Shops, smaller stores and specialty shops.  Also try Ebay.
1039785
Be creative! start a business for yourself. crafting is usually the best. make photo albums, handbags, ya know, stuff like that. then sell to friends and family as an initial client base. try craft shows and flea markets or even online!\n\nIf you want something really interesting, very profitable, and alot of fun........Soapmaking! My mother and I started our own soap company with very little investment, now we've expanded into spa quality products as well as all natural cosmetics. Easy to do, and there's always someone to sell to! (how about starter makeup for teens that won't put the parents in a tizzy? lip gloss is so easy to make and the cost is insanely cheap!........plus, you get to make stuff you'd like and keep any "extras" ;) )
137278
It's hard to answer your question in specifics since we don't know what type of business you're involved in, so I thought I would just list some links that'll help you get started on your way. There's links related to starting, financing & advertising.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
1028158
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\nCatering Specific:\n* How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business, 5th by Denise Vivaldo\n* How to Run a Catering Business from Home by Christopher Egerton-Thomas\n* Start and Run a Catering Business by George Erdosh\n\nBakery Specific:\n* How to Open a Financially Successful Bakery by Sharon Fullen, Douglas R. Brown\n* The Baker's Trade: A Recipe for Creating the Successful Small Bakery by Zachary Y. Schat\n* Baking for Profit: Starting a Small Bakery by George Bathie\n\nIndiana Specific:\n* How to Start a Business in Indiana by Entrepreneur Press\n* How To Incorporate and Start a Business in Indiana by J. W. Dicks\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
103
I would recommend starting with something you enjoy, find a wholesale supplier or make the goods/services yourself, and setup a store with eBay.  This is really quick and easy (AKA: cheap) to start.  If you don't know exactly what you want to do it is a good way to see how it will work without a huge investment.  If you are successful in that marketplace you can take it to the next level and expand into a more traditional business model with less risk!  \n\nTry playing around with writing a business plan and see what your risk and financial tolerance is.  The link below is a good tool for planning a new eBay business, I would recommend you check this out first!
593273
A friend of mine has a framing business. She has fabulous books of art works, prints and posters she orders for her clients. \n\nBeautifully crafted, sophisticated pottery is another option, as well as the (frameable) work of local artists. Instead of putting your own money into their works, contact local talented potters and artists and take their work on consignment. Use contracts and make it a business agreement. This gives them an outlet for their work and gives you merchandise without an outlay of your own cash. It also gives you an artistic 'gallery' atmosphere. \n\nDo you have enough space to rent to artists to give group art classes? These people would be future customers of yours and allow you to make the space pay.\n\nIf you use any of these ideas and it works out let me know. I would be interested to hear. Good luck with your venture!
570757
I think ebay is a pretty easy way to start.  After you get the hang of selling through eBay, you can sell your items through Prostores.
121657
I knew a woman put a Red Light in her porch light, not sure what she did, but, darn she made alot of money! Another good thing to try is selling on Ebay or something similar. You can find things in yard sales and auctions and make a profit. The main thing here is being organized to handle the volume of Buyers. Browse Ebay and find what people are interested in and pay better money for, Barbie Dolls NOT a good seller (Bisque Dolls are), Sporting Goods are. Old things sell good too. You will be surprised at the amount of money you will make if you have plenty of things to sell that WILL sell. Start small to learn the Dance and Build up as you can handle more products. True, you may have to beat the Bushes to find your Products, but, it can work if your commited, organized AND know what to sell. Not a get rich thing, but, you can make a decent living. Beware of any TAX obligations your State may require.
41737
First, get a job in a bakery and learn all you can about they're run. Learn all the asspects of what needs to happen. Then go to the SBA http://www.sba.gov/ and get an advisor. If you know the business, they'll likely help you out. If you just bake cakes in your own kitchen, it could be a harder sell.
1145313
I made my first this way. After high school I started a window cleaning business, I did that for 6 Month's or so..then I started a commercial cleaning business with the money I made there..I did that for about 3 years and worked my butt off and sold it for 90k in 1985.\nI then got offered a job in advertising..I did that for 2 years..learned everything I could and started my own agency..I had about 18 people working for me..then like before I sold it BIG$$$. I now manage money..MINE in the market. I wake up everyday..sit in front of the computer (10:30 am)..then I go out and sit at my pool. I own 3 apartment buildings, 6 houses I rent out..but the vast majority is in investments. Keeping liquid is important! Work your tail off and work smart!\n\nGood Luck!
554867
Some people have become small business owners without even a high school diploma, but the more education you have the better off you are. You need either good accounting skills or you need to be able to afford a good Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to take care of tax information, records and problems and you need you need money to operate until you start making a profit.  You should know that it usually takes up to 5 years to make a new business actually turn a profit...not that you won't be making money during that time, but it may not be profit...that is above and beyond the costs it takes to run the business and if necessary to pay employees.  The Small Business Administration helps new businesses in several ways.  The biggest way they help is in finding supplies at wholesale that you may need to either run the business or to sell in the business.  Anything from shelves to candles. They have every wholesaler and supplier list in the United States and probably some that are not in the US.  Those things are free to research for any business owner, but you have to pay for copies unless you write the information down for yourself.  They also have many videos including how to make candles, soaps, etc. And many other helpful videos to help you run a business.
14862
Ebay actually runs online workshops to help people figure out whether it will work for them, and there's one tomorrow!  (There are also books on the subject, if that's more your style.)  Any responses you get from individuals will of course be colored by their own experiences, so try to find someone who seems to share an outlook and goals similar to yours.  Best of luck!\n\nHow to Set Up Your eBay Business From Start to Finish\nThis workshop will be held on Friday, December 30th, from 11:00 PT to 12:00 PT. Please join Lisa Suttora, Founder and CEO of What Do I Sell.com, as she reviews a step-by-step process explaining licensing, how to establish a business name, and other relevant information on how to establish your eBay business.\n\nWorkshops are hosted in discussion threads on the Workshops Board. To get to the Workshops Board:\n\n    * Click on Community at the top of almost any eBay page\n    * Click on "Discussion Boards" in the "Connect" Section\n    * Click on "Workshops" underneath the category-specific boards on the right-hand side of the page\n    * This will bring you to the threaded Workshops Board. \n\nTo view archived workshops or to learn more about future workshop events, please check our Workshop Calendar.\n\nWant timely reminders about workshops? Sign up for the Workshops Information Group! By joining this group, you will receive an email notification reminding you about upcoming eBay Workshops. Each notification will include the time and date, a brief description of the event, and a link to the discussion thread where the actual workshop will be held.\n\nTo sign up for the Workshops Information Group, please click here.\n\nWe look forward to seeing you there!