Business Advice
Are you looking to set up your own business making and selling bath bombs? Maybe it’s just a dream right now, but with plenty of dedication and research, it can be fairly straightforward to get up and running.We’ll run through what you’ll need to start your own bath bomb business, how you’ll make and sell your goods and how you can protect yourself through craft insurance.
Why start a bath bomb business?
Bath bombs are hugely popular within the cosmetics industry. They are relatively easy to make at home and make great gifts for friends and family. Many people start out making them for personal use, but find that it’s a great hobby to turn into a small business.
Making bath bombs is relatively low cost, takes up very little space and has endless customisation opportunities. There are also dedicated insurance policies available to crafters that sell cosmetic products, ensuring that you are always covered.
Can you design your own bath bombs?
Yes, there are endless possibilities when it comes to designing bath bombs. From appearance to ingredients and scent, you can make your bath bombs entirely unique.
Bath bombs can be customised through:
- Colouring;
- Essential Oils;
- Scents;
- Decoration;
- Ingredients; and
- Packaging.
Types of bath bombs
When considering making bath bombs, you’ll need to find your niche, or your Unique Selling Point (USP). There are so many types of bath bombs; they’re no longer just basic spheres that fizz and dissolve.
Here are some of the most common types of bath bombs and how they are created:
Kids bath bombs
Bath bombs designed specifically for children need to be gentler on the skin but be outwardly appealing. Most kids bath bombs include some form of gimmick; a rainbow trail in the water or shaped to resemble a popular tv character, for example.
Bath bombs for men
Bath bombs can be unisex, but many businesses prefer to target specific scents and colours to specific genders. You may want to review the market and see what fragrances are typically used in male-oriented products, such as musk or cedarwood.
Cupcake bath bombs
‘Cupcake’ bath bombs are shaped exactly as they sound, like a cupcake! They are often made with a bath bomb on the bottom as the ‘cake’ and a body butter ‘icing’ on top.
Mini bath bombs
Mini bath bombs work great in gift sets. They are just smaller versions of the classic bath bomb but may work better for children who only have shallow baths.
Crystal bath bombs
General interest in crystals has grown significantly over recent years. The belief that crystals have healing powers works hand-in-hand with products aimed to promote self-care.
Jewel bath bombs
These types of bath bombs have become increasingly popular. The idea is that the bath bombs dissolve to reveal a surprise – a small piece of jewellery (typically a ring or a necklace).
Aromatherapy bath bombs
These bath bombs are made to offer theraputic properties, usually through the use of essential oils and moisturisers. They aim to help reduce stress, promote relaxation and alleviate other stress symptoms.
Be careful when creating products that claim to offer mental or physical benefits though. If you do claim this, your bath bombs will be classed as a drug, rather than cosmetics. This means that you must become FDA approved and registered with the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).
How to start a bath bomb business
Starting any business isn’t an easy process. If you create a business plan, set yourself attainable goals and stick to a plan however, you can be well on your way to having a successful small cosmetics business.
In simple terms, your basic first steps are:
- Market Research
- Create a Business Plan
- Create a brand (name, product list and prices)
- Set up an online store (or secure a craft stall position)
- Get a craft insurance policy in place
- Source ingredients and start crafting!
If you’re starting your bath bomb business from scratch, you might want to check out our ultimate guide to starting a craft business for more details on setting up your business
Main ingredients needed to make bath bombs
There are ingredients key to making bath bombs – particular chemicals are used in order to form the chemcial reaction needed to allow the bath bomb to fizz and dissolve.
Your basic ingredients will likely be:
- Baking Soda
- Citric Acid
- Cornstarch
- Essential Oils
- Fragrance
- Colouring
- Decoration
You’ll of course need moulds to shape your bath bombs, then equipment to mix your ingredients together in. You’ll then need materials to package your bath bombs in.
Choosing ingredients and formulations
It can be difficult to choose the right kind of ingredients for your cosmetics. You’ll need to be certain that the ingredients you choose are safe, approved for cosmetic use in your country and are skincare-grade.
Standard ingredients, such as baking soda, should be relatively straightforward to source in large quantities. Ingredients such as essential oils may be more difficult to choose – research what makes a quality oil, what properties the oils have and what scents work well together.
How to make bath bombs
It’s important that you spend a lot of time researching how you’re going to make your bath bombs. This isn’t a hugely difficult process, but it will take some practice to really nail the formula and setting process.
It’s worth practising making and testing your bath bombs before you start to sell them. This way, you can iron out any issues and ensure that you are only offering high quality products to your customers.
The basic steps to making bath bombs are as follows:
- Mix the dry ingredients
- Mix the wet ingredients separately
- Slowly add in and whisk the wet ingredients with the dry
- Pack the mixture into the moulds tightly
- Leave to solidify, then de-mould and package
Labeling and packaging bath bombs
You’ll need to pay close attention to how you label your bath bombs. Your product labels must include:
- Ingredients
- Hazard pictograms and statements
- Allergen information
- Supplier information
This will allow you to become CLP compliant, which is mandatory if your products contain essential oils.
Make sure to follow cosmetic product safety guidelines. A Cosmetic Product Safety Report is made up of a series of tests that check product:
- Toxicity
- Stability and Shelf-life
- Preservative Efficacy
You may be asked to produce this document by Trading Standards, so it is important that you have it to hand.
Licensing requirements for selling handmade bath bombs
As mentioned earlier, you may need FDA approval to sell certain bath bomb products. As well as this, you’ll need to adhere to rules set by the online platforms you sell on.
These regulations usually refer to the Consumer Contracts Regulations and will ensure that you are disclosing information and offering your customers legal consumer rights.
Do I need a license to sell bath bombs?
To specifically sell bath bombs, which are cosmetic products, you’ll need to obtain a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) which is required for all products that come into contact with the skin.
If you want to learn more about the regulations surrounding the creation and sale of cosmetic products, check out our dedicated guide on how to sell crafts legally.
Do I need Liability Insurance to make and sell bath bombs?
Yes, it is so important that you have your bath bomb business covered by a comprehensive craft insurance policy.
At CraftCover, we supply crafters with insurance you can trust. We cover you with both Public and Product Liability Insurance, meaning that you are protected against damages, legal costs and losses. This involves your business, products, equipment and materials as well as any public interaction when selling your goods.
We have a dedicated policy for bath bomb businesses – our Cosmetic Business Insurance covers crafters that make products related to skincare and bath, body and shower goods.
How to sell your homemade bath bombs
So, you’ve created a brand, made your bath bombs and they’re ready to be sold – what do you do next?
Where to sell handmade bath bombs
There are so many places that you can sell your bath bombs. Let’s start with online platforms:
Folksy:
Folksy is an online marketplace for crafters to showcase and sell handmade goods. It is the largest UK online marketplace for crafts. At CraftCover, we’re partnered with the Folksy team and can offer sellers a discount on their craft insurance; so get in touch!
Etsy:
Etsy is probably the most well-known online marketplace there is and attracts millions of shoppers every year. We see a lot of our crafting clients be hugely successful on this platform.
There are many other brilliant online marketplaces, such as:
- Amazon Handmade
- Not On The High Street
- Depop
- Facebook Marketplace
Alternatively, you can set up your own website. This is great for those with an established brand, but may be tough to promote if you’re starting from scratch with your bath bomb business.
Still unsure of where to sell your goods? Have a read of our blog on where to sell handmade crafts.
Selling bath bombs at craft fairs
Craft fairs are a great way to promote your business and sell products. It’s brilliant exposure and it allows you access to customers that may not be comfortable with buying products online.
You’ll need insurance to sell at craft fairs. Luckily, our cosmetics insurance policy can cover you for selling at craft fairs and shows.
How to promote my bath bombs?
Social media is huge when it comes to promoting small businesses. It’s wise to become familiar with popular social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tik Tok.
Promoting your business in person is also a great way to grow your business. You might want to invest in getting business cards printed – you can add these to your orders in the hopes that people share it with their friends and family.
FAQs about starting a bath bomb business
Can I sell bath bombs online?
Yes, you can sell bath bombs online as long as you follow the appropriate guidelines, have the right licences and adhere to regulations set by the online platform.
Is selling bath bombs profitable?
Selling bath bombs can be really profitable! We’ve seen plenty of our crafty clients have great success in selling handmade bath bombs and cosmetic products.
Is it easy to make bath bombs?
Making bath bombs will take practice, but their creation follows a much simpler process than a lot of other cosmetic products do. You’ll only need a few ingredients, and you aren’t likely to need specialist equipment in the first instance.
Do I need craft insurance to sell bath bombs?
Getting craft insurance is so important for small businesses selling bath bombs or any handmade goods. It allows your business to be protected from extensive legal costs should you experience an issue with your product and a member of the public.
It also really helps you to keep costs down should you have to deal with an incident. This could be anything that causes damage, from fire to flooding to theft. It isn’t worth the risk of losing your business profits if you have to replace lost equipment.
Get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss a comprehensive craft insurance package for your bath bomb business.
