How To Start A Candle Business From Home In 10 Steps

Memory Box Candle Co
30 Mar 202421:46

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Erica from Memory Box Candle Co. celebrates four years in business and announces the upcoming release of her candle business eBook. She shares a detailed 10-step guide for starting a candle business, covering key areas such as making or outsourcing candles, building a brand, setting prices, securing a business name, handling legalities, and marketing strategies. Erica emphasizes the importance of product photography, shipping logistics, and setting clear goals. Her insights and encouragement offer practical advice for aspiring candle entrepreneurs, helping them take actionable steps towards success.

Takeaways

  • ๐ŸŽ‰ Memory Box Candle Co. is celebrating four years in business since launching on March 30, 2020.
  • ๐Ÿ“˜ The owner is finalizing an eBook on how to start a candle business from home, compiling knowledge from four years of experience.
  • ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ Step 1 to starting a candle business: Decide whether to make candles yourself or hire a manufacturer, considering space, labor, and your enjoyment of the process.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฅ Step 2: Define your brand story and target market. This helps tailor your product to a specific customer base and build a stronger connection with them.
  • ๐Ÿ”‘ Step 3: Secure your brand name by registering a domain, Instagram handle, and Gmail account. Ensure the name is available for legal use.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Step 4: Legal setupโ€”register as a sole proprietor or LLC, get a DBA, manage bookkeeping through software like QuickBooks, and keep track of inventory for tax purposes.
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Step 5: Price your candles for profit. A recommended method is to multiply your cost of goods by four and add 10-20% to account for labor and potential discounts.
  • ๐Ÿ›’ Step 6: Decide on your sales platformโ€”Etsy, Shopify, or local markets. Each offers different opportunities depending on your goals.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฆ Step 7: Learn how to ship your candles efficiently before listing them for sale. Ensure you charge accurate shipping fees and understand the process.
  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Step 8: Invest in quality product photography to attract customers. Good lighting and professional images are crucial for making online sales.

Q & A

  • What milestone is Memory Box Candle Co celebrating?

    -Memory Box Candle Co is celebrating four years in business, having launched on March 30th, 2020.

  • What upcoming product is the speaker working on?

    -The speaker is finishing up an eBook on how to start a candle business from home, which will include her knowledge from the past four years in the candle business.

  • What is the first major decision to make when starting a candle business?

    -The first major decision is whether you will make the candles yourself or hire a manufacturer to make them for you.

  • Why is understanding your brand story and target market crucial for a candle business?

    -Understanding your brand story and target market helps you communicate effectively with your audience and tailor your products to a specific customer base, ensuring your brand is recognizable and appeals to the right people.

  • What steps should you take to secure your brand name?

    -You should secure your domain name, Instagram handle, and Gmail account to ensure they are available. Additionally, itโ€™s recommended to purchase your domain name even if you're not ready to launch a website yet.

  • What legal steps should you take when starting a candle business?

    -You need to set up your business legally, which may include getting a DBA (Doing Business As) or forming an LLC. You should also keep track of your taxes and inventory, using software like QuickBooks for bookkeeping and Inventur for inventory management.

  • How should you determine your candle pricing?

    -To determine pricing, multiply the cost of goods sold by four and add 10-20% to cover labor and allow for sales or discounts, ensuring a gross profit margin of about 75% or higher.

  • What are the different options for selling candles?

    -You can sell candles online through platforms like Etsy or Shopify, at local markets, or a combination of both. It's important to have an online presence even if you focus on local sales.

  • Why is it important to know how to ship candles before listing them for sale?

    -Understanding how to ship candles ensures that you charge the right shipping fees, keep shipping costs low, and know how to safely package and deliver your candles to avoid losing money or damaging products.

  • What is the importance of product photography for selling candles?

    -Good product photography is crucial for attracting customers, especially online. Clear, well-lit images that capture the beauty of your product can make the difference between making a sale and not.

  • What marketing strategies are recommended for a candle business?

    -Marketing can include sharing behind-the-scenes content, creating videos, telling your brand story, and engaging customers through social media and word-of-mouth. Consistently creating content helps keep your business in front of potential customers.

  • Why is setting goals important for a candle business?

    -Setting goals helps you define the direction of your business, whether it's a part-time endeavor for extra income or something you want to grow into a full-time or multi-million-dollar company. Clear goals guide your actions and investment.

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŽ‰ Celebrating Business Milestones and Announcing a New Ebook

In the opening of the video, Erica celebrates four successful years of running Memory Box Candle Co., marking March 30th, 2020 as the company's launch date. She expresses excitement over this milestone and shares news about her upcoming 'How to Start a Candle Business from Home' ebook. Though the ebook is not available yet, she has a waitlist for early access and plans to update the video link for purchase if it's ready at a later date.

05:01

๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ How to Start a Candle Business: Decide to Make or Outsource

Erica introduces the topic of starting a candle business and outlines step one: deciding whether to make candles yourself or hire a manufacturer. She explains the physical demands, space requirements, and labor involved in making candles. Erica emphasizes the importance of enjoying the process if you choose to manufacture the candles yourself. For those who are more interested in the business side, outsourcing production may be a better option.

10:03

๐Ÿ“– Defining Your Brand Story and Target Market

Erica stresses the importance of figuring out your brand story and target market before starting production. She shares her personal experience of focusing on product creation first and later finding her customer base, which she advises against. Erica explains that while candles may not solve a problem like other products, they can still cater to niche markets. She also highlights the significance of storytelling in handmade businesses, helping owners connect with customers on a personal level.

15:59

๐Ÿ” Securing Your Brand Name and Online Presence

Erica discusses the importance of securing your brand name across various platforms, including your domain, Gmail, and Instagram handle. She suggests checking for name availability early on and purchasing a domain through services like GoDaddy. Even if a website isnโ€™t ready yet, owning the domain is crucial for future use and protects your brand identity online.

20:59

โš–๏ธ Legal Setup and Tracking Finances

Erica explains the legal requirements of starting a business, including whether to operate as a sole proprietor or form an LLC. She recommends getting a DBA (Doing Business As) to sell under your chosen business name legally. She also advises setting up QuickBooks for bookkeeping and Inventur for inventory management. These tools are vital for tracking income, expenses, and overall inventory value, ensuring accurate tax reporting at year-end.

๐Ÿ’ฒ Pricing Your Candles for Profit

Pricing is a key element, and Erica suggests a simple formula: multiply your cost of goods by four, then add 10-20%. This method accounts for labor and provides room for sales and discounts. She emphasizes the importance of pricing for profitability, aiming for a 75% gross profit margin or higher. For those struggling with cost calculations, tools like Inventur can automate this process.

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Deciding Where to Sell Your Candles

Erica explores different sales channels for your candle business, from online marketplaces like Etsy and Shopify to local markets. She discusses the pros and cons of each, explaining that local markets provide a unique space to stand out in a crowded online marketplace. Regardless of where you start, Erica encourages having an online presenceโ€”at least on Instagram or a basic websiteโ€”for repeat customers and wider exposure.

๐Ÿ“ฆ Preparing for Shipping Before Selling

Shipping can be a daunting task, especially when dealing with fragile products like candles. Erica advises taking time to learn about packaging and shipping methods before listing products for sale. She offers resources like a shipping playlist and course to help new business owners avoid mistakes and unnecessary costs. Knowing how to price and handle shipping efficiently is key to ensuring customer satisfaction and profitability.

๐Ÿ“ธ Importance of Product Photography

Erica highlights the critical role of product photography in online sales. Good lighting and high-quality images are essential to capturing the beauty of your candles and convincing customers to make a purchase. If you're not skilled in photography, she recommends hiring a local product photographer, even on a budget. Investing in professional-looking photos can make the difference between getting a sale or being overlooked.

๐Ÿ“ข Marketing Your Candle Business

Marketing may seem intimidating, but Erica encourages business owners to get creative. She explains that everything you do to talk about your business is a form of marketing. From behind-the-scenes content to sharing your brand story or product insights, engaging customers is crucial. Word of mouth and online content both play important roles in keeping your brand visible and attracting new customers.

๐ŸŽฏ Setting Goals for Your Business

After launching, itโ€™s important to set clear goals for your business. Erica advises evaluating whether your goal is to earn extra money, replace a full-time job, or build a larger company. Each goal requires different levels of time, energy, and investment. She encourages entrepreneurs to take action on their ideas and not let obstacles deter them, reminding viewers that most business owners face similar challenges.

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง Reflecting on Four Years in Business and Personal Growth

Erica wraps up the video by reflecting on her four years of running Memory Box Candle Co. She acknowledges the challenges and growth experienced during this journey, including becoming a mother. She expresses gratitude for the progress made and excitement for the future. Erica invites viewers to ask questions and subscribe to her channel for more business advice.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กBrand Story

A brand story is the narrative that a company uses to communicate its mission, values, and overall identity to its customers. In the video, Erica emphasizes the importance of having a compelling brand story to connect with customers. This concept is key in differentiating smaller, handmade businesses from large corporations by allowing them to create a personal connection with their audience. For example, she discusses how the brand story and target market go hand in hand, helping define who the product is for and what message it conveys.

๐Ÿ’กTarget Market

Target market refers to the specific group of customers a business aims to serve. Erica advises identifying the target market early on, explaining that it is crucial for aligning your product with the needs and preferences of the right audience. She mentions that instead of making the product first and searching for customers afterward, itโ€™s more effective to define the customer base before product creation, tailoring the candle's design and messaging accordingly.

๐Ÿ’กCost of Goods Sold (COGS)

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) is the direct cost incurred in producing a product. Erica explains that knowing your COGS is essential when pricing your candles. She recommends multiplying the COGS by four to calculate a price that allows for profit, covering expenses like labor and materials, while leaving room for potential discounts. This calculation is necessary for ensuring a sustainable profit margin in the candle business.

๐Ÿ’กLegal Setup

Legal setup refers to the process of establishing the necessary legal structure for a business. In the video, Erica advises new candle business owners to decide whether they will operate as a sole proprietorship, get a DBA (Doing Business As), or form an LLC. This step is crucial for being legally permitted to sell products and managing taxes, which is a significant part of starting any business.

๐Ÿ’กQuickBooks

QuickBooks is a bookkeeping software that helps businesses manage their financial transactions, including income and expenses. Erica recommends using QuickBooks to keep track of finances, which is essential for managing taxes and understanding business profitability. By using this software, candle makers can stay organized and avoid complications, especially as the business grows.

๐Ÿ’กProduct Photography

Product photography involves capturing high-quality images of your products to display online or in marketing materials. Erica stresses the importance of good product photography in attracting customers, particularly for online sales. She advises either learning photography skills or hiring a professional to ensure that the candles look appealing, as this can be the deciding factor between making a sale or not.

๐Ÿ’กShipping Candles

Shipping candles refers to the logistics of packing and sending candles to customers safely. Erica highlights the importance of understanding how to ship candles properly, including choosing the right materials and shipping methods to prevent breakage. This preparation helps ensure that candles arrive in perfect condition, which is essential for maintaining customer satisfaction and minimizing financial loss.

๐Ÿ’กDBA (Doing Business As)

DBA, or Doing Business As, is a legal registration allowing a business to operate under a name different from the owner's personal name. Erica mentions getting a DBA as one of the legal steps new candle makers should take if they are not ready to form an LLC. This allows individuals to use a business name that aligns with their brand without the complexity of creating a full legal entity.

๐Ÿ’กEtsy

Etsy is an online marketplace focused on handmade, vintage, and craft items. Erica mentions Etsy as a popular platform where new candle makers can sell their products. She highlights Etsy's ease of use and accessibility for beginners, allowing them to quickly set up an online shop and start selling, which can be especially beneficial if they are not yet ready to invest in their own website.

๐Ÿ’กMarketing

Marketing is the process of promoting and selling products, which includes creating content, advertising, and building relationships with customers. Erica stresses that marketing is crucial for the success of a candle business and involves much more than just running ads. She encourages business owners to create behind-the-scenes content, share the story behind their products, and engage with customers through social media to increase visibility and build a loyal customer base.

Highlights

Celebrating four years in business at Memory Box Candle Co.

Announcement of an upcoming ebook on how to start a candle business from home.

Step 1: Decide whether to make the candles yourself or hire a manufacturer.

Importance of determining your brand story and identifying your target market before creating the product.

Step 2: Secure your brand name across multiple platforms (domain, Instagram, Gmail).

Step 3: Legal setup โ€” Ensure you have the necessary permits, insurance, and track financials using tools like QuickBooks and Inventur.

Step 4: Pricing strategy โ€” Multiply your cost of goods by four and add 10โ€“20% for labor and profit margin.

Recommendation to maintain at least a 75% gross profit margin.

Step 5: Decide on sales channels, such as Etsy, Shopify, or local markets.

Step 6: Know how to ship candles and familiarize yourself with the process before listing for sale.

Step 7: Invest in high-quality product photography for successful online sales.

Step 8: Market your business consistently using content that shares behind-the-scenes, personal stories, and brand-related messaging.

Step 9: Set business goals and determine whether your venture is part-time or full-scale.

Encouragement to take action and overcome the challenges of business, emphasizing persistence and passion.

Final message: Overcome obstacles and grow confidence by taking small steps towards business success.

Transcripts

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before I start this video I just wanted

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to make two announcements so the first

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one is that we are celebrating four

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years in business here at memory box

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candle Co so March 30th of 2020 we

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launched for business and I can't

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believe that it's been four years so we

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are celebrating that it's really

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exciting and then I also just want to

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let you know that I am at the tail end

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of finishing up my candle business ebook

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so it is a how to start a candle

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business from home ebook and it's going

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to include basically all of my knowledge

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that I've compiled over the past four

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years in business it's not available yet

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but I do have a wait list so I will have

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that down in the pinned comment below

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and if you're seeing this at a later

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date then it may be available and if so

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I will change the link to uh have it be

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the actual link available for purchase

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so I just want to make those couple

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announcements before we got into today's

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video hello and welcome back to my

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channel if you're new here my name is

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Erica with memory box candle Co and I

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make videos all about the Journey of

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starting a candle business and today I'm

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going to be talk about how to start a

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candle business in 10 steps so let's go

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ahead and get right into it step number

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one determine if you are going to make

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the candles or if you're going to hire a

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manufacturer to make the candles for you

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this is a big decision because making

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the candles yourself requires a lot more

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storage space working space a lot lot

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more physical labor there's a lot more

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involved that comes into the actual

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process of making the candles not to

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mention you must enjoy the process of

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making candles if you're going to start

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a candle business and you want to be

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your own manufacturer you do have to

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enjoy to some extent actually making the

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candles yourself you do have to go

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through the testing process testing

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materials there's a lot that goes into

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it it is a very rewarding process

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especially when you get a final result

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that you are pretty happy with but if

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you are somebody who is wanting to start

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a candle business but you care more

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about the business side of things and

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know that you would enjoy more of the

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marketing and branding and that side of

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things over actually making your candles

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then you may want to hire somebody to

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make the candles for you step number two

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is figure out what your brand story is

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and who your target market is going to

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be this is something that I really wish

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that I would have done in the beginning

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when I was getting started with my

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candle business I more or less made the

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product and then tried to find the

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customer base but really in a

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traditional setting when you are trying

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to validate the market with your product

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idea you want to solve a problem so

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you're trying to find your customer base

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before you actually make your product

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but since candles don't necessarily

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solve a problem we're still able to kind

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of tailor our product to a specific

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niche market a specific kind of customer

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and you really want to look into what

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kind of customer would be wanting to

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purchase your candle and this kind of

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goes hand inand with your brand story

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now your brand story is essentially just

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how you communicate with your customer

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on the overall messaging uh what matters

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to you the most in your business and

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just how you communicate yourself with

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your customer so it's a form of

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Storytelling in your business and it's

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something that handmade business owners

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has have a leg up over any other Big Box

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store out there because we're really

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able to connect one-on-one with our

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customer and as I talked about in my

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interview with Diana from Tara if you

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want to check that out I will have it

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linked above but we talked a lot about

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branding and marketing in that video and

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how important your brand story is so

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Brand Story and target market can kind

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of go hand in hand because you're really

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trying to develop a brand that's going

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to be recognizable and something that

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you are going to know that you are

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communicating to the Right audience and

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you don't know that if you don't know

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who you're selling to so make sure that

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you really sit down and figure out what

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matters to you in your business why

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you're creating your candle business

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what's the overall message theme you

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know Niche whatever it is that you are

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creating around this candle business and

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make sure you know who you're actually

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going to be selling your candles too

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step number three secure your brand name

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this is going to be in the form of

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getting your domain Instagram handle

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Gmail account you want to make sure that

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you were securing all of these and also

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making sure that your brand name is not

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taken and one of the ways that I do

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recommend to check this is by getting

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your Gmail domain and Instagram handle

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that doesn't necessarily mean that it's

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not already taken or registered but it's

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a pretty good indication of it

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specifically because of the fact that

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most people that are registering for

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businesses they will utilize and take

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these names so they're available it may

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be a higher probability that they are an

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available business name and something

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like a domain you're going to want to

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get right away once you realize that yes

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this is the brand name that I want to go

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with you should go on to something like

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godaddy.com and purchase a domain name

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you don't actually have to have a

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website yet in order to purchase a

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domain name you can have it available

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for you for when you have your own

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website and you're able to just easily

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get it transferred over and be able to

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use it at a later date step number four

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is your legal setup so you want to make

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sure that you are legally sound as you

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are getting started with this business

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so whether or not you're going to want

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to get started as just a soulle

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proprietor you're going to want to get a

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DBA so that you're legally allowed to

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sell your candles under a different name

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than your birth name you may also want

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to look into Gideon LLC a little bit

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later on if that's something that you're

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going to want to do and actually form

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that business entity

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and then you also want to make sure that

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you are keeping track of things for

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taxes so the two softwares that I

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utilize for that is QuickBooks so

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QuickBooks is for bookkeeping this is

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going to keep track of your income

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coming in and then also your business

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expenses this is going to be very

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necessary as you are growing in your

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business especially since taxes can be

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just you know kind of something that is

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very intimidating for a lot of people

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and then when you throw in the business

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side of it it just kind of makes things

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a little bit more complicated I've been

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using QuickBook since the beginning and

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I really like it it's helped me stay

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very organized with my bookkeeping and

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then also inventur for inventory

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management so this is not only just so

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you can actually visually see what you

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have and what you're getting low on but

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you also need to make sure that you're

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keeping a tally of your overall

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inventory value how much leftover

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inventory is left over at the end of the

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year because you also need that for tax

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purpose purposes as well every inventory

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based business has to keep a tally on

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their total inventory value to hand over

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to their tax professional at the end of

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the year so this part right here you

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don't have to feel like you need to do

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everything all at once but as you are

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getting started with it if you are not

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wanting to form something like an LLC or

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a separate business entity then you do

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need to look into getting a DBA which is

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a doing business as so you're able to

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sell legally under whatever Candle

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company name that you have chosen for

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your business and then I also recommend

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to get a sellers permit and business

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insurance so those three things you

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definitely want to do as you are getting

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started step number three determine your

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prices now pricing is something that is

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very unique and individual to every

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business but what I recommend that you

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do when you are trying to figure out how

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much to charge for your candles is take

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your cost of goods price so cost of

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goods sold is how much it actually cost

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you to make one of your candles and then

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multiply that number by four and add on

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anywhere from 10 to 20% I'm not somebody

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who's going to sit there and try to

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calculate exactly how much labor is and

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all that kind of stuff exactly adding on

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every single fee that the web H hosting

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platform is going to to take I just keep

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it very simple do cost of goods times 4

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and then add on 10 to 20% and that to me

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accounts for my labor and also gives me

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a little bit of wiggle room when it

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comes to actually running sales and

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discounts and all that kind of stuff on

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my products and pricing is something

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that is super important because you want

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to make sure that you are pricing for

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profit so you want to make sure that

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you're getting a pretty good gross

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profit margin of about $75 % gross

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profit margin or higher to make sure

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that this business is actually going to

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be worth it for you and you're going to

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be able to grow at a good rate and get a

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good rate of return coming in with your

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business and if you have no idea how to

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calculate your own cost of goods because

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there is a bit of math involved with

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that inventor actually does that

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automatically for you so I recommend

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inventor for multiple different reasons

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but specifically that definitely is a

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very big bonus step number six decide

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where you want to sell your candles so

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you can sell your candles on a

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Marketplace like Etsy you can go on your

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own website uh through a web hosting

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platform like Shopify which is what we

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do actually we did move back to Etsy as

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well so we sell on both of them but you

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can just choose one or the other when

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you're getting started and then there's

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also the option of not doing anything

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online and you can sell just at local

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markets so you really have to determine

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what is going to work for you what makes

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the most sense for you in your business

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and of course every business is going to

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be different on what is going to be the

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best path for you so if you know that

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you have weekends free and you would

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love to just go and spend a couple

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weekends a month out at local markets

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meeting people I think word of mouth and

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doing it that way is a great way to get

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started and it kind of allows you to

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have a little bit of space in what can

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seem like a sea of competition ition

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when you're online so I do think that

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getting started locally is a really

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really good idea but also I do recommend

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that even if you do get started locally

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to have a website of some kind or at

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least an Instagram because you want to

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make sure that these local clients and

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customers are able to find you

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repurchase from you so make sure you

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have business cards with your email

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Instagram and preferably a website even

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if it is just an Etsy shop because Etsy

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is easier to get started with than

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Shopify um it's much easier to get your

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shop up and running than it is an actual

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website design but just make sure you

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have something even if you're just

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choosing the local option you want to

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make sure that you have a way for these

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customers to contact you and want to

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order from you again step number seven

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know how you're going to ship out your

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candles before you list them for sale so

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this is something that I know is a very

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intimidating part of the business if

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you've never shipped out something

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before or you've never shipped out

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something breakable it can be very

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intimidating so just take the time to

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learn and figure out exactly how you are

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going to ship out your candles I have an

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entire playlist when it comes to

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shipping candles I also have an entire

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course if you want a more indepth kind

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of take your hand and walk you through

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step by step um to make sure that you

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are not wasting money and you know

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exactly how to charge for shipping boxes

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shipping labels all that kind of stuff

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um but this is something that's really

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important with when you are getting

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started because you don't want to make

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the mistake of either having no idea how

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to ship your product so you're listing

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things for sale you get a sale and then

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you're scrambling thinking I don't even

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know how to ship this I don't know if I

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charge the right amount and then you

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could be losing money in the long run

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because you're not able to choose the

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best shipping option charge the customer

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accurately and then know yourself how to

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actually get the cheapest best shipping

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and keep keep the candle intact as it

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gets to the customer so make sure that

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you know how you're going to be shipping

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your products before you actually list

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them for sale step number eight product

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photography this may be the most crucial

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part of actually getting your first sale

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online you have to really capture the

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beauty of your product and you can't do

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that with poor lighting um and just kind

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of snapping a photo real fast on your

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phone and putting it up on your website

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I promise you you have to really invest

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the time to either learn product

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photography yourself or invest the money

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to hire somebody for you it is worth a

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few hundred I really highly recommend

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that if you are somebody who either

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doesn't have a you know nice camera or

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you have no idea even where to start

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with product photography go onto your

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local Facebook group and post some

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pictures of your products that you take

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with your phone and say hey I'm looking

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for a local product photographer um to

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help you know take some pictures for me

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and have a budget in mind so let's say

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your budget is $200 and let them know

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hey my budget's $200 what am I able to

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get um I have even had somebody offer to

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do it for free because they wanted to

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build up their portfolio I still gave

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them money I still tipped them for it

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but it was a really good tradeoff and um

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they were able to practice on product

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photography have some you know photos

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for their portfolio

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and then I was able to get some

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beautiful pictures so it can kind of be

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a win-win in your community but do not

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have this be something that's an

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afterthought this has to be a very very

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important part to you because it truly

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is a matter of getting a sale and not

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getting a sale step number nine is

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Market your business now I know

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Marketing in and of itself just like

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shipping candles can seem very

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intimidating when you've never done it

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before and especially with marketing

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because marketing and kind of the

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corporate world has kind of meshed

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together so you think that marketing has

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to be something really structured and

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really rigid but really it's kind of

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this creative freedom everything that

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you do when you're talking about your

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business is a form of marketing so make

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sure you're creating content behind the

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scenes creating videos talking about

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your products maybe you're opening up

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the lid of your candles and smelling it

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and describing what you're smelling

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maybe you're talking about your brand

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story the story

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so that they don't forget about you

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because the main thing is you don't want

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people to forget about you you want to

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tell as many people I mean word of mouth

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has always been such a huge huge part of

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every business and word travels fast and

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this person tells this person who tells

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this person and before you know it you

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have three four five 10 new customers

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that you technically didn't have to

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acquire those customers it was just word

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of mouth so there's so many different

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ways to go about Marketing Online yes

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you can run ads but you can also Al just

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focus on you know just sharing as much

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content as possible whether or not you

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want to be the face of the brand or not

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um that is completely up to you but

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marketing can be as simple as just

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posting about you know you picked up an

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order from your local Candle supply

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store or you're pouring a candle or you

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know you're sharing the reasoning on why

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you're making candles people want to

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learn and know more about the maker and

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know more about the person behind the

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brand and even if you're not the one

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making the candles you can still add in

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content of you know the story behind the

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scent names the reason why you chose the

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kind of jars that you're using or even

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just opening up your candle smelling it

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and being able to describe how it smells

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how it makes you feel all these things

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that you can utilize to connect with

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your audience marketing is a huge part

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and something that I think can be an

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afterthought for a lot of people

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starting businesses and that was an

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afterthought for me so that's why I'm

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letting you know because you know all

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these things are something that you

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should be thinking about as you are

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getting started with your business

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because again like I said earlier it

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really can be a make or break between

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you just kind of sitting around waiting

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for sales to happen versus you being

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diligent taking action and doing the

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things that are actually going to create

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those sales and step number 10 is set

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goals so you've launched your business

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you're kind of gaining momentum with

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with it you're creating Instagram

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content maybe you're working on a

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Shopify website while you have an Etsy

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shop or you've done a few local markets

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and you're really kind of getting the

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hang of this whole business thing you

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really need to kind of look at the big

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picture of everything and think to

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yourself okay where do I actually want

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to take this is this just a part-time

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thing I'm wanting to make some extra

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money am I wanting to replace my

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full-time job am I wanting to create

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this into like a multi-million dollar

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company all of these different things

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will require different action and

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different time energy and money into it

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so once you've kind of gotten into it

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and you may have already thought about

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this from the beginning you know

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thinking to yourself I just really want

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it to be just some extra money I'm going

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to have some fun with it and do some

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markets and that's totally fine that's a

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lot of fun and you may change your mind

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and think to yourself okay well if I've

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done markets then maybe I could do a

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trade show and really get into wholesale

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there's different Avenues within the

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candle industry and being a candle

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business owner and there's so much

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opportunity out there that you can

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really you know as Diana had said from

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the interview if you really are

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determined enough then you can make

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space in this industry it's just a

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matter of knowing your business knowing

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your brand and knowing your goals and

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really taking action if I could give you

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any advice in this video it's take

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action on your ideas take action on all

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of these thoughts that are in your head

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take action on these goals because

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you're never going to actually see any

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of this come to life if you don't take

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action on it and there's going to be

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obstacles and things that are

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frustrating and unknown that are in your

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way that seem like you don't want to go

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over it it's not a hurdle that you

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actually want to climb over because it

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just seems too big and too complicated

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and I don't understand any of it but I

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promise that 99.9% of business owners

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have been where you are I definitely

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have felt that way that there have been

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times and things that have been kind of

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in my path that seemed like well I don't

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even know if I want to do this because

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it's hard and there's math involved and

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I don't know anything about licensing

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and the taxes and it can seem very

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overwhelming so just take one thing at a

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time and really start chipping away at

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making this dream come true because if

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you're passionate about it enough then

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you will be able to overcome any of

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these things that seem really

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frustrating and daunting and I promise

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the other side is filled with nothing

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but confidence and I know that you can

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do it so um I really hope that this

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video helped you out I'm so excited to

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be celebrating four years in business

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today it has just been the craziest

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roller coaster but I think that becoming

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a mom and 7 months of that have been a

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little crazier I'm not going to lie but

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definitely the past four years in

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business have been

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just I can't believe how much has

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changed and grown since four years ago

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so I really hope you enjoyed today's

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video if you have any questions feel

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free to leave them down in the comment

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section below also don't forget to

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subscribe to the channel if you haven't

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already and I will see you in my next

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[Music]

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video

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[Music]

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[Music]

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