Start A 3 D Printing Business - Business Ideas
Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.
3D printing is a process that assembles objects layer by layer and starting a business in this industry can be a very creative venture.
You will need investment in the right equipment and materials, and the acquisition of 3D modeling and design skills. You will also need to regularly calibrate and maintain your 3D printers to deliver consistent results.
Plan how you'll handle shipping and logistics, and leverage technology to find new applications of 3D printing in all industries.
Starting a 3D Printing Business requires a great deal of effort, dedication, and most importantly passion.
If you're interested in how to sell 3d printing, or selling 3d printing online, you can use this page as a guide for everything you'll need to know.
Want to learn more? You can check out our full guide on how to start a 3D Printing Business ➜
Key Stats
Startup Costs
| Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs | |
|---|---|---|
|
Office Space Expenses |
$0 |
$7,000 |
|
Employee & Freelancer Expenses |
$151 |
$352 |
|
Website Costs |
$223 |
$7,215 |
|
Business Formation Fees |
$5,600 |
$20,400 |
|
Equipment & Supply Expenses |
$63 |
$200 |
|
Inventory Expenses |
$300 |
$5,000 |
|
Software Expenses |
$162 |
$3,094 |
|
Advertising & Marketing Costs |
$75 |
$5,286 |
|
Total Startup Costs |
$6,574 |
$48,547 |
Case Studies
•
$330K/mo
•
$300K/mo
•
$150K/mo
•
$42K/mo
Successful Businesses
| Business | URL | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Thingiverse |
thingiverse.com |
1,103 |
|
|
Prusa3D |
prusa3d.com |
19,244 |
|
|
Shapeways.com |
shapeways.com |
26,696 |
|
|
3D Hubs |
3dhubs.com |
60,043 |
|
|
3D Systems |
3dsystems.com |
64,706 |
|
|
Xometry |
xometry.com |
74,884 |
|
|
3D Printing Industry |
3dprintingindustry.com |
77,604 |
|
|
Stratasys |
stratasys.com |
92,535 |
|
|
3D Printing |
3dprinting.com |
140,061 |
|
|
Ultimate 3D Printing Store |
ultimate3dprintingstore.com |
165,539 |
|
|
TPM |
tpm.com |
193,264 |
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Description |
|---|---|
|
Flexibility |
You can put as much time into the business as you'd like. If you like the work and have some initial experience, you can start small and manage all aspects of the business on your own. |
|
Meaningful business connections |
You never know who you will meet as a 3D Printing Business. This could be the start of an incredible business opportunity! |
|
High customer retention rates |
Once a customer invests in your product, they've invested their time and energy to utilize your product/service which is highly valuable to them. Typically, your product or service becomes indispensable to your customer. |
|
Pick & choose the clients you work with |
3 D Printing Businesses have the ability to choose the clients they work with. You have the freedom to work with only a few loyal clients or with hundreds of clients! |
|
Unlimited income potential |
With starting a 3D Printing Business there is no cap as to how much income you can make. The stronger your business skills and the more energy/time you put into your career, the more you'll make. |
|
Amazing perks and discounts |
Working in the 3D Printing Business comes with its perks! As a seller for these products/services, you typically also get to enjoy industry perks and discounts. |
| Cons | Description |
|---|---|
|
Motivation of employees |
If you plan to have a sales/content team on board, finding creative ways to motivate them can be a challenge. It's important that you're able to offer great incentives and a good work environment for your employees. |
|
Longer Sales Process |
A 3D Printing Business can be a big time and money investment for your customer, so it's important you plan and predict a longer conversion funnel and stay in communication with potential customers. |
|
Low margins |
The gross margins for your 3D Printing Business are typically around 40%, which can make it more challenging to incur new expenses and maintain profitability. |
|
High employee turnover |
In the 3D Printing Business, employee turnover is often high, which can be quite costly and time consuming for your business. It's important to try and avoid this as much as possible by offering competitive pay, benefits, and a positive work environment. |
|
Taxes |
As a 3D Printing Business, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it. |
|
Niche Market |
A niche business is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact, it can be the key to your success. However, it can be more challenging and time consuming to find the perfect niche market and target audience. |
Marketing Ideas
-
1
Direct Sales
Direct sales strategy implies a direct contact between a seller and a consumer without the involvement of any third party. Direct selling is popular in sectors where sellers communicate with their clientele personally. The sales technique occurs at non-store locations which include at home, work, or online.
For direct selling to succeed, hire a few (or many) salespeople to support the sales conversion process. It's critical that you assign them specific roles and responsibilities to nurture the client and provide excellent support.
-
2
Word of mouth
Word of mouth is when a consumers reflects their interest in a company’s product or service in their daily dialogues.
Therefore, word of mouth advertising is essentially a free advertising triggered by the customers experience.
According to Nielsen, 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family.
Therefore, in today’s hyper-connected world, a single recommendation through a word of mouth can have a huge impact to your business.
-
3
Social Media Advertising
Social media advertising is the use of social media platforms to connect with your audience with the objective to build your brand, increase sales, and drive website traffic.
According to Oberlo, approximately 48% of the global population use social media, and the number is ever-growing.
Therefore, social media allows brands access to cost-effective advertising by enabling them to interact with a large audience.
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
