In Need of Advice

[hmlove1218]

I hate to ask this because I have a pretty good idea of what y'all are going to say, but I feel like I need to ask for advice anyway.

My husband has been recently laid off and I'm not sure when his job is going to call him out again. I feel like I need to do something to help out since I've used a nice bit of money on making my soaps. There's a farmer's market type thing a town over coming up next month that I'm seriously considering going to, to try and recoup some of what I've spent.

The reason I'm considering this is because I don't have a job and my schedule at the current moment doesn't allow me to get one. My husband is looking for local employment, but no one seems to be hiring.

I know I'm extremely new to soap making and that I should try to wait about at least before even trying to sell, but I feel like I should try to help out in some way until he either finds a job or is called back out.

Could y'all give me some advice?

 

[dixiedragon]

Full disclosure: Not a seller here, except the occassional craft show.

If you can get a booth for free or for very cheap, then it might be worth the risk. But a soap business is like any other business - you are not going to make money at first. There are expenses like a web page, insurance, perhaps even getting incorporated. But with spring coming around, there are a lot of little church, school, etc craft shows and that might be a good way to recoup your costs.

 

[shunt2011]

I would say as long as you are confident in the product you will be selling and sure it is safe and will last to go ahead. Also, make sure you have insurance, licenses if required etc. Here all I had to do was get a sales tax license, my DBA and insurance so it was pretty easy. Have a nice display and sell with confidence and knowledge.

Good luck to you!

 

[hmlove1218]

This farmers market is free to vending at. I unfortunately don't have (nor can I afford) insurance at the moment. It is also a monthly event. I figure that if my husband doesn't get called out or a job within three months, hopefully I will have earned back enough to buy some.

This place doesn't require any licenses or insurance to vending at either.

 

[Lindy]

A lot of farmer's markets have insurance that covers their vendors so you should be fine. I say go for it. You don't need to worry about incorporation or websites at this point, just focus on the selling at this point.

 

[pamielynn]

This farmers market is free to vending at. I unfortunately don't have (nor can I afford) insurance at the moment. It is also a monthly event. I figure that if my husband doesn't get called out or a job within three months, hopefully I will have earned back enough to buy some.

This place doesn't require any licenses or insurance to vending at either.

Insurance is your choice - if you are confident that your product is safe and that you won't lose much product to rain or any other myriad issues that can come up.

Licenses I wouldn't skip on. Go to your county clerk and find out what you need - shouldn't cost that much.

Soap is not a make money quick business. You may end the day with $50 in your pocket, but then you have to spend that to make more product so that you can go back and hopefully earn $60.

But having said all that - give it a try and see what happens. Don't be afraid.

 

[hmlove1218]

If I get a DBA registration wouldn't I then have to file for tax registration? A DBA is $20 but the sales tax is a $500 deposit.

 

[cmzaha]

If I get a DBA registration wouldn't I then have to file for tax registration? A DBA is $20 but the sales tax is a $500 deposit.

I am in California and all we actually need for our farmer markets is a resale license which we do not have to pay for and can be in our name. Some farmer markets require insurance and many carry their own insurance or can offer it fairly cheap for day use insurance. All markets tend to vary as far as the insurance requirement.
Also if you do find you are able to sell at the market do not get discouraged if the first time is not great. Many times it takes a few times at the market before people actually buy. Our markets here can be very fickle. One week good and the next few barely eeks out the booth cost. Fortunetly you do not have the worry of a booth costs so I would say go for it if you can

 

[hmlove1218]

Ill have to look into a resale license. Not sure if Mississippi has that or not. Did you have to file for state tax to get it?

 

[coffeetime]

I'd phone the farmers market rep and ask what their requirements are as a place to start. You may find that person can send you off in the right direction for whatever you need.

 

[pamielynn]

Resale or Tax Id - same thing. It's so your state can make sure you're collecting and submitting your sales tax.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I have to say that, regardless of situation, the advice about waiting still stands - do you know how your soaps are at 6 months to a year old? Do you have recipes that you can produce consistently and reliably? These things don't become unimportant just because of a need to sell, I am sorry to say. Not that I am not sympathetic to the situation!

So, that said, if you ARE going to sell regardless, I would still seriously consider a form of insurance - if anyone using your product has a reaction, they could sue you. Even if they don't win, you still have costs involved - if they do win, you'll need deep pockets, or an insurance company. It might not be needed, but have you cancelled your medical insurance, house insurance and car insurance to save money, too?

IF it's not required, you might look at it as wasted money. But if it IS required, you will be so full of regret if you don't have it.

I used to do some wedding photography in the UK and I had insurance to cover my equipment, 3rd party stuff if anyone tripped over my tripod and so on, as well as to cover any mis-haps that mean I couldn't provide the photos. I never needed it, but I would also have never considered taking money for that service without the back up.