Homemade fudge makes a great gift for holidays and birthdays. However, if you need a part-time moneymaking venture, selling homemade fudge might generate the income you need. With local speciality boutiques, candy shops and online retailers all selling fudge, you need a competitive edge that distinguishes you from your competition. Choose your recipe wisely, package and market your goods well, and increase your audience to sell your homemade fudge successfully.

  • Homemade fudge makes a great gift for holidays and birthdays.
  • With local speciality boutiques, candy shops and online retailers all selling fudge, you need a competitive edge that distinguishes you from your competition.

Choose a name that includes the main product of your business -- homemade fudge. It's important that you include the "homemade" part because many retailers might sell fudge, but not all of it is homemade. Homemade conjures up warm and homey feelings in the consumer, which you want to encourage in order to sell your product.

Decide on a recipe. If you've been making homemade fudge as a gift for years, think about which fudge is the most requested or complimented. Ask family members which kinds they love and why. Rule out anything outlandish or a fudge that requires extremely expensive ingredients, unless you're planning to market your product to a very small niche that you are sure exists.

  • If you've been making homemade fudge as a gift for years, think about which fudge is the most requested or complimented.

Use the best ingredients you can afford. Margarine and chocolate flavouring don't taste as good as real butter or chocolate. There also are reasons why inexpensive chocolate chips cost so little -- they don't taste as good either. You can increase the price of your fudge to make up for the increased ingredient cost within reason. Make sure that you list the great ingredients on your packaging, using them to promote the product.

Package your product appropriately. If you're selling the fudge in small blocks, cellophane bags should work nicely. If you're selling the fudge in larger blocks, use small treat boxes with a cellophane window punched into them. Both cellophane bags and treat boxes are available at craft stores, as well as online. Decide on a colour of ribbon or twine you'll use to secure the package, and use it consistently.

  • Package your product appropriately.
  • Decide on a colour of ribbon or twine you'll use to secure the package, and use it consistently.

Create tags either by hand or design them online. Include the business name and your telephone number, e-mail and website, if you have one. Also include the ingredients used, the kind of fudge and the price. You might wish to include a symbol on your tag, either hand-drawn or computer-produced, such as an old-fashioned stove or other homey object.

Get the word out regarding your goods and begin selling. Tell friends, neighbours and co-workers about your business. Post business cards at local boutiques and shops with community notice boards. Try selling at craft and bake fairs, often held at churches and schools in the fall.

Think about selling online on an inexpensive website such as Etsy, which provides a virtual store at no charge. Selling on Etsy only costs you once you begin to place items in your virtual store, and the cost per item is very inexpensive. You'll need to photograph your packaged fudge to sell online.

  • Get the word out regarding your goods and begin selling.
  • Think about selling online on an inexpensive website such as Etsy, which provides a virtual store at no charge.