Cost one candle from a full batch, add your time, overhead, a margin and selling fees. ProfitDrawer's candle business guide prices an 8 oz container candle: $5.00 of materials, $2.75 of your time and $0.75 of overhead make $8.50. Adding 40% gives $11.90, and covering an example 10% in selling and payment fees gives $13.22, rounded to $14 plus shipping. These are example numbers, not market prices.
Materials in the example: wax $1.10, fragrance oil $1.20, wick $0.15, jar and lid $1.60, label $0.25, and box and packing $0.70.
Your time: a batch of 24 takes 3 hours at $22 an hour, so $66 / 24 = $2.75 per candle.
Why divide for fees instead of adding them: fees are taken from the selling price, so the guide divides by 0.90 ($11.90 / 0.90). Check it: $14 minus 10% fees ($1.40) is $12.60, and minus the $8.50 cost leaves $4.10 profit, on top of your $2.75 in pay.
Tips:
- Recost the candle whenever a supplier price changes.
- Use your real fee rate for each place you sell; 10% is only the guide's example.
- Wholesale buyers need a lower price so they can resell, so make sure your wholesale price still covers your full cost.
The free price per job calculator can help you run the numbers.
Source: How to Start a Candle Business (From Home, Step by Step) · Updated
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