Hi, we’re Katie and Eric Roering; the founders of Fontana Candle Co. In 4 years we took our hobby of making candles in our basement, and selling them at craft shows and makers markets and we turned Fontana into a nationally recognized eCommerce brand. This year we are doing 7 figures of revenue and have 12 employees. So how did we do it? Welcome to The Candle Couple Podcast, where we will share the nitty gritty of scaling our e-commerce brand quickly. We are spilling the tea, so hopefully we can help you scale your brand quickly too. This is Episode 19:The Biggest Challenges Running A (Million Dollar) Candle Business. Spoiler alert: our challenges are no longer about crafting the perfect candle anymore. Timestamps: 00:25 The challenges continue to grow and change 1:20 Failure is not an option: 12 people depend on us 3:00 Employee challenges 3:30 Hiring and firing 5:00 Know your weaknesses 6:49 Processes and standards for multiple candlemakers 7:40 Growth consumes cash 9:00 Seasonal Business 13:00 We operate off 2 budgets 14:00 Tax Implications 16:00 Sales Tax 18:25 We are no longer makers and artisans 20:25 You can't do it all 20:45 Work life imbalance 23:00 Embrace the suck 24:18 The love affair of entrepreneurship 25:00 Starting with more money? 25:35 Looking back at the last year Resources: Quitting Our Jobs and Going All In On Our Candle Business: https://youtu.be/FFw95o81M1k How to Weather Seasonality in Your Candle Business: https://youtu.be/wRpSR_slmLo What Is It Really Like to Run a Candle Business with Your Spouse: https://youtu.be/QSga_Ieh48o Disclaimer: Everything shared in our videos is from our own personal experience, and is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Always seek legal guidance from a business attorney and certified public accountant. Everyone is responsible for their own business structure and business practices, and we will not be held accountable. Since we love the companies we talk about so much, we may have an affiliate relationship with them. If you make a purchase through the above links, we may earn a small affiliate commission. There is no additional cost to you.