Once you are satisfied with the soaps you are producing, it'll probably cross your mind to try and sell your products. Seeing a return on the investments of making soap can bring that feeling of accomplishment to a whole new level.

You might have set out making soap primarily with the thought of having something to sell. Or maybe you tried making soap for you and your family, and it was so good that you knew you couldn't keep it to yourself. Or perhaps you shared some homemade soap as a gift and loved the rave reviews from friends who begged you to make more. Whatever the reason that brought the topic of selling your soap to mind, you're probably wondering what the next step would be.

There are many ways to market and sell your soap, and some are easier for beginners to venture out in, while others can take a few years to become a reality. Here are 3 options that are usually readily available in most areas:

Farmers Markets
I gave farmers markets a try the first year I made soap, and have continued to sell at my local farmers markets ever since. Farmers markets can have wide ranges of rules pertaining to what can be sold, so you need to look at each market as a completely separate endeavor. There are also vendor fees that usually apply, and it can be anywhere from $5 to hundreds of dollars, depending on whether you are paying by the day, week, month, season, or year. Generally, in my experience, the higher the vendor fees, the higher the profits can be at a given place. But that is not always true, so be prepared to suffer some losses occasionally.

Craft Shows and Weekend Events
I think that everyone who sells soap eventually tries a few craft shows and other events that happen about once a year. These can also vary widely in size and consequently also in booth or table fees. Some events can run for a few hours, others for days, and some for a week or more. There are indoor events, and outdoor events. You can talk with other vendors before you try an event, to get a feel for whether it would be worth your time and money to get involved.

Small Stores
There are so many different kinds of stores that are willing to sell homemade soap. Gift shops, health food co-ops, coffee shops, hair salons, historical shops, pet stores (pets need good soap too!), etc. The opportunites abound, so don't limit yourself!

Selling your soaps in a local store or at a local event is a huge accomplishment! You should be very proud of yourself that you made it this far in your business. It is also a lot of fun, despite that it requires plenty of work and preparation on your part. You won't know how well you can do until you try, so get out there and start selling!