How Much Money My Small Business Made the First Year // First Year Selling Handmade Soap

In this video I walk you through my first year in business selling handmade soap and cosmetics. I'll share all the numbers and details and hopefully give you some clarity on what your first year in business may look like.
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Some of my favorite items and equipment:
Pink Shipping Scale- amzn.to/3Btnp3z
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Tripod: amzn.to/3DqmNMy
SD Card: amzn.to/3v2p6lV
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Where you can connect with me:
Fiorella Soapery
Instagram- / fiorellasoa. .
Facebook- / fiorellasoap. .
Online Store- fiorellasoapery.com

[@Viper2132]

Thank you so much for sharing! I think we did $20 our first month. That was 6 months ago. Now we just hit $2k for the month of December. Hoping for $3k before the end of year. Never owned a business before, but it's so exciting that people love our products and want to buy them! I hope that feeling never goes away 😁

[@caitlinblue]

That’s amazing and a huge transformation in just a few short months! I’m a believer that if you’re passionate about something (sounds like you are!!) that feeling won’t go away!

[@MrCarguy427]

That’s so great! What was it that propelled you to really increase sales?

[@dilodilbahar4763]

How you start your work

[@storybooksoapothecary1310]

I opened my soap business in Nov. 2002 because my husband lost his job and I was committed to homeschooling our youngest 2 daughters and could not work full time. So, I decided to turn my hobby into my business. My first attempt at selling my products was at our local 2 day Harvest Festival on Thanksgiving weekend. My husband said no one was going to buy soap that I made in our kitchen. Well at the end of the two days, I had made over $1000 and thought I had won the lottery! We had so many ups and downs over the years though. Some markets we had people lined up and we could barely keep up with waiting on them and other times we couldn't give our products away. Some markets would have 6 other soapmakers and some markets set you up by the philly cheese steak guy, but you have to just keep going. In the early 2000s we didn't have KZbin or social media, so I did markets usually 3 times a week and we eventually opened a small shop in our town. But between homeschooling, caring for our small herd of goats, (I make goat's milk soap) doing markets, running the shop 4 days a week, doing the website and making all the products, I became very unwell. I closed my business in 2009 and I still have not regained my health, but I still love making soap and have my little soap cottage that my husband made for me in a shed he converted. Making soap is not a get rich quick scheme.

[@shopwildvenus]

I absolutely love your story. You really tell it well of how unpredictable relying on a market income can be. Its also such hard work both mentally and physically. Im also having to take my health a bit more seriously and cut back on the demanding markets. X

[@improv34]

oh my god dude thats so damn cool, i am so happy for you :D good very good u followed through keep it up

[@dedehodo8890]

You’re a natural. You have great business acumen. I can see you as a BIG brand in the near future. You are focusing on the things that really matter - your infrastructure. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@dgillihan1]

Love your videos. I've been binge watching as well and so appreciate your transparency in your business, nice to know we're not alone in our struggles. Thank you again for opening up and sharing.

[@caitlinblue]

Hi Darla! Thank you so much for watching. I’m so happy you’re finding value in my videos because I truly love sharing!

[@chalkline1505]

I think your video is great. A realistic assessment of what it's like starting a business. Actually, I've always assumed that the first 2 years you shouldn't actually expect to turn a profit. I have a brother-in-law that is in the fruit business and he literally lived off credit cards the first 6 months. Broke even the 1st year and after the 2nd year it took off. Today he's a millionaire.

[@caitlinblue]

So glad you enjoyed it and love to hear that you have a success story in the family!

[@VanessaBland]

Thanks so much for your honesty! I've been thinking of giving soap-making a go and it's so refreshing to hear a realistic story of getting started in business. I look forward to checking out more of your videos ☺

[@caitlinblue]

There are so many benefits to learning how to make soap other than just the money. So glad you found my channel!

[@nicoleberry5888]

Thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your success with much more to come.

[@caitlinblue]

thank you SO much!!

[@Jessicaakathesoaplady]

You are amazing your motivation is so needed. I made 13k in my first year and thought I did really bad because everyone else was doing that a month

[@caitlinblue]

WOW! $13K is incredible for your first year. We all start at different places and the important thing is to keep going!

[@Jessicaakathesoaplady]

@@caitlinblue it was really hard I got overwhelmed and paused my business now I’m rebuilding but I figured out this is really what I want to do

[@Mary20002]

You shouldn’t put yourself down…you did great for the first year..I would advice you to keep going and not look at anybody else..each person has their own experience

[@Jessicaakathesoaplady]

@@Mary20002 a lot has changed since then… I learned to enjoy my journey

[@riri_williams3193]

Awesome inspiration!

[@caitlinblue]

Thank you so very much!! ❤️

[@ahmedalfi8487]

That is really inspiring

[@dkbrenden]

Love your videos!, I have been binge watching them and am inspired. Just opened an etsy shop this year. I feel like I'm struggling with branding and packaging. I love your packaging :) Would love to know more about resources for branding and packaging ;).

[@caitlinblue]

You have?!?! Thank you so much! Will add these to my topics for future videos for sure!

[@hardcore_tennis_fan...]

What was different about your soap that was different from others? And also when did you become profitable?

[@daricezdrazil7399]

Great video and cool to you coming to Portland Maine. I used to live there. Now further north. I've been really working hard on this business adventure now for about 2 yearsish.. I have had my soaps in a local natural food store. Bless her heart, the owner is wonderful. I did sell a lot of soaps and other things I make. But because we are further north last year I signed up for shopify and had done summer craft fairs. Some were a complete bust, and others were eh. 20 dollars, 50 dollars. I also have been doing my "homework". Watching videos, trying to see what ideas and thoughts and info is out there. Took some business management classes. I still don't have my shopify set up completely and ready to go but, I'm getting there. I have didn't many sleepless nights working trying to get everything finished, ready and in order. I have another plan happening once I get shopify set up and going. Don't know how you did it but wow! Just awesome! My dream.. to become successful no matter my age or my disabilities. I Will do this and succeed. Thank you for the honest video.

[@caitlinblue]

I love your determination to grow your business. That is the true entrepreneurial spirit! It must be hard getting customers in a remote location so the shopify will certainly help. I wish you tons of success this year!

[@daricezdrazil7399]

@@caitlinblue I am also working on creating a mobile store. Go to where the people are.

[@Chydova]

How much products does one physically need to be able to start selling at farmers markets? Thank you!

[@caitlinblue]

That’s a tough question, it depends on your batch size but I would start with 6 of each item and maybe 8-10 different variations to start. You don’t want to make too much and it’s good to test to see what customers react to!

[@lisatavarez]

How long did it take you to make 6 figures and did it take you to go full time in order to do so? Thanks for your videos!

[@caitlinblue]

Hi! It took me about 2.5 years to get to making 6 figures for my business...I believe slow and steady growth is actually better for success so I'm pretty happy with how it's played out. Thanks for watching!

[@lisatavarez]

@@caitlinblue thanks so much for answering and sharing! It’s very encouraging and in a world where everything is fast or made out to be, I agree and appreciate that perspective.

[@Mary20002]

I’m sorry but you tend to rattle too much about nothing..please get to the point…🤦🏻‍♀️

[@caitlinblue]

I’m sorry you feel that way, but you should be more kind to people. 🥰

[@user-yf4dd5oz7b]

There's always one, isn't there. Your video has been insightful to many of us. Thank you and all the best with your continued business growth x