#049. If you've ever felt like your candle business is taking more than it's giving, this one is for you.

In this episode, I'm answering a question from Jessica, a candle maker who has a retail shop open two days a week while still working her full-time job to cover the overhead. She put it perfectly: she's robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Sound familiar?

I break down exactly how to get a grip on your candle business finances, especially when you're part-time and every dollar has to work hard.

Here's what we cover:

Why your first year is really about data collection, not growth
How to do a 90-day expense and revenue audit right now
The bank account move that makes tracking so much easier
Why I call it the thermostat vs. thermometer approach to expenses
Supply ordering timing and how to stop over-buying
How to keep your product lineup lean and still grow revenue
The candle of the month strategy that creates FOMO without big upfront cost
How wholesale, fundraisers, and email can extend your revenue without extending your hours
What "protecting the floor" means and why it changes how you make decisions

We've been through these tight seasons ourselves. From our kitchen table to three brick-and-mortar stores and over 170 wholesale accounts, the seasons of up and down never fully go away. But once you understand them, they stop feeling like failure.

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We break down candle pricing using real numbers, starting with true cost of goods and ending with a price that can support growth. We also explain why a simple multiplier often fails and how a clear customer avatar makes pricing feel obvious instead of stressful.
• defining cost of goods sold for candles including materials and packaging
• accounting for supply order shipping fees handling fees and tariffs
• using software to track COGS pricing and inventory
• avoiding random 2x 3x 4x pricing without customer data
• choosing one ideal customer and pricing for that buyer
• researching boutique price bands to set a realistic target
• working backward to reduce costs while keeping perceived value
• planning for overhead like markets payroll rent design and marketing
• understanding keystone wholesale pricing at 50% of retail
• deciding whether direct to consumer or wholesale fits the margins
• using markets to test pricing fit versus customer fit
Check out makersmanager.com to learn more.
If I can help you with anything when it comes to your pricing, just leave a comment below.

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💼 View exclusive deals only for podcast listeners

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WHEN YOU'RE READY

📬 Free Candle Business Supply List

🚀 #1 Candle Making Course

🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course

🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle!

***

CONNECT

🐦 Free Facebook Group

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

📸 Connect on Instagram

***

SHOW LOVE

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

#047. We answer community questions about how to find customers, earn repeat sales, and promote a candle brand without relying on ads. We share practical ways to define your target audience, choose sales channels that fit your margins, and use social media to drive email sign-ups instead of empty follower growth.
• defining a specific target customer and building the entire brand around them
• using price point research and boutique shopping to understand buyer habits
• choosing the right markets and using in-person selling as product validation
• moving beyond friends and family through fundraisers, wholesale, and private label
• improving online store traffic with SEO, Google Analytics, Search Console, and Merchant Center
• using local Facebook groups without getting banned by focusing on value posts
• avoiding low-quality giveaways that attract the wrong audience and hurt engagement
• treating email as the main owned marketing channel and posting with four content pillars
Go To Candle Businesspro.com Slash Social Media
Leave A Comment, Like, Subscribe

Send us Fan Mail

SPONSORS & DEALS

💼 View exclusive deals only for podcast listeners

***

WHEN YOU'RE READY

📬 Free Candle Business Supply List

🚀 #1 Candle Making Course

🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course

🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle!

***

CONNECT

🐦 Free Facebook Group

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

📸 Connect on Instagram

***

SHOW LOVE

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify