How to Start a Hand Sanitizer

Especially in light of current conditions, hand sanitizer is a hot commodity. A hand sanitizer business manufactures and distributes its cleaning products to stores and businesses.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a hand sanitizer by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Hand Sanitizer
  2. Form your Hand Sanitizer into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Hand Sanitizer for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Hand Sanitizer
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Hand Sanitizer
  7. Get Hand Sanitizer Insurance
  8. Define your Hand Sanitizer Brand
  9. Create your Hand Sanitizer Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your hand sanitizer. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a hand sanitizer?

Most businesses need to start by creating an LLC and banking business accounts, as well as operating insurance. Legal requirements should be handled first, whenever possible. Initial costs will also focus on a building for packaging and manufacturing your product, obtaining bottles or containers for the hand sanitizer, and shipping your product to retail partners. You will also more than likely need a small staff, so salaries and worker insurance will also add to the initial costs.

What are the ongoing expenses for a hand sanitizer?

Most ongoing expenses pertain to the manufacturing of the product and salaries for your workers. Whether you’re buying or leasing a building, you’ll also have these payments. Maintenance of your factory machines will also be a factorable expense.

Who is the target market?

Any consumer looking to protect themselves and their family is a potential customer, with the 30-65 age groups representing some of your strongest customers.

How does a hand sanitizer make money?

Selling products, both in bulk for stores and individually to customers, generates revenue for the business.

How much can you charge customers?

A small to medium bottle of hand sanitizer is typically between 3-7 dollars, although some more established brands can charge even more. Specialty fragrances or bottle designs might also garner more money.

How much profit can a hand sanitizer make?

Profits will vary, but a successful hand sanitizer business can gross six figures annually.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Some hand sanitizer businesses are upping their manufacturing abilities to meet larger, more commercially suitable needs.

Other products in the personal hygiene market, such as soaps, can also become part of your branding.

Hand lotions may be a good option to offset the effects of hand sanitizer on skin.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your hand sanitizer is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your hand sanitizer were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a Hand Sanitzer business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a hand sanitizer

Marketing and promoting this type of business will require creating a trusted name brand. Your product needs to be synonymous with quality and safety.

  • Advertise with medical publications and trade papers.
  • Create a recognizable logo and a social media presence.
  • Start a website with testimonials and offers for free samples. You need your product in people’s hands — literally.
  • Buy billboard space and spend money on print advertising for your initial startup campaign.

How to keep customers coming back

For this type of business, personal preference and name brand recognition are quite important. Ask customers what they do and don’t like about your products, particularly the smell of the product. A pleasing fragrance may win over some more particular customers. And, when you find a winning formula, don’t change too much. Customers like the comfort of easy product recognition and expectations.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

A hand sanitizer business is fairly specific in its scope. Experience in manufacturing, marketing, and advertising will be needed. Knowledge in chemistry and biology may be helpful, also. A person looking to open this type of business should also understand business and finances to help their business be profitable.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a hand sanitizer?

For most hand sanitizer businesses, daily operations focus on manufacturing, bottling, and distributing products. Additionally, marketing and advertising and making contacts with potential buyers and customers is a regular occurrence.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful hand sanitizer?

As a product, hand sanitizer is nothing new, and there are lots of manufacturers of this product. This means that you have to develop a unique advertising and marketing angle. Understanding marketing, advertising, and business, in general, will be critical for success. Experience in shipping logistics will also help.

What is the growth potential for a hand sanitizer?

Currently, the market for hand sanitizers is excellent. Everyone is looking to keep safe and clean when coming in contact with the world, and sales are exceptional. We can expect to see some cooling of this trend, as the virus is abated. Starting a business now would more than likely prove profitable, but be aware of growing cautiously, as competition and public needs may fluctuate in the coming months.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a hand sanitizer?

Since this is currently such a saturated market, you’ll need something to help your particular product stand out. Consider partnering with a larger company to produce hand sanitizer with their company logo or branding. A partnership can help maintain your business in the early months when survival is most difficult.

Consider a special promotion with related products or give out free samples to the general public. You may even think about donating some of your wares to organizations in need. Positive word of mouth can be a persuasive advertisement.

How and when to build a team

From the onset, you’ll need some people on your team. From manufacturing staff to delivery drivers, in-store marketers, and display builders to office staff, you’ll need at least a modest crew to help monitor all the moving pieces and keep the business running.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading