My wife started a soap company selling foaming hand soap in 2019, then during the pandemic I learned how to make cold processed soap, dish soap, shave soap, shampoo and conditioner bars and more. I watched pretty much all the videos on this channel (and many others), bought the same Russian made soap cutter, designed my own labels and packaging. Most of what we make we still end up using ourselves, haven't broken even yet, but that's ok, it's a side-gig. One of these days we'll bump up the marketing efforts. Maybe one day it'll become more than a side-gig. In the meantime, we're learning and innovating and making the best product we can. Cheers

1- never stop learning. 2- be patient. 3- get out and do something, start something make batch and give to family, friends... 4- don't take anything personally. 5- learn marketing. 6- be real, be yourself. 7- don't buy likes on social media. 8- don't be afraid to make changes. 9- don't compare yourself to everyone else. 10- DON'T GIVE UP.

I started this as a hobby in June this year 2022 (winter here), and have been overwhelmed by the massive response. I can't even keep up with orders... as batches get cut, out they go. hardly even have time to advertise them :) Guest houses, shops, markers, private clients, gift bags, charity fund raisers.... So many projects! And this is still a sode hustle in my kitchen :) Still learning and messing up, but I've made a decent profit this far, no losses, and am excited for the growth. Thanks Uncle John for this channel... it means the world to me. love from Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦 ❤️

Some people go into the business as a quick rich and go overboard with adding too many products at once. It don't work that way, you really have to invest and keep investing in your business. You always have to constantly learn new things and expand your horizons. I made soaps, started small local business, expanded from friends, family and markets to creating a website....then covid hit, but that didn't keep us down the website help us sell more. Then got diagnose with breast cancer, that knock us out. Glad to say all is well , but I still have my days. I really don't know if i can ever really recover and start again, only the future can tell. But I wish all of you peeps the best of luck and keep on soaping.

Most important point made, IMO: Can’t please everyone! SOOOO TRUE!!! Yet, so hard. Love what you said: If you try to cater to everybody, you’ll go NUTS and BROKE 😜.

Spot on bud. I’ve been making soap for 6 years and have been a registered business for a little over a year. I have a website and am organically growing. Everything you said is the absolute truth.

All very good advice. My degree is actually in Ops Management. Much of what you shared here, is part of what they teach for the entrepreneurial portion. One thing I would add to this list is, figure out if there may be a unique market that many wouldn't think about... example, a friend of mine owns a tattoo shop. One thing they suggest to people for tattoo after care is unscented soap without dye for cleaning and another thing is using unscented vitamin E rich lotion once mostly healed. So... while it's a niche market and kind of a volatile market, it's one place that might be interested in having in their own shops to sell and if they only take 10%, it's not that big of a deal.... or at least have them hand out business cards to their customers who may be interested in a soap, rather than a detergent-based soap (like Dial, for just one example).

More straight up knowledge dropping. No fuss, Just the goods.The way it should be.

Thank you for your advice. My son and his partner started a soap LLC business. They listen to your great advices.

I love Katie at Royalty Soaps, she's a big design inspiration for me ... Mrs Soap and Clay is my go to for information and learning tho ... Highly recommend her channel! Thanks for these tips ... I am almost 9 months in to my first year, and everyone I've listened to has said the same thing, as far as the length of time for profitability and going full time. Now, I'm maybe a little more fortunate, but unfortunate at the same time, as I don't have a job so I can focus on this full time and have since the beginning. There have been times when I have been frustrated that it hasn't picked up faster than it has, but I try to stay patient and remember that most have said it will take 3+ years to see any real profit from this. My biggest challenge at this point is marketing, but I am learning. I love your candour, and appreciate the straight talk. I have learned so much from you and others who are successful in this business. Merry Christmas Jon, to you and yours. Wishing growth and prosperity for you in the new year.

I am very new to see you…I crochet and I have always wanted to make soap to go with scrubbies…. Not to sell but as gifts I appreciate what you do and probably won’t try to chicken

Thank you so much appreciate your videos

There's a few soapers that answer questions. I've found a couple good ones that always respond. It's a really good tip.

Hi Uncle Jon 🌺 it’s so good to see & hear you. Don’t quit before the miracle happens!

I like your honesty.

I make soap because I love it. Sideeffect: I sell them 😄 I could make a business out of it but I think I would loose the lightness. With the money I earn I buy new stuff, so it's on going and endless, who cool is that? 😎

Merry Christmas to you and your family and I hope you have a very prosperous new year. Another soaper that I love to watch, I love Katie Carson, is Soap & Clay. She is an actual scientist who is more than willing to answer any questions you might have and she explains it in a way that everyone can understand. I love your videos. You are no nonsense and very down to earth. I love that you don't sugar coat it 💖

You have helped so many people! Have missed your sensible outlook.

I clicked this video to learn, even though my career dream choice is a lot different but maybe you have one or two things that'll teach me something. Only a few mins in!

Greetings from Downtown Boise Idaho

Merry Christmas! God bless you!

Uncle Jon, I thought you quit making videos? I.m glad your still aroung! btwMERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

We want a store tour. We want a store tour. :) Oh and Merry Christmas.

Great video Jon!

Love this!

Thanks Jon, my husband and I are now both retired and doing pretty well with our soap and candle business….

Thanks Jon! Have a merry Christmas!

We have been watching Katie RS for a while. Then I found you and Soap & Clay. So much information 🥰.

I needed this video. Thank you ❤🙏. Happy holidays 🎆

Perfectly timed, sir. I needed to hear that.

Oh man I needed this advice today Haha!! Thanks heaps Uncle Jon, much appreciated x

Im just me in a small apartment in Brooklyn, with my 2 kids and I want to start this and I’ve been researching but now im apprehensive because idk where im going to even make it 🫠

Thank You very very much Uncle Jon 🙏

Happy New Year to you and looking forward to many more of your videos. Love them.

Best advice yet.

Thank you Uncle John! I needed this now!

Jon, you ROCK! Thank you for all your info, wisdom and support!!! 🙏🏼❤️💯

Thanks Jon! The Target Audience advice is so true! Otherwise, you can easily get overwhelmed! Thanks so much for sharing your sage and practical advice!

Always enjoy your honest videos.

great tips this is how i started happy holidays

Thank you for this! I been thinking I was doing it all wrong,

Thank you. 🙏

Thank you for this video! I needed to hear that! Great advice all around! 😊

Thank you for this lovely video. Just what I needed right now 🙏🏽🙏🏽

Thank you, Jon😊👍🏼you are real and so encouraging

Thank you! I was looking for something like this for months. Helped so much👍🏼

Thank you!

Needed that intro today. Thank you!

Have a wonderful Christmas from our family to yours and thank you for all your tips.

Thanks Jon! Happy New Year to you and your family! -Momo

Thanks unk 🙏🏾

What a wonderful video. Thank you so much.

Thanks a bunch.

Thank you so much for your transparency! Your videos are always straight to the point - which is greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Jon. Love from Pretoria, South Africa

I definitely got the customer service part down been a waitress and manicurist for years can't make everyone happy is definitely true.

Wishing you and your family a fabulous Xmas and new year xx

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

Nice video and great tips. 👍👍 Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. 🤘😃🤘

thankyou for this video

Great advice for everyone to follow. Thanks and have a very Merry Christmas . And a very great New Year.

Thank you so much for this video, amazing tips and great things to think about. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! May 2022 be awesome for your business and everyone’s starting and continuing their own!! Keep moving forward 💚💛👏🏼

Thanks for making another video...been too long! You always inspire me to keep going when things aren't moving as fast as I would like them to go! Please try and do more videos🙏🏻

Ur a straightforward person john been seeing a lot video's but your up to the mark im gonna take only your advice on this platform thank you so much god bless

Thank you, Jon. Merry Christmas to you too and have a happy year 2022. Been wondering where your youtube posting, as it's been quite a while. Your recipe is very good (when you shared it), and I learn a lot. Happy holiday ...

absolutely loved this video, and it came at the most opportune time for me! Needed this!!! thank you so much!

The beginning brought me in😍...knock that off!

YES!!! I'm doing my soaping as my side gig!!! I have a street fair next month... and a couple leads other places. Totally agree with the side gig thing.

Thank you for this really interesting video. I’m a beginner at soap making and a total and complete non-business person. I’ve been a stay-at-home, homeschooling mother for 22 years, and still have at least 15 years to go with this unpaid job. But I can’t help but dream about one day selling some handmade craft. I’ve been artistic and crafty all my life. I’m always making something. I love drawing, painting, writing, quilting, and now, soap making. I’ve always been absolutely impressed with sellers at farmers markets. And honestly, just plain baffled at the Etsy and online sellers generally. Y’all are my heroes! I’d love to be able to do what you’re doing.

Thank goodness for the good advice I just started doing soaps again and I was over thinking

Thanks for giving me the link. Interesting advice. Even applies to folks who are not making a new business, but a life style change.

Yes she does answer specific questions. Because I've asked and she almost always responds

I love your logo! Simple and sweet like apple pie and strawberry jam 😋. My kids and grandkids want me to sell my soap🙄 but right now, I just make it for my family 💗. So your advice is very helpful 🤗

You and Katie Carson are the only ppl i watch consistently 😁 but I have learned so much from both of u. Thank u for ur knowledge it's been a big help. Have a Merry Xmas and safe New Year.

Enjoyed the video!

Thank you for you knowledge, I have just started making soaps. I started with Royalty soaps KZfaq video.❤️

Uncle Jon you are so honest and tell us what you went through and dealing with. I appreciate that, and you don't use these big college terms. I hope that you make others and do well

I appreciate you. You gave a no nonsense approach to this online business. I’ve been trying for a long time to start but get stuck on the process…now after listening to you it has giving me hope…I do have a question why is the best platform to start Etsy, eBay, or start on your own website? Can you help me on that..thank you so much for sharing 👍👍👍

What I've noticed in these videos is that most don't mention the fact that you have to cover up your soap for 24 hours. And that you should spray your soap containers and the top of your soap with rubbing alcohol. I watched one who put her soap in the refrigerator without explaining why. The reason I'm saying this is because I did see one video that said to cover your soap up with cardboard and a towel for 24 hours and she explained why. I am just learning so I need to know everything from beginning to end. I hope you include this information at the end of your videos going forward don't take it for granted that everyone knows what you know. Now, I'll get off my stand and thank you so much for sharing and giving us the encouragement we need At least I need.

I love your advise. Thank you very much. I have just started making soap. Wish me well 😉

Tip #4 would be the hard one for me.

Royalty soap she amazing

My goal is to get a video out once a week, but I struggle. Love your channel, I just subscribed.

Here in Greece is very difficult to start a soap business. need special permission from eof, corresponding fda yours, for this business, lneeds, a boratory specifications and hiring a chemical scientist. Thanks for advise, is very helpful!

I know you have owned a soap shop for many years and I am wondering if your shop has reached a point where your net profit is 50 K + I love making a good product and I am wondering if you can earn a good living wage from a soap shop like yours.....you have been in business many years so I believe you have good evidence for if a business like yours can earn 50k + a year....I am just wondering about the ROI....Thankyou!

If you had an extra 200 dollars. In your opinion would it be best to use that money to improve your packing to be more customized to reflect your brand or use it towards marketing and leave the packaging more generic?

Ps. Loved your video so much, I am watching it twice. How did you do the "echo voice over" at the intro? Quality production for a guy that does one take videos. I'm a one take guy myself. Ps. I saw the cut transitions to speed up the video, but you can tell it is one take. Highest admiration for your videos.

When's is the best time to get my llc

Just so know you made me cry…..

You just called me old! 🤣 Then... the "bot" ... "Danger Will Robinson" Lost in Space reference... Seriously? Are you trying to give me more gray?

Just starting to dive into soap making. Do you have a recommendation for reading material to learn the basics on the oils and recipes? I don't know alot about the difference oils and what each bring to the soap so I need some schooling.

Thank you Uncle Jon💚, I really need to hear these tips and advice. I started with making melt and pour soup but quickly new and felt I wanted to make cold process soap. I began buying books, researching online, and watching KZfaq tutorials (this how I found your page). I finally made my first cold processed soap back in March of 2021. I sold a couple but quickly my mind started with the 'What if' scenario. Plus, people were telling me I had to be certified or take some type of course so, I kind of slowed down with making and selling. Now, after watching this video, you have reignited my desire to keep moving forward. I am grateful for your advice, tips and I truly THANK YOU🙏🏽💚

Hey Uncle Jon,I made my batch of soap but after I let it set for the 24 hours it's still soft. I think put to much fat in it ,so I'm just letting it air dry to harden. I'm on the right track.

How would I make a gunpowder and leather scent? I can find leather scented oil but no luck on the gunpowder. Any ideas?

Haha, kinda called me out on the name and logo not fitting. Still trying to find something that fits but I still feel attached to my current branding.

Not everyone's advice is right for you.. that's what I feel..

Which oil is good to revert grey hai which is premature

Can I use a baking blend sweet Extra Vitgin Olive Oil as an infuser?

june cleaver was hot.