Quality products easily stand the test of time and are
daily consumables. Soap is used for personal hygiene, washing cloths, cleaning
dishes or dirty surfaces.
The business is highly profitable because Nigeria has a
huge market of over 160 million people. This provides a good platform for
profit making if properly utilized.
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Soap
Making Business
Why
Start a Hand Made Soap Business
The simple fact is that soap making is profitable.
However you face serious competition from established brands.
In Nigeria huge conglomerates run the soap business. But
there is still room for small scale manufacturers.
To succeed you need to focus on a niche and produce high quality
products. Make sure your products are sold at reasonable price.
The packaging, branding is very important so make it attractive
and easy to identify. Slowly build a customer base through promotions,
discounts, local advertisement.
To start small you need basic tools readily available in
the open market. Another advantage is the low startup capital, home practicability.
You can also operate alongside your regular job part time or full time.
- soap making is profitable
- focus on a niche
- produce high quality products
- sell reasonable price
- create an attractive product
- you need basic tools
- low startup capital
- home practicability
- part time or full time
Variety
of Soap
There are two general categories the hard and soft soap.
The presence of hardening agent produces the hard soap.
To start the business you need to know the different
types available in the market. They are differentiated based on ingredients and
manufacturing process.
Different types are transparent, glycerin, medicated soap.
Others are guest, beauty soaps, novelty, perfumed soap, black soap.
The black soap (Dudu Osun) is made from natural
ingredients like aloe vera, palm kernel oil, she butter, honey. More types of
soap include antibacterial soaps, laundry, dishwashing detergent, cleaners.
Different
Types of Soap
- transparent
- glycerin
- medicated soap
- guest
- beauty soaps
- novelty
- perfumed soap
- black soap
- antibacterial soaps
- laundry soap
- dishwashing detergent
- cleaners
Soap
Making Equipment
The equipment you need depends on the size and scope of
the business. Basic tools are soap cutters, melting tanks, drying trays, soap molds.
You need measuring tools, weighing equipment, safety
equipment, storage tanks. More include mixing pot, scale, soap shaper, mixers.
Measuring tools are used to get precise measurements
while Immersion blender is used to mix the ingredients. It is important you wear
safety gear like gloves, goggles, boots, and apron. This is because you work
with some corrosive chemicals.
- soap cutters
- melting tanks
- drying trays
- soap molds
- measuring tools
- weighing equipment
- safety equipment
- storage tanks
- mixing pot
- scale
- soap shaper
- mixers
- safety gloves
- goggles
- boots
- apron
Soap
Ingredients
The type of soap dictates the ingredients used in the manufacturing
process. Common soap ingredients are fats, oil, dye, lye. Others are shea
butter, canola, coconut oil, olive oil, palm oil. Others are different
preservatives, colorants and base elements.
- Fats
- Oil
- Dye
- Lye
- Shea butter
- canola
- coconut oil
- olive oil
- palm oil
- preservatives
- colorants
- base elements
- carbolic soap production
- detergent powder manufacturing
Develop
a Soap Recipe
It is important you develop your own soap recipe. There are
lots of resources to gather information on different ingredients and mixtures.
Learn through books, online courses, internship, and
apprenticeship programs. Learn through vocational training center, seminar or a
personal tutor.
The quality and efficacy of your product is the selling
point. Invest in product development, standardization, quality control.
Soap
Manufacturing Process
To make soap you need to first develop a recipe and assemble
the ingredients. Make sure you wear protective gear then measure ingredients accordingly.
Mix your ingredients at same temperature and constantly
check the temperature. Pour the mixture into prepared moulds and cover. Leave
to set for 24-36 hours and unmold the soap. If your mold is in long bar form
you can cut when soft into desired shape.
License
You need a manufacturing license to produce soap. The
product should have a National Food & Drug Administrating number.
Register the business as a limited liability company or
sole proprietorship. You need tax identification number, health insurance
cover. There are also safety and environmental issues guiding the enterprise.
Marketing
Sell your product in your immediate locality and use appropriate
branding to differentiate your product. Offer promotions, discounts, and
community based activities to introduce the product. Use word of mouth, family,
friends and print medium. Make sure the price of your product is competitive.
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