Have you been thinking about starting a 3d printing business? There’s no better time to do it than today. Even though 3d printing was invented in the 80s, it’s only gaining popularity now and it’s incredible how it allows you to bring to reality all sorts of imaginations.
After all, the low cost 3d printing services make it easier for companies to acquire materials that would have otherwise cost them more, and taken months to import from overseas. If you have considered doing it as a business, we show you how to start a home based 3d printing business in this post. So, you can finally be the boss that you have always wanted to be. How cool is that, huh?
More and more companies are opting for 3d printed materials so the demand is increasing rapidly. Of course, this also means that most people are venturing into the 3d printing business and competition will be very high. But this is not to say that you cannot stand out and make good profits from your home based 3d printing business. That’s why you need to take your time to get your ducks in a row before starting your business.
Factors to consider when putting up a 3d printing business at home
Before we can get ahead of ourselves, let’s have a look at some of the things to consider when putting up a successful home based 3d printing business.
Costs
Like it is with any other business, having a budget will determine the kind of business you are going to be running. This is in terms of the quality, size, and number of 3d printers you intend to buy. Depending on your budget, you can start small with a single printer, or have several printers if your budget allows. Also, for a start, you can outsource the printing services before you can at least get your own printer. You will only need to have the designs, then once they are printed for you, you can sell them on your website.
Niche
What do you intend to be printing? Remember that with 3d printing, the list of things you can deal with is endless. Toys, home decor materials, prosthetics, face shields, ear relievers, furniture, jewelry, and even houses. While you can still be a generalist, being specific on who to serve gives you the advantage of being known as the expert in a certain industry. For instance, you can choose to serve hospitals and dealers of medical equipment.
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Market
Before starting your 3d printing business, do a market research in your area to identify the needs your business is going to be meeting. If there are already other businesses in your local area, find out how they are operating and what they might not be doing. This will help you have a unique selling point to win clients. Are the businesses offering cheap 3d printing services or do they run free 3d printing services from time to time? If not, consider doing so since you have the advantage of not paying for an office space.
Pricing
Figure out how you are going to price your designs from the word go to avoid confusing your clients. Your prices will depend on factors such as size, material, and the complexity of the design. The more niche you are, the more you can charge since customers do not have a lot of choices. For big orders, you can give free 3d printing services to your customers for their small and simple designs as an incentive. So long as your services are top-notch, even the smallest of freebies can keep your clients coming for more.
Understanding 3d technology
The other thing you cannot ignore when establishing a home based 3d printing business is the technical know-how. Even if you are going to be employing an expert to help you run the business, you still need to understand how 3d technology works.
If you are like most entrepreneurs who do everything by themselves, then you must familiarize yourself with all the nitty gritty required in running a successful 3d printing business. This involves knowing how to set up the machines, materials to use, how to design your prints, and any other information that will help you create high quality 3d prints for your clients.
Buying a 3d printer for home business
Once you have gathered all the necessary information and are surefire that 3d printing is the way to go, it’s time to go shopping. If 3d is something new to you, you might not know where to start or what type of printer to buy. However, the process of buying a 3d printer is easier when you know what you want to print and have a budget to work with.
For instance, some printers do not accept certain printing materials. So, knowing the material of your end products goes a long way in helping you choose the right 3d printer. You will also need to consider factors such as security features, a user friendly interface, brand with a great support system, and, the quality of the printer. A high quality printer will give you high quality end products and its price will also be higher.
Before settling on a specific 3d printer for your homebased 3d printing business, have a look at the product’s reviews or ask people who have experience with different printers.
Remember that a 3d printer does not come with printing material. You will have to buy the filament reels and get the 3d printing software.
Once you have everything ready, including necessary licenses and permits, it’s time to set up your business and get grinding. As you are still learning and trialing your designs, you can provide simplified and low cost 3d printing services. You could also do free 3d printing services for a few days in exchange for testimonials.
Marketing your 3d prints
Make use of your website and social media platforms to market your designs. Take professional images of your prints and share them on your Instagram for people to get people to know about your services. You could also run ads and write guest posts about your services on popular sites where your prospect clients tend to hang out.
Conclusion
Starting a home based 3d printing business doesn’t have to be so hard. Just make sure you do your homework well before starting out. Once you are in business, strive to provide excellent services and keep on learning since technology evolves every now and then. With time, you can even print for startups who have no printers. Or, who knows what other opportunities will arise! Keep your eyes wide open to spot market gaps and grab the opportunity as soon as it presents itself.
