Already a $43 billion market, demand for high-quality soap is growing every year. If you’re starting a soap business, you’ll soon learn you can’t keep shelves stocked by producing products all on your own. That’s where soap wholesale suppliers come in.
With marketplaces like Faire, finding a soap vendor that’s affordable and transparent is easy. Ahead, you’ll learn about six soap wholesale suppliers offering top-tier product, and tips for finding the best partners for your brand.
Table of contents
6 best soap wholesale suppliers to check out
1. A Wild Soap Bar
Since 1994, A Wild Soap Bar has been handcrafting natural soaps using responsibly wildcrafted and organically grown botanicals. By using the cold process method to make soap, they preserve the goodness of natural ingredients in a more sustainable manner. Through their partnership with 1% For The Planet, they also contribute at least 1% of their gross sales to environmental causes.
2. Milk & Pail
In 2018, Milk & Pail was born out of a family's venture into dairy goat farming. They make soap in small batches using creamy milk from their herd of Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats. Their wholesale partnership with Faire allows them to sell goat milk soap, lotion, and whipped sugar scrubs to shops across the country.
3. Rock Bottom Soap
Located in London, Kentucky, Rock Bottom Soap offers a variety of handmade goat milk-based products. From soaps to lotions and other bath essentials, the brand caters to wholesale customers through Faire and ensures quality by crafting everything from scratch.
4. Old Town Soap Co.
With more than 13 years of experience, Old Town Soap Co. produces luxurious handmade bath and body products. Founded in Landis, North Carolina, this veteran owned and operated company offers a wide variety of products that can also be customized. Personal care and wellness products like soaps, bath bombs, and body lotions are available from them.
5. Zum by Indigo Wild
Zum by Indigo Wild is known for its aromatherapy and sustainable products. It sells Zum bar soaps, Zum mists, and Zum sprays, made with olive and coconut oils. Wholesale customers have to spend a minimum of $300 on their first order and $1,500 on their annual orders to stay a client.
6. Good Earth Soap
Good Earth Soap offers eco-friendly, handmade, cruelty-free body care products, including soaps, lotions, and deodorants. It takes a responsible approach by not testing on animals, avoiding the use of palm oil, and offsetting all carbon and greenhouse gas emissions through TerraPass, making it a carbon-neutral company.
💡Find more wholesale soap suppliers on Faire. Search by location, minimum order quantity (MOQ), lead time, and more. Discover the best vendor for your business today.
How to choose a soap whole suppliers
1. Look for products that match your target market
There are so many different types of soap out there: organic, handmade, fair trade, vegan, antibacterial, liquid, bars, etc. If you want to buy handmade soap in bulk to sell for a profit, you need to find a product that your target market will love.
When defining your target market, consider demographics such as age and gender, and psychographics like values and interests. For example, you might decide to sell to millennial women in their early 30s who love the outdoors and are active environmentalists.
In which case, Etta + Billie may be a perfect choice, as the company doesn’t use palm oil and uses recycled packaging.
There’s another benefit to buying bulk soap from a supplier that sells many other products aimed at your target market. If you ever want to source new products, you already have a working relationship with the supplier.
2. Check relevant product information
Not only are there many different types of soap, there are also plenty of ways to make it, as well as countless ingredients to consider. For example, many soaps contain allergens that can be harmful to some users, such as:
- Paraben
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
- Coconut diethanolamide
- Gluten
- Nuts/coconut
What’s more, many soaps list the ingredient “fragrance.” According to the FDA, the term “fragrance” can be used to list ingredients that could be considered trade secrets. In other words, when manufacturers want to include ingredients in soap without revealing them to the public, all they have to do is write “fragrance.”
Unsurprisingly, many synthetic fragrances often contain allergens—only, you don’t know which.
You may also want to check the grade of the oil used. For example, 76-degree coconut oil is commonly used in soap making. However, it’s refined, bleached, and deodorized. Olive oil is also used often, but should you use grade A, B, or pomace?
So, when communicating with wholesale soap suppliers, ask about the nitty-gritty details before you make a purchase. Make sure to find out precisely what you’re buying.
3. Factor in import fees
What are tariffs, and how will they affect you when purchasing soap wholesale? If you plan to work with a wholesale soap supplier from abroad, you need to find out.
Here’s the lowdown: Tariffs are taxes that governments apply to imports and exports. Sometimes they’re referred to as import fees, export fees, duties, or customs.
The amount you’ll need to pay in import taxes depends on the product’s classification. Take this soap classification: Organic surface-active products for wash skin, in liquid or cream, contain any aromatic/mod aromatic surface-active agent, put up for retail (HTS 34013010).
If you were to import this type of soap from China into the US, you’d need to pay a 4% tax.
Now, take this soap classification: Soap; organic surface-active products used as soap, in bars, cakes, pieces; soap-impregnated paper, wadding, felt, not for toilet use (HTS 34011900). If you import this type of soap from China into the US, you won’t have to pay any import fees.
Four percent may not sound like much, but it could have a massive effect on your margins. Plus, you’ll also have to pay import fees upfront whenever you order more stock. This can make it challenging to manage cash flow.
Figuring out tariffs
So, how can you research what tariffs apply to the soap you plan to import? Here are the government websites to look up tariffs in the UK, the EU, and the US:
Alternatively, you could use an online calculator to help. There are many available, such as:
Managing import fees, taxes, and shipping can be confusing. So, many businesses hire an expert customs broker to help manage the process. However, there’s an easy way to avoid these fees and the hassle associated with them: buy bulk soap from the country you plan to sell in.
For example, if you plan to sell soap in America, find a US-based wholesale soap supplier using a platform like Faire. Every supplier on the platform is based in the US, and you can even find a soap supplier in your state to save on shipping costs.
4. Verify your supplier
Your business depends on good relationships with quality suppliers. But unfortunately, not every supplier is trustworthy and reliable. So, how can you find a wholesale soap supplier you can trust?
First things first: Ask for documents that prove the business’s legitimacy. For example, you could ask to see documents such as:
- Business license/registration
- Compliance certificates
- Patent certificates
You can also ask for verifiable references from current customers. Make sure to follow up with the customers to ensure the references are genuine.
Also, don’t forget to stalk the wholesale soap supplier online. Make sure there are no questionable reviews or warnings from previous customers who got burned. For example, you could search the supplier’s name along with words like “ripoff” and “unhappy.”
Finally, make sure to get answers to vital questions, such as:
- Do you offer a guarantee?
- What happens if shipments arrive late?
- What happens if there are quality issues?
Verifying a supplier’s professionalism and trustworthiness can be tricky. Still, there are many wholesale marketplaces out there that handle the verification process for you. For example, every supplier listed here on Faire has been handpicked for its quality and professionalism.
In summary, make sure you’re dealing with a reputable wholesale soap supplier before you hand over your hard-earned money.
5. Choose a supplier that grows with you
If you want to grow your business, you need a wholesale soap supplier that can grow with you—in a bunch of ways. Firstly, as your business grows, your orders will increase.
So, you’ll need to work with a supplier that can handle the increase in order size. Suppliers often list their minimum order size, but ask what the maximum order size is.
Plus, make sure to ask wholesale soap suppliers how much time they need to adapt to larger orders. You need to ensure that the turnaround and shipping times work for you. Also, as your business grows, working with multiple suppliers could become time consuming.
For example, say that you start a boutique that curates and sells beautiful handcrafted products. You may start with just two or three suppliers then grow to work with 10 or 20 suppliers.
What’s more, you also need to take into account any specific ideas you have when it comes to growing your business. For example, you may have plans to brand products yourself in the future. In which case, it would help to work with a wholesale soap supplier who also offers private labeling services or even wholesale soap making supplies.
Before you choose a wholesale soap supplier, create a list of questions to make sure that they can cater to your needs now and as your business develops. Here are some examples:
- What is your minimum order quantity?
- Do you have a maximum order quantity?
- What is the turnaround time, from order to delivery?
- What is the wholesale price per unit for 10, 100, and 250 units?
- Are you able to increase production over the next year? How much?
- Do you offer private labeling services?
In conclusion, make sure you choose a communicative, reliable wholesale soap supplier who can support your business’s growth.
Find a wholesale supplier for soap on Faire
It can be challenging to find a wholesale supplier. To help, here are five essential things to consider before choosing a wholesale soap supplier.
- First, define your target market. Then, make sure to choose a wholesale soap supplier that has multiple products that fit your target market.
- Learn about the ingredients in the soap and know what you’re buying. Make sure to ask about allergens and other important information.
- Research the import fees associated with products before you purchase them. Then, factor in these additional costs to ensure you can still make a profit.
- Ask for documents, certifications, and verifiable references to ensure the wholesale soap supplier is reputable, reliable, and trustworthy.
- Plan ahead and ensure the wholesale soap supplier can support your business as it grows.
There’s a lot to think about—and a lot at stake. So, take the time to do your due diligence and ensure that you purchase great products from verified, communicative suppliers on Faire.
Ready to create your business? Start your free trial of Shopify—no credit card required.
Soap wholesale supplier FAQ
Is selling soap a profitable business?
Selling soap can indeed be a profitable venture, with profit margins varying significantly based on factors like ingredient quality, marketing, packaging, branding, and distribution channels. Margins can range from 50% to 80%, with some sources suggesting even higher margins between 150% to 525%, depending on the pricing strategy and cost management.
How much does it cost to start a soap making business?
The startup costs for a soap making business are relatively low, typically ranging from $2,000 to $6,000. With the right approach, revenue potential could range from $90,000 to $456,000 per year, and the profit potential could be between $73,000 and $182,000 per year.
Is soap easy to sell?
Soap sales largely depend on market demand, product quality, branding, and marketing strategies. Since it is a staple for hygiene, there is a consistent demand, making it potentially easier to sell than non-essential items.