How To Start A Lip Gloss Business: An Ultimate Guide 2025

Imagine having your lip gloss brand. Everyone recognizes the brand and your sales SKYROCKET. Definitely a life goal. But really, how to start a lip gloss business from scratch? 

Running a successful lip gloss business is never a dream with Leeline Sourcing. We’ve assisted thousands of global companies in building their own brand online. 

We will provide EVERYTHING about building a lip gloss store based on our decades of eCommerce experience. Accordingly, you get AMAZING inspiration for your business plan to earn PROFITS.

Ready to build your lip gloss business online journey in weeks? Let’s roll.

How did the First Lip Gloss Business Start?

A long time ago… 

There was a Polish-American businessman called Max Factor Sr. He wanted to create a product to make lips SHINY and GLOSSY for films. 

Back in 1930, Factor invented lip gloss. Film actresses put it on, and guess what? Lip gloss went VIRAL among the female population. From then, it began to have more significant demand in the lip gloss market. 

Why Choose To Start A Lip Gloss Business?

Take a look at cosmetic products. Excellent sales, isn’t it? 

Women are willing to spend more on beauty products. In the lip care industry, lip gloss and lip balm are NEVER a miss. 

A person can own MULTIPLE lip glosses, and one will NEVER be enough. Colors, texture… All these can trigger the craving to purchase. 

And yet, the price of purchasing lip gloss is affordable. Teenagers can afford to buy, and you spend minimal money to grow your own lip gloss line. 

Also, compared to selling big-size stuff – heavy, expensive, risky delivery, and even damage loss… Nah, you won’t like to experience these.

You GAIN a lot when you start your lip gloss business:

LOW startup costs. 

SMALL product size. 

HUGE DEMAND in the market. 

EASIER reaches your target audience. 

EARN profits fast. 

Awesome. 

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Lip Gloss Business?

My budget is limited… Can I start my own lip gloss business? 

YES. It is possible to spend LESS THAN $100 to start your own lip gloss line. 

You just need to save a few cups of premium coffee. It is DEFINITELY worth the investment to start your entrepreneurial journey.

You may question again: Why does the startup cost so little?

Let me list the common ingredients for making lip gloss and their reference price. 

• Lip gloss base ($10)
• Coconut oil ($15)
• Vitamin E oil ($7)
• Shea butter ($15)
• Lip gloss glitter ($15)
• Fruit flavor oil ($9)
• Tubes and container ($8)

Get it? Start your own business with MINIMAL cost. The lip gloss business is ABSOLUTELY an excellent industry to consider. Let’s dive deeper. 

How To Start A Lip Gloss Business?

I will guide you step-by-step to sell lip gloss online. Let’s get to it. 

1. Define Your Business Model

Choose your role based on your requirements and budgets. You can start your own lip gloss company as either:

• Manufacturer: You make your homemade lip glosses and sell them. Suitable for those who love DIY, new formulas, uniqueness, and trying new products.

• Distributor: You buy lip gloss from other suppliers and sell it at a higher price. Suitable for small startup businesses as bulk orders are still AFFORDABLE.

Suggested reading:  Most Profitable Small Businesses For HIGH MARGINS 

2. Do Some Studies 

Market analysis is a MUST. What is the most bright color this year, lip gloss trend, seasonal offer… You need to UNDERSTAND your purchaser.

Most importantly, check the market price. If you are selling at a HIGHER price, CLARIFY what features stand out from other lip gloss products. 

3. Create Your Attractive Business Name & Logo 

Remember, your target market is women. An eye-catching business name and logo would define the brand’s first impression. For some ideas, insert elements (e.g., moon, glam…) that suit GLOSSY and SHINY products.

Aesthetic. Charming. I love it. 

4. Select Your Selling Platform 

You can sell lip glosses on social media. 

Pros: NO extra fees, earning FULL from the selling price. 

Cons: Limited payment option, reliability concern for buyers. 

You can also build your custom website or sell on e-Commerce platforms like Amazon.

Pros: Structured, reliable, and auto-generate sales reports. 

Cons: Commission charges.

5. Promote and Marketing 

Everyone owns social media. Why not MAKE USE of it? 

Invest money in promoting your lip gloss through Facebook or Instagram ads. Collaborating with influencers online is a creative business idea as well.

Is A Lip Gloss Business Profitable?

YES, it is an EXTREMELY profitable business. 

Daily cosmetics and skin care products are TOPPING significant e-commerce sales. As a result, the profit gain is also the highest.

Each lip gloss can generate a fantastic 50%-80% profit margin. In general, a lip gloss costs $2.50 and can be sold at a $5 retail price. And you earn MORE selling HIGH-END lip glosses. 

Think of selling 10,000 units yearly, each earning you $2.50. You get a $25,000 profit. WOW. 

Here are some tips for running a long-lasting business:

• High quality with a reasonable price
• Good logistics packaging 
• After-sales services 

You can generate more income if you have an excellent supply chain and a large customer base. Voila.

Things To Consider For Starting A Lip Gloss Business

1. Self-analysis 

Ask yourself: are you prepared to start your entrepreneurial journey?

Only some people are born to become a businessman. If you are PASSIONATE and HARDWORKING, it eases your business operation. You enjoy dealing with customers, managing resources, and, most importantly, EARNING MORE INCOME.

2. Available Time to Manage Your Business 

If you must commit to your full-time job from 9 am-6 pm daily, the lip gloss business may be your side income at first.

For students, ensure to manage your business without giving up on your studies.

Starting a business is NEVER easy; you need to spend more time on it.

3. Budget and Cost 

The starting cost of the lip gloss business is MINIMAL. However, you won’t be happy if the money you invest in it just burns without generating income. 

Plan your budget WISELY. Grab some advice and do some studies. Your goal is to make MORE returns from your initial cost. 

What Are The Requirements For Starting A Lip Gloss Business?

1. Practical Plan with Solid Foundation 

Only start a business when you have adequate planning. Proper planning makes your lip gloss business durable and profitable in the long run. 

To operate the plans, be DETERMINED and have dedication and willingness to sacrifice your time. Your business grows faster and more stable if you have a solid foundation.

2. Technical Skills

Note that you are selling products to your customer. You should know how to make lip gloss to sell and PROVE that your products make their life better. 

So, always strive to produce better quality lip gloss products. Enhance your technical skills to gain a BETTER reputation and customer trust.

3. Management Knowledge 

Business management includes finance, record keeping, and market analysis. This knowledge is EXTREMELY USEFUL for growing your business. You can overcome the bottleneck of your business operation with them.

MORE social networks. MORE potential customers. MORE income.

What Barriers And Risks Will You Face In Entering This Industry?

The risks in entering this industry are relatively low due to low production costs. Low risk leads to low entry barriers. These are the challenges you would face:

Market Competitiveness – The beauty industry is saturated and full of competition. Many existing international beauty brands, such as MAC and Fenty Beauty in the market. They sell each lip gloss product with high-quality packaging.

You will have to be CREATIVE and UNIQUE to shine out from your competitors.

Product Quality Control – Lip gloss is a product that applies directly to our skin. Ingredients used to make the lip gloss MUST be edible and follow FDA standards. 

Suppose your product quality does not reach a certain standard. In that case, it could cause damage to sensitive skin, and it results in complaints and a bad reputation.

Reliability of Suppliers – Dealing with suppliers is crucial for a business startup. Changing suppliers is expected in business operations. The selection of suppliers will determine the quality of the lip gloss produced. (We’ll cover that very soon.)

How To Find A Lip Gloss Supplier

Yes, I told ya, very soon.

Lip gloss suppliers from China are preferable. They own HUGE operation factories and a WIDE supply chain. LOW cost, HIGH quality ensured. Let’s see how to find the right lip gloss suppliers: 

1. Find Online Directories

You can find A LOT of online directories that recommends lip gloss suppliers for your need. One of them is Alibaba, the world’s recognized eCommerce platform. You’ll get EXCELLENT products at AFFORDABLE prices to boost profits. 

2. Get Recommendations

Ask your friends, business network, and community groups like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Reddit. It is FAST, EASY, and SAFE, as no one gets recommended for bad products and services. They often provide reliable referrals, so you have peace of mind in sourcing lip products.

3. Visit Trade Shows

Trade fairs like Canton Fair and other local expos are great ways to source lip gloss suppliers. There are thousands of large-scale and unique products from these manufacturers. You can find TRUSTWORTHY suppliers and products to SKYROCKET your sales.  

Leeline Sourcing has ten years of experience guiding businesses worldwide to source top-notch suppliers. You’ll get lists of suppliers with trendy and quality products to grow your business rapidly.

In Summary

Starting a lip gloss business is budget friendly and non-risky. It brings nice profits with massive demand in the market. You can gain profits in weeks or months, not years. 

BE CREATIVE and CREATE VALUE to get loyal customers, build a good reputation, and grow a successful business.

Best of luck in your business journey!

FAQs about Start A Lip Gloss Business

What’s Next

Running a lip gloss business is affordable and profitable. You can bring your lip gloss brands to a higher level with good management.

Looking for more business startup ideas? We are the ones you are finding. We’ve dealt with countless companies in sourcing and selling online, so you can grow your online business with minimal effort. Reach out to us today for sourcing and selling solutions!