Date published: January 10, 2024
Are you a makeup enthusiast? If so, you may be wondering how to start your own lip gloss company. Follow this comprehensive guide to begin your entrepreneurial journey.
Best Practices
Financial Preparation
Business Tips
Starting your own lip gloss business can be an exciting journey. The lip gloss industry is cost-effective, fast, and uncomplicated because you don’t need significant capital or an investor to start your beauty business. If you are wondering how to start a lip gloss company, follow along to begin your journey towards business ownership.
Lip gloss was first introduced to the public in 1930 by the Max Factor Company. After almost a century, the beauty industry is growing more than ever. According to Statista, 122.62 million women in the U.S. used lipstick and lip gloss in 2020. This figure is projected to increase to 124.68 million in 2024. Moreover, studies predict that people will continue to use more beauty products causing demand growth over the following years. As a result, the lipstick industry is expected to value about $10 billion by 2024.
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Statistics also show 4,082 Cosmetic and Beauty Products Manufacturing businesses in the US as of 2022, an increase of 3.6% from 2021. Therefore, starting a lip gloss business line can be a rewarding journey for a young entrepreneur. It is one of the best business ideas for teens.
Operating a lip gloss business has many benefits, but we have outlined the most important ones that will help you move forward confidently:
Creating a lip gloss line offers several potential avenues to explore:
Each of these models has benefits and disadvantages for your entrepreneurial journey, so let’s take a closer look at how they work.
This business model doesn’t require any capital investment to start making money, and the process of becoming a lip gloss distributor is relatively easy. All you must do is find lip gloss brands like Avon and Mary Kay, apply to become a distributor and sell the products. These vendors for lip gloss will also provide you with resources and sales materials to help you get started. After all, the more distributors a company has, the more products it will sell.
A private label manufacturer produces the lip glosses for you and adds your brand name to the packaging. You have complete control over choosing the colors, packaging, scent, quality, and all the aspects of developing your lip gloss. This business model is very cost-effective because the solutions and materials used to make the lip gloss may have already been approved by the FDA. However, note that some private label companies have a minimum number of products you can buy, which may be a lot when you first start your business.
Starting a lip gloss line from scratch is the most challenging yet rewarding option. You will need to purchase all the materials required to make your lip gloss and brand your products yourself. It would be best to experiment with different formulas before you start to sell. Until you have enough money to hire other people, you will be running your entire business yourself.
If you want to make your lip gloss, you have two options: you can either buy a lip gloss starter kit or buy all the ingredients separately. Either way, it’s important to make sure your product meets all requirements listed under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
There are many lip gloss starter kits available for every taste and budget. The kits include a few hundred units of private-label lip gloss, tubes in different sizes, ingredient stickers, oils, micas, pigments, and other necessary items. Prices can range from $50 to $ 1,000.
Creating homemade lip gloss from scratch can be a straightforward process that requires just a handful of essential ingredients and tools. Here's a breakdown of what you'll need:
Safety Tip: Before experimenting with your homemade lip gloss, we strongly recommend seeking professional guidance to ensure its safety and quality, especially if you intend to use it on yourself or others.
Here is a list of some of the ingredients and tools needed to make lip gloss to sell:
The base is the foundation of any lip gloss. Usually, it has a transparent color. But you can add dyes, glitter, and other pigments to the base to make it unique and original.
There are different types of oils that you can add to your lip gloss base. The most popular oils used in lip glosses are coconut oils, olive oil, castor oil, and almond oil. These oils are also known for their nourishing properties.
Different types of wax can be added to your base and natural oils, depending on how thick you want your gloss to be. The most popular choices are beeswax, candelilla wax, and carnauba wax. All three options have to soften properties and provide a glossy finish. However, avoid utilizing beeswax if you are marketing your products to the vegan or cruelty-free community.
You could also use a mix of clays to make your lip gloss’s consistency even thicker. The three clay families used for cosmetic purposes are kaolinite, illite, and smectite. Each clay is used for different purposes.
If you like to add extra taste and scent to your lip glosses, then flavoring oils are a great option. You can also mix oils to create unique flavors like strawberry vanilla or mint chocolate.
You can add liquid lip dyes to your lip gloss base to get your desired color. You can also use different pigments and mix them to get the shade you want.
Once you have formulated your lip gloss, you need to store it in a container. Then, depending on your customer’s preference, you could sell your lip glosses in wand tubes or squeeze tubes. As the name indicates, a wand tube comes with a small wand-like applicator that you use to apply on your lips. Unlike a wand tube, a squeeze tube doesn’t have an applicator. Instead, it has a small hole through which you squeeze the gloss out onto your lips.
Pipettes and syringes will help you measure and transfer your finished product into the wand or squeeze tube. As your business grows, you can purchase an automatic or semi-automatic filling machine for higher levels of precision and improved speed with the help of equipment financing.
Now that you know how to make a lip gloss, you need to decide to whom you would like to sell your products. For example, if you want to make subtle lip glosses, it is better to target a professional audience. On the other hand, if your goal is to create lip glosses that pop and have a fruity taste, it might be better to target the younger generation.
You could also work the other way around. You could determine your niche and then create the lip gloss targeted to their needs. Knowing your niche will help you market effectively and keep costs down.
Competition in the beauty industry is high, and it is projected to keep growing. Moreover, the competition goes beyond your city or country. It is also international because lip gloss brands worldwide can be found in cosmetics stores across the U.S. and online. However, if you have done your due diligence and know your target market, you can grow and advance in the industry with the right marketing strategies.
Branding is what will make you stand out among your competitors. Your brand name and logo are essential elements alongside product quality and marketing strategy. Your name is one of the main components of how others perceive your brand.
That’s why you should be creative and come up with a name related to your brand that’s catchy and easy to remember. Ideally, pick at least three names for your business and share the list with close friends and family. Then, ask for their feedback to understand how people perceive them and choose the best alternative. Your brand's perceptions will play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining loyalty to your brand in the long run.
If you have design skills, you can create your logo. If not, you can take advantage of online logo-generating services or hire a freelance graphic designer. Also, make sure that your lip gloss branding labels are in a proper size proportional to your tubes.
The next step is to register your business. Popular options for a lip gloss production business include a limited liability company (LLC), partnership, or sole proprietorship.
Establishing an LLC protects the business owner from personal liabilities. If something goes wrong in the business, your personal belongings are protected. Only the money you put into your business will be at risk. For example, if one of your customers has an allergic reaction to your product and decides to sue you, the LLC may protect you as an individual.
Moreover, operating an LLC is simpler and more flexible than other alternatives. If you want to compete more effectively and grow your lip gloss production, starting with an LLC and then changing it to an “S” business enterprise or a “C” company might be the best option. By making the switch, you can transfer the company’s ownership more easily, enjoy a separate tax structure, and have flexibility in ownership.
A partnership is a good option if you start your lip gloss company with two or more friends. However, you will have unlimited personal liability. This means that if someone sues your business, you and your partners may lose your personal belongings.
A sole proprietorship is suitable for new companies with no employees. However, you are personally liable for any damages. Moreover, if you take your business seriously and have intentions to grow, then choosing a sole proprietorship may stand in your way.
Legal requirements will vary depending on your location and type of business. If you are making lip gloss from scratch, you need to ensure that your products meet quality and safety standards. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the cosmetics industry; hence, all color additives, labeling, and packaging must be approved by the FDA for the intended use.
For example, if you want to sell organic lip glosses, you should follow FDA regulations for safety and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) laws for organic products. For instance, you can only use the term “organic” if at least 95% of the ingredients used in your lip gloss are organic.
If you want to become a lip gloss distributor or sell private-label lip gloss, you don’t have to worry about this matter. The FDA has already approved these goods.
Moreover, you need the proper documentation to run a successful business. To legally operate your lip gloss company in the U.S., you need to obtain the following legal documents:
Everything starts with protecting your business idea. Then you need to protect your label, design, and style, or else anyone can successfully fake it or create similar products and make money from your brand name. So, visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and fill out a patent application form to protect your intellectual property or secure a trademark for your company.
As your lip gloss company grows, you’ll need insurance to protect your business. Even if you have an LLC, your business can be sued. Discuss with an agent to understand the best insurance policies. The two most popular insurance policies that lip gloss business owners get are general liability insurance to protect themselves from lawsuits against the company and product liability insurance if a customer injures themselves by misusing the product.
You don’t need any professional certification to operate a lip gloss company successfully. However, you will do yourself a big favor if you enroll in a cosmetology school before starting your business. Studying cosmetology will help you better understand the industry so you can create a quality product.
There are two main avenues for selling cosmetics: online and in-store. They are not mutually exclusive, and many small operations succeed with both options. Here’s what you should know before going in either direction.
Launching and selling lip gloss online can significantly reduce your operational costs. Here are some effective strategies to kickstart your online lip gloss business:
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively launch and grow your online lip gloss business, reaching a wider audience and maximizing your online sales potential.
Before opening your brick-and-mortar store, consider the set-up costs such as décor, lip gloss business cards, rent, and utilities. The location you choose to operate your lip gloss business is the key to your success. You should select a suitable place for your business where your target niche can easily access your store.
However, even if you open a store, it’s a good idea to have a website and promote your product on your social media platforms. Advertise online, offer special discounts, and build a solid social media presence. Encourage your customers to spread the word about your products and reward them with incentives.
The investment required to start a lipstick business can vary widely depending on factors such as the scale of the operation, location, and business model. On average, you may need anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 or more to start a small to medium-sized lipstick business. This amount would cover all the things we mentioned above starting from product development and manufacturing to branding and packaging. Many startups may face financial hardships during their first stages, so it is more common to consider startup business loans as a way of solution. Keep in mind that these costs can significantly vary, and it's essential to create a detailed business plan to determine your specific startup costs based on your business goals and the market you intend to target.
Starting your lip gloss business can take many forms. You can choose to become a lip gloss distributor, work with a private label manufacturer, or make your own lip gloss from scratch. No matter which route you choose, starting your lip gloss business can be done inexpensively. Make sure you get all the required licenses, permits, and the approval of the FDA, and focus on the creativity of your marketing to attract new customers and make more money.
Ethan James Lead WriterMay 17, 2023
By: Kari Amarnani
Are you interested in learning how to start a lipgloss business successfully? If so, you came to the right place.
Beauty products, especially lipsticks and lipglosses, are well-loved worldwide because they enhance a look and promote confidence. It’s an enjoyment of the self that perseveres regardless of borders and differences. Everyone feels beautiful with a stunning lip on them.
As a matter of fact, lip products play such a significant role in the beauty industry that they were hardly affected by the economic downturn of the global pandemic. The best part? You don’t have to break the bank to put up a lipgloss business, and the rewards are incredibly promising.
Let’s dive into the three most prominent benefits of knowing how to start a lipgloss small business:
One thing that usually makes or breaks the rise of a business is startup costs. Fortunately, getting into how to create lip gloss isn’t that pricey. The primary investments come from packaging, branding, and marketing. The ingredients for the products themselves are reasonably priced—yay!
You may have to splurge if you’re looking to incorporate higher-quality ingredients, but even then, the cost-to-profit ratio remains pretty reasonable.
You know that knowing how to make your own lipgloss products doesn’t hurt your wallet, and guess what else? They’re also not that difficult to make. Making your own lipgloss products is a relatively simple skill to learn. You don’t need to take any special classes to be a lipgloss expert. You’ll likely even get the hang of the process by the first or second attempt.
So not only is having a lipgloss business cost-efficient and intuitive, but it is also a venture towards a strong and growing industry. Many entrepreneurs struggle with putting up businesses in a lacking market for them. In the lipgloss industry, that’s not a problem.
According to Grand View Research, the lip care industry is expected to reach $1.18 billion by 2025. In 2020, this number was $820 million. Quite a jump, isn’t it? Climb the ladder while you’re smack in the middle of a flourishing industry. It’s the best time to get started.
The iconic Lil Mama once said, “My lip gloss is cool. My lip gloss be poppin'.” and now, it’s time for you to be making cool and poppin’ lipgloss! Get started on these five essential steps on how to start a lipgloss business.
The lipgloss line of business can be supported in all parts of the world by men and women. Lipgloss has no cultural barrier. In fact, it’s also the recommended starting point for pre-teenagers that want to touch base with makeup for the first time. Regardless of age and gender, lipgloss is an option for anyone going for a light look.
Having a broad market scope to work with, you have endless opportunities for your branding and marketing. This allows you to determine your niche—what makes your lipgloss products unique? Who are they meant for? Build your brand identity around that premise and cater to your target audience.
A lip gloss small business is a lucrative industry, and it’s open to any aspiring entrepreneur to bust in and establish their business. You have to freedom to start small by selling your products locally, or you can choose to begin on a large scale with your lipgloss products spread across the country and other parts of the world.
With lipgloss, the world is your oyster.
Truth be told, your lipgloss packaging can make or break your business. It sounds like a stretch, but don’t underestimate the impact of appearance in the beauty industry. Of course, you want your excellent products to speak for you, but people tend to gravitate to items that catch their attention.
The narrative goes a little something like this: This beauty product looks gorgeous on the outside. It’s likely just as beautiful on the inside, which means it could look great on me!
Putting effort into how your lipgloss products look shows that you care enough about your business to make it as beautiful and eye-catching as it can be. Potential customers pick up on that more than you know. The lipgloss-making process is highly intuitive, so invest your time and energy in making them look as stunning as you want people to feel when they use your products.
There are a couple of things to consider, namely:
But the most critical aspect of your packaging is that it needs to exemplify your business flawlessly. It should be so compelling that people can instantly remember you and your brand. It might take some time to get there, but the result is gratifying.
If you want to know how to start a lipgloss business, you have to understand what you tangibly need to make it happen. Let’s get right into how to make your own lipgloss. In terms of the lip gloss machine and equipment, you want to invest in:
These are some of the essential tools most lipgloss businesses have under their belt. If you want to add your own spin to the designs and packaging, add that to the list, but ensure that you cover the necessities first.
Now, what about supplies? These are the most important ingredients to make lip gloss for business purposes:
These ingredients should be the core of every recipe when it comes how to create lip gloss. The rest is up to you. Should you decide to add scents, coloring, or any other element to your products, make sure to get every item from a reliable lip gloss manufacturer. Your customers are applying these products on their lips, and you want to keep their safety as your top priority.
There are many things to consider when you price products that belong in the beauty industry. First, some startups lowball their lip gloss prices at the start of their entrepreneurial journey to attract customers to the business. Though it is practical in most situations, you should consider avoiding this for beauty products.
When the lipgloss price is too low, users may not feel completely safe using them, assuming that the ingredients of the product are low quality. Of course, this isn’t always the case, but it is a norm in the world of makeup.
Then again, there is an umbrella term known as “drugstore makeup,” which pertains to effective products at a reasonable price. Examples of brands that have been dubbed as drugstore makeup are Maybelline, Covergirl, and L'Oréal Paris. They sell their cosmetics, including lip products, at a fairly reasonable price ($6 to $28). And they do work.
Source: HappiIf you want to go with this route, ensure that your products have high-quality and safe ingredients. Who knows? You may just be the new top brand in the drugstore makeup world.
On the other hand, we have brands like Mac and Nars. They price their products a little on the higher side, still reasonable but not as affordable as the examples above. You’ll find lip gloss prices from $26 to $90. They are considered luxury brands, and they also work as well, if not better.
Source: The Beauty NerdYour pricing approach depends on you. If you want your lipgloss products to be more accessible to the public, go ahead and set low prices. Just be sure not to price them too low for users to question their credibility. If you want to go with the luxury brand route, ensure that you back up those prices with unique and long-lasting products.
Running a full-fledged business means being proactive when it comes to the brand marketing of your products. You put in the time and effort into making your lipgloss products look and feel phenomenal—they deserve to be out and proud for the people to see.
Though the lipgloss market is vast and promising, you also have quite a bit of competition doing the same things you are. Having marketing strategies for your small business can provide you with significant growth at the start, which accumulates to long-term success if you’re consistent enough with it.
Here are some marketing strategies to consider for your lipgloss business:
You’ll be a lipgloss boss in no time!
You are already creating gorgeous lipgloss products. Now, it’s time to make a just as magnificent lipgloss business logo to attract people to your brand.
A lipgloss business logo is fundamental to your brand, but there are other steps you can take to build a favorable reputation in the beauty industry. Awareness is a significant factor.
Statistics show that the global beauty industry made $500 billion in sales in 2019 before taking a dip in 2020 due to the pandemic. The provision to wear masks has led to a downturn in lip product sales. However, sales appear to be slowly picking up from $483 billion in 2020 to $511 billion in 2021.
The growing 2021 trend with lip products, especially lipsticks and lipglosses, is satin or sheen textures. Full-coverage and dense shades are also classic options that are continually popular among women.
Branding is essential in standing out, but here are other valuable tips to consider:
A lipgloss business can be a great idea as this market caters to a wide demographic, especially among women in their pre-teen to teen years. Most younger women are more inclined to use lip gloss than adult women, most of whom gravitate to fuller coverage products.
Don’t forget that understanding your target market allows you to optimize and customize your products accordingly. And ultimately, it is the crucial factor that leads to a successful business. Don’t hesitate to engage with your audience—ask for their opinions and feedback, create polls, and learn about their preferences. It does more than you think!
These are some steps that can intrigue people to learn about your lipgloss business, but a good branding strategy boosts the quality of your online entity as a whole. A logo is the face of your business, and if it’s unique and appealing enough, it can compel your audience to check out your products.
Are you looking for a lipgloss business logo? Well, you’ve hit the jackpot. Read on to learn the importance of a logo and how to make one for your lipgloss business!
A logo can help build the visual identity of your lipgloss business and aids in making it stand out from the competition. Remember, the beauty industry can be highly competitive, so having your business present itself in a positive light can do wonders for your brand.
Branding gives your lipgloss business a strong foundation, but effective branding does that and so much more.
Proper branding allows you to interact and bond with potential customers, encouraging them to learn more about you. Though a lipgloss business logo can elevate your brand’s appearance, it has more significance than that— it provides you with credibility and a strong foundation.
Building your lipgloss business can help develop trust between you and your audience, which is essential as customers would be relying on you for their beauty and makeup needs.
Once you start to build a solid connection with your target market through effective branding, your job gets much more straightforward.
A strong logo is a big step in the right direction, and with our logo maker to assist you, your visual branding needs are set and good to go.
But before we get to that, it’s also important to consider other ways you can make your lipgloss business stand out from the crowd.
Here are six easy steps to get your free lipgloss business logo and ways to market your brand with your new visual.
Lip gloss business names are more for the customers than it is for you. Decide on a name that oozes fun and beauty, so much so that it would incline viewers to learn more about your brand.
Consider using a lip gloss name generator to provide you with a great and memorable lip gloss business names along with a beautiful logo to go with it. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of inspiration to guide you through this process. You’ll know the right one when you see it.
All you have to do is input 1 to 3 relevant keywords that describe your business and optimize your preferences.
For example:
Lip Gloss Business Name GeneratorThe tool will generate a ton of lip gloss business names along with potential logo designs for you to choose from.
What do good lip gloss business name ideas have in common? They should inspire beauty and elegance, and they need to correctly express precisely what you specialize in for your lip gloss business.
Browse through the selection of names and choose the one you like the best. Don’t worry about the logo design for now—soon enough, you’ll find hundreds of different designs to choose from.
Here are a couple of tips when you’re choosing a great name for your lipgloss business. It should:
Once you have chosen your preferred name, click ‘Ideas’ on the upper left of the page to look through hundreds of logo designs.
Lip Gloss Business Logo Design Ideas
Every logo you see is fully customizable according to your preferences. All you have to do is look for the design that is closest to your ideal logo. Once you’ve found it, click it to start customizing it. From here, you can modify the logo’s font, colors, icons, spacing— pretty much everything! Keep going until it reaches perfection.
Logo EditorTo help you get an effective logo, consider these tips:
Customization is fundamental because it ensures that your logo creation is 100% yours. You are in complete control here. You understand your vision the most, and with the help of a professional logo maker, you get to make that vision come alive and make it a reality.
Not to mention, customizing a lipgloss business logo also helps make your brand stand out from the crowd. Customization lets you add your own spin to the design. Nothing stands out as innovation does.
Keep in mind the benefits of logo customization:
Once you’re happy with your creation, click ‘Preview’ to see how your new logo will look on various products and merchandise. You will also find information about the logo’s font, color palette, business cards— which you can keep in your branding records as a resource.
Can you believe it? That’s all it took to get a lip gloss business logo—four simple steps, and you’re almost finished.
Once you have finalized your logo, click the ‘Get Your Logo’ button. From here, you can take your new lipgloss business logo home free of charge!
You can start using your lipgloss business logo right away with these benefits:
Launch your lipgloss business in almost no time at all. It's practical to get an early start, so go for it! But take note that your logo is just the start. You still need branding materials featuring your new logo to build your online presence.
This is where the Brand Plan comes in.
The Brand Plan features for a stealOur Brand Plan is your brand-building best friend. For only $10/month, you have instant access to:
Oh, and all of them are pre-set with your new lipgloss logo. Say hello to instant convenience and results!
Having a solid social media marketing strategy allows you to efficiently promote your lipgloss business to your target audiences. Understanding what the platforms have to offer is a critical benefit in deciding where to specialize.
For example, statistics show that more women use Instagram than men, whereas Twitter and Facebook significantly have more male users than female users. Naturally, it makes more sense to promote on Instagram because that is where your primary demographic lies.
You may also use the platform to post gorgeous images of your lip glosses with fun and descriptive captions. But take note, before you post anything, you need to have a well-perceived credible business for users to truly notice you. And a way to build credibility in your lipgloss business is to make your social media presence consistent.
A social media kit offers this consistency. LOGO.com gives you ready-to-use files for all your social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Twitter. It’s always a good idea to have this in your arsenal should you decide to explore more social media channels. Who knows what heights your lipgloss business could reach?
More importantly, to have a lipgloss business, you need a website for customers to place orders on your products. LOGO.com offers a website builder, which gives you countless possibilities for how you want to use it to promote your business.
You can make it a company website to feature your products, brand statements, and positive feedback. You can also use it for diving into other forms of promotion, such as creating blogs and content about your journey in starting a lipgloss business— providing tips for aspiring makeup moguls while also building your brand.
A logo is the core of your visual branding needs because it builds a strong foundation between you and your target market. It shows that you care about your lipgloss business enough to brand it properly.
Compelling logos can ultimately set you apart from the competition, and they can potentially tell users a story with a single glance.