How to Start a Soap-Making Home Business

Those with a propensity for craftiness and the home arts may find soap making fun and rewarding. Soap-making home business requires little up-front capital (often less than 250 Dollars). They may even discover that a soap-making home business is an excellent way to have fun, be creative, and make money at the same time.

How to Start a Soap-Making Home Business

How to Start a Soap-Making Home Business

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How to Start a Soap-Making Home Business

How to Start a Soap-Making Home Business

To begin to soap-making home business, you must have some specific equipMent. You may already have some of these things on hand. Most of the items are not difficult to find, and can be located in a grocery or hardware store. You'll need:

* A large-capacity, stainless steel stock pot or canning Cauldron. It should be able to hold at least several quarts of liquid easily.

* Eye-protection. Welder's goggles or other types of industrialsafety glasses/goggles will work.

* Hand protection, such as rubber gloves.

* Candy/liquid thermoMeter.

* A long-handled stainless steel spoon for stirring. Make sure it doesn't have any plastic parts.

* Stainless steel measuring cups and spoons.

* A kitchen scale.

* One or two large glass or ceramic bowls with handles for easy pouring.

* Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye.

* Soap molds and soap cutter or stainless steel knife.

Once you've amassed the right equipMent, you'll need to hunt down some soap recipes. Most large bookstores carry books on soap-making, which includes how-to hints, tips and recipes. They also usually includes glossaries of terms related to soap-making and explanations of different types of oils, fatsand essential oils that are typically used to create soap. You can also find recipes on the Internet, but it's highly recomMended that you purchase one of these books when you're first starting your home soap-making business.

Next, experiment with a few different recipes. Different soaps use different types of base oils/fats. Lard, shortening, vegetable and olive oil are the most common, but most any oil can be turned into soap. Experimenting with different fats gives you practice and helps you discover what kinds of fats you prefer to work with.

Be sure that you always follow the instructions very carefully when making soap. Sodium hydroxide is extremely caustic and flammable. Always wear gloves and protective eyewear to avoid burning the skin and the eyes. Work in awell-ventilated area (open a kitchen window, turn on your overhead vent) to avoid inhaling sodium hydroxide fumes.

Once you've perfected your technique, begin looking for places to market your products. Soaps made from all-natural and/or organic ingredients are hot sellers at craft fAirs and natural Food/health stores. Sign up for a table at some local craft fAirs. You can also approach the owners of natural/health Food stores in your area to see if they would be willing to carry your products in their stores.

How to Start a Soap-Making Home Business