Candy is the taste of nostalgia. There’s nothing like sweets to remind us of holidays and home. If you want to make some magic in your kitchen and sell candy from home, here’s what you need to know.
If you’d like to see your candy business featured here, simply sign up with Airmart and create an online store.
If you sell Asian candy, you will also be listed in our Asian snack directory.
How to Sell Candy from Home
Do I need a permit to sell candy from home?
It is legal to sell candy from home without a permit if you pay attention to cottage food laws. Cottage food laws differ from state to state and county to county, but in general, these laws do not require homemade candy businesses to acquire a permit or license of any kind.
Establishing a cottage food business is the easiest way to legally sell candy from home. Candy is a great item to sell from home because it is usually long-lasting and doesn’t need to be refrigerated. However, there will be limits on how much money you can make selling candy from home, and you must be prepared to take a food safety course. Cottage food laws also require you to list every ingredient on the candy packaging, highlighting any possible allergens.
Homemade Candy to Sell
In California, you can sell any of the following homemade candy, as long as they are made without eggs:
- Brittles
- Candied Apples
- Candied Popcorn
- Caramels
- Cotton Candy
- Chocolate-Covered Non-Perishables (including: marshmallows, nuts, candy, dried fruit, potato chips, or any combination)
- Edible Dessert Sprinkles (including: sanding and crystalized sugars, nonpareils, confetti, sequins, dragees, sugar-shapes, sugar-strands (jimmies), comfits, mini-chocolates, and pralines)
- Freeze-Dried Candies
- Fudge
- Ground Chocolate
- Hard Candy
- Marshmallow Bars
- Marshmallows
- Popcorn Balls
- Salted Caramels
- Spiced Sugar
- Toffee
Decide what candy to sell
What unique homemade candy will you sell? The crazy-good brittle recipe that’s been in your family for generations? Vegan versions of your favorite candies? Holiday fudge? There are so many candy business ideas to choose from.
You can even find a whole new market of customers if you make custom candy for events like baby showers, weddings, and parties.
Candy Business Ideas
Imported candy
Candy selling doesn’t have to involve making your own candy to sell. You can become a candy reseller and open a shop of imported or hard-to-find candies, like Steve of Steve’s Global Market. Steve sells Irish and British candy and snacks like Cadbury bars, Digestives, and more. Japanese candy, European chocolates, and Mexican candy are all very popular. Be advised that some candy, like Kinder Surprise Eggs are illegal to sell in the United States.
Retro & novelty candy
Some candies are only available wholesale or are otherwise hard to find. Your candy business will stand out if you can offer your customers nostalgic favorites like candy cigarettes, Razzles, Goo Goo Clusters, Red Hots, and Astro Pops. Gourmet gummy bears are also popular specialty candies.
Candy people search for
The top candy searches include:
- Candy cigarettes
- Runts candy
- Cotton candy
- Freeze-dried candy
- Now & Laters candy
- Rock candy
- Root beer barrel candy
- Brach’s neopolitan coconut candy
- Wax bottle candy
- Marathon candy bars
- O’Henry! candy bars
- Zagnut candy bars
- Sugar-free candy
- Fannie May candy
- Chuckles candy
Choose how you will package your homemade candy
Most candy can be packaged in boxes, airtight bags, and tubs. When you’re first starting out, you can find packaging in small quantities at your local craft store. As your candy business grows, you may need to purchase packaging in bulk from ULINE or another similar supplier. Make sure to leave room on your candy packaging for ingredient lists, as required by cottage food laws.
Sell candy online
Start selling candy online in minutes by opening an Airmart shop. To sell candy online with Airmart, you will need:
- a name for your shop (Try our AI name generator for ideas!)
- good photos of your candy offerings
- plans for pickup, delivery, and/or shipping
Promote your homemade candy
Once you’ve set up your online candy shop on Airmart, it’s time to promote your candy business. Here are some ideas for spreading the word about your candy business:
- Join local party vendor Facebook groups
- Apply to be a vendor at events and farmer’s markets
- Offer to make candy for any big events your family and friends are hosting
For more tips on how to promote your online candy business, check out our playbook on promoting your Airmart shop.
If you choose a premium Airmart shop plan, we can create a custom marketing plan for your homemade candy business.
Here are some examples of candy shops on Airmart to give you candy business ideas:
Shattered Suga Candy Co.
This candy shop is a home-based business selling cracked fruit candy in Wenatchee, WA.
La Reina De Chamoy
This Escondido, CA small business makes homemade Tamarindo Chamoy Rim Drips, Pica Spices, Chamoy Candies, Chamoy Apples, Chamoy Pickles and more for parties, gifts, and everyday snacking.
Food Mamba
This grocery shop offers a wide selection of novelty candy and chocolate from around the world.
Start selling candy from home with an Airmart shop. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.