How to Launch Your Own Cosmetics Company
Billions of dollars flood the cosmetics industry each year. Creams, lotions, lipsticks and mascaras come in an endless variety to meet the desires and needs of every type of consumer. What satisfies the consumer searching for organic or natural products may not satisfy one looking for scientifically-driven, cutting-edge ingredients. If you enjoy cosmetics, and have an entrepreneurial spirit, ingenuity, style and business savvy, learn how to launch your own cosmetics line.
Visit FDA.gov to learn its regulations about cosmetics safety and labeling. The website lists restricted ingredients and provides direction on how to list warning statements for certain types of cosmetics. Use this information when evaluating the quality of products to offer in your cosmetic line. Attend cosmetics trade shows and join professional organizations. The websites biztradeshows.com and cosmoworld.com compile and publish a list of upcoming tradeshows for the cosmetics industry.
Obtain the licenses you will need to sell cosmetics. Call the city and state revenue authorities and inquire about business licenses or sale tax permits. You may need a state sales tax ID number to buy cosmetics products wholesale. Make a list of products you would like to offer. Choose products or formulations that are not readily available and will fill a particular niche in your area. Decide if you will offer skin and body care or color cosmetics, or a combination of both. Search Thomasnet.com or Cosmeticindex.com to find private label manufacturers to supply cosmetics. The websites list the names of hundreds of cosmetics suppliers, and give short overviews of the services they offer. Call the companies that provide the products you need. Private label cosmetic suppliers will have stock recipes for products, and may provide a consultant to help you produce custom product formulations. Contact a graphic designer to create a