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I feel like I can't make up my mind. Fees, fees, and more fees. Which candle company let you start with little or no money down? Which one had actually affordable candles for both you and the customers? I think $20 for one candle seems like a lot. I wouldn't pay that unless it was some HUGE candle. I go up to Yankee Candle once a year and those are expensive.

I do not want to make the wrong more. This is what I want.

1) Little or no start up fee

2) Want to be able to sell under my own business name

3) Want to sell products online, I will build my own website, my own store, my own domain, and load the products up.

4) Want drop shipping straight to my customers. They order from me, and pay online, the I order from you, and pay you. Then the order is shipped right to the customer. (Does this even exist?)

5) Do not want to have to pay monthly, nor have a minimum to purchase, or a quota. 99% of my orders will be based online. HOPEFULLY!

Thank you for your help. Money is SO tight, and I don't want to just throw $50 here, $100 there. I can't afford do when that feeds my family. I hope you understand.

you can PM or e-mail me or respond here
thank you

I just sent you a message in regards to the questions you sent me. Hope that helps. I look forward to working with you.

I wonder if you wouldn't be best to find a wholesaler with drop shipping

In my experience, direct sales companies require you to use their websites for the shopping. you can create your own website for information and everything else, but you have to get a site through the company for people to shop at.

I hope you are are able to find something that works for you

I just fear about taxes and other business fees that I don't know about. I may look into help thru the state about starting my own business. I would prefer to buy from wholesale, as you said. Zoning laws prohibit the delivery to or shipping from my residence. No signs on my cars or around my house. Kinda stinks where i live. :0(

With Mia Bella you DO buy wholesale and then retail the products.

I just fear about taxes and other business fees that I don't know about. I may look into help thru the state about starting my own business. I would prefer to buy from wholesale, as you said. Zoning laws prohibit the delivery to or shipping from my residence. No signs on my cars or around my house. Kinda stinks where i live. :0(

Wow.. i've never heard of such restrictions. Can you still get personal parcels then?

As for fees, it may be best to talk to an accountant or a small business place that would be more familiar. Of course an accountant can help you in regards to taxes as well

I know that most think of At Home America as a home decor company, but did you know we have great smelling soy based candles and scented wax melts that are made right here in the USA? We also offer a fantastic candle fundraiser for your charitable organizations!

Our Scentsational Candle Company line is made exclusively for At Home America. We offer tea lights, votives, pillars and 3 different jar sizes. I was amazed by the smell and they burn extremely clean. Prices ranges $ 8.99 /9 tea lights up to $19.99 for a 15 oz. double wicked Jar Candles.

These can be sold online through our consultant websites. If you'd like to know more about our company, just PM me! Good luck with your search!

It sounds like money is an issue so I would make a list of what it would cost you to do your own business as opposed to the cost of being a consultant with a direct sales company.

Some things to consider -

What if customers pay you and their product is delayed, doesn't arrive, or arrives damaged? How concerned will your dropshipper be about protecting the integrity of your business?

Will you have to purchase inventory up front from a dropshipper, many require a minimum sized order?

How much will web design cost?

What about extra website fees like a shopping cart and the ability to accept credit cards and fees for each time a card is charged?

How will you market your business, drive people to your website, make them want to purchase from you?

Will you have the time to constantly update your website and submit sales taxes to each state for online purchases?

How will your candle products compare to, or stand out from, the competition? One benefit of direct sales is name brand recognition. You mentioned Yankee, which is a brand many know. Some of the direct sales companies have made a name for themselves in candles. When you mention some of the bigger names to people they already have faith in the product.

Many people become involved with direct sales companies because, all things considered, it is often more economical than starting a business from scratch.

I'm not saying starting your own business is the wrong thing to do. I just thought I would throw out some thoughts on just some of the things to consider before getting started.

I wish you the best of luck!

I am not concerned with website fees, shopping carts or design. I have my own server, and design my own websites. So the cost of all that $8.99 for the domain. Thats it.

What about going with affiliate companies that have candles?

I think to start your own business it takes money...There is different candle companies that have different start up fees, per month quotas, different goals...Just depends on what your looking for..I also think that 99.00 to start a business is minimal compared to thousands of dollars to start some businesses..Good luck with your new venture in what ever company you choose...:)

You have to be very leary with dropshipping companies. I used to sell on Ebay and there would be time when the companies would be sold out of an item and there I would be trying to explain it to a bidder who just won the item.

There are great candle companies here for you to choose from if you wish. The company I am with does not charge any website fees or have quotas or minimums. We are able to drop ship products to customers from our backoffice. They keep us up to date on items that are low inventory or out of stock. We have 2 starter kit options, one is 79.99 that includes full size products, materials and your website...the other is 39.99 that includes the materials and website (it's geared toward people who want to focusing more on online sales). If you'd like more information, please feel free to pm me.

I think to start your own business it takes money...There is different candle companies that have different start up fees, per month quotas, different goals...Just depends on what your looking for..I also think that 99.00 to start a business is minimal compared to thousands of dollars to start some businesses..:)

Exactly.

In any business it takes "money" to get started and in a franchise it costs THOUSANDS!

To get started in a DS company is literally pennies.

I don't see a monthly auto ship as a fee (along with a free personalized website and stunning products you can demo) or a product pack to get started...

It is the cost of of doing business.

Greetings!

Having been on both sides of the coin I can feel exactly where you are right now!

I used to own a home based operations center where I manufactured, blended, bottled, labeled and shipped bath and body products from my home. There are certain restrictions you must partake in when running the business legally, it certainly is more costly this way by ways of licensing and insurances. While rewarding, I ran that business for nearly 7 years before making a full transistion into into direct sales.

I'm not sure any of the larger direct sales candle businesses here on this forum will allow you to purchase from the company and then market via your own crafted website. (Mia Bella, Scentsy, PartyLite, Gold Canyon) However each company does have a company website with web store you can use to build your business and generate sales.

There are many creative avenues to gain traffic to your company mirror website, as if you are familiar with building and marketing websites the chances are pretty slim to generate a ranking corporate mirror site and if so, it is usually short lived. However with some creative marketing you can create a website that markets your business driving traffic where you wish to go.

As for the most bang for your buck, I recommend you research all the companies that peak your interest. I was with one company for a handful of years and then changed over to Gold Canyon this past Spring. Both of Gold Canyon's available kits are billable over 3 months (3 payments of $24 or 3 payments of $49) making it affordable to launch.

There are many great companies and many great leaders here on the wahm forums, please ask any and all questions!