The custom printing industry has been around for many decades. However, the advent of 3D printing opens many opportunities for emerging business models for those who are visionary enough to see the possibilities. Today, many excellent 3D printers are available on the market at an affordable price. The next question you might be asking is how to make money with 3D printing. This list might give you a few ideas.
1. Print on Demand Service
This idea is taken directly from the business model used in 2D printing. However, with the wide range of filaments that are now available, the possibilities are even greater. You can print with a wide range of polymers, ceramic materials, and metals. Using this business model, the customer sends the file to print to you. Then, you print it and ship the finished product to the customer. It is similar to what 2D printers have been doing for decades.
If you are wondering who your customers might be, the possibilities go well beyond retail customers. Of course, you could print for private customers, but industries such as the automotive industry, healthcare industry, and many others, need small parts on a consistent basis. Of course, the type of printer that you choose determines what you can make with a 3D printer and the potential products that you could offer.
2. Design and Print Service
If you are familiar with the modeling process and have professional-level software, there is also the potential for offering complete design and print services. Many times, the customer has an idea of useful things to 3D print, but they do not have the technical skills to model it, slice it, and print it.
This is where you come in. You could help them design the object, provide prototypes, make changes, and deliver the final product. With this model, many of your customers will be more likely to be B2B customers, but you still might get some retail customers, too. This business model saves the end customer money in the product design and prototyping phase and can help them get to market faster.
3. Sell 3D Prints
You could always print and sell cool 3D printed things online. Some ideas for useful things to 3D print include children’s toys, phone cases, planters, and picture frames. You could design your own product line of items that reflect your own personal style.
If you choose this business model, most of your customers will be retail shoppers. Before you decide to go this route, the first thing that you need to do is research on 3D printed items that sell. Find out what is popular and trendy, but you will want to put your own spin on it to make it unique. With this business model, you will need to keep up with trends and what types of items are selling, but this idea definitely has potential, particularly with the success of online arts and crafts venues.
Another potential idea for 3D printed items that sell is to model and sell replacement parts for vintage electronics, games, and computers. In addition, many appliances and tools, such as lawnmowers and weed trimmers, have plastic parts that need replaces. Offering parts that are not available has possibilities. You could even offer custom design parts for customers who cannot find them anywhere else.
4. Customizable 3D Printed Items
With this model, you can sell 3D prints to retail and wholesale customers. You can allow the customer to customize the items with their own text or design. You could sell cool 3D printed things such as children’s personalized toys, custom eyeglasses or sunglasses frames, phone cases, or commemorative picture frames for special occasions. The possibilities are almost endless.
One place to look for ideas on what types of products you could offer with this business model is the customer 2D printing and sublimation industry. They offer customized items such as mugs, t-shirts, banners, and hundreds of different objects. You could take it a step further with a 3D printer. This business idea will require that you have excellent modeling skills and can turn out designs quickly.
5. Sell 3D Printer Models
The last idea for a 3D printer business does not even require a printer. If you have excellent modeling skills, then you can put them to use designing models for others. The best part about this business is that you can even get some excellent modeling software for free. If you have slicing software, it is even better. You can design a model, slice it, and send it to the customer as a print-ready design.
This 3D printing business model might sound cheap and easy, but there are a few caveats that you might want to consider before you open your doors. First, you need to make sure that you can supply a design that is compatible with the customer’s printer. You will need to choose modeling software with a wide range of compatibility with different machines. Secondly, you have no control over the final printed product. If the customer comes back and says the file will not print for them, you will need to determine whether the problem is with the model, something that they are doing wrong, or a problem with their printer.
Suggestions for Success
Now that you have a few ideas on how to make money with 3D printing, there are a few things that you need to think about. The potential for making money in the 3D printing industry is lucrative. However, it is just like starting any other business. Just because you have a great idea does not mean that you will be a success. To increase the chances of realizing your 3D printing dreams, here are a few of the business basics that you need to consider first.
Choose a niche
There are many different possibilities for what you could do with your 3D printer. You could decide to do everything from children’s toys to lawnmower parts. This printing technology is revolutionizing many industries. It is being used to design prosthetics and hard casts for broken bones, parts for the aerospace industry, and computer components.
There are literally thousands of possibilities. However, each of these areas requires a specific skill set. In any business, it is always better to become an expert in one specific area. This is also true when it comes to a 3D printing business.
Do your research
The first stage of starting your 3D printing business journey is to do research. The first thing that you need to do is to find out where a need exists and how you can step in to fulfill that need. It is also a good idea to research any competition that already exists in that particular area of expertise. Research is the first step in finding out what products and services are needed and how much to charge for them.
Consider time as a resource
With 3D printing, there is a significant variation in the amount of time that it takes to print an object and the level of detail that can be achieved. The planning process must consider the cost of raw materials, such as the filament and other supplies, to determine the final cost of the object. It must also factor in electricity and the amount of time that it takes to print the object. This can range from minutes to hours. Of course, that is considering that everything goes right, and you do not have to start over. These factors will affect your final profits.
See what others are doing and do it better
One of the best sources for business inspiration is to look at what others are doing and identify an unfilled need. This is an excellent way to get ideas in the 3D printing industry because it is an area that is in a rapid growth phase. Industry is already using 3D printing, but on a smaller scale, there are still many needs to be filled. One idea is to offer services that are only available to professionals the average customer.
How much you want to spend
The type of printer that you decide to purchase determines what you can make with a 3D printer. This might limit the types and sizes of items that you can make. The first question that you need to ask yourself is whether you foresee your endeavors as a hobby, or whether you want to do it on a larger scale. If you decide that a larger business is in your plans, then you might want to consider contacting your local Small Business Administration for advice and funding resources.
Final Thoughts
Now is the right time to get into the business if you have been thinking about it. As the price of high-end printers comes down, more people will be getting into the business. Those who already have a reputation established are at an advantage over those who enter into the game later. There are certainly many options and opportunities in many different industries.
Whether you decide to build a small business or a larger corporation will determine the equipment and budget that you need. As with any business, the first step is planning and research. Once you realize that 3D printing can be much more than a hobby, the opportunities are almost endless, as this industry continues to grow at a rapid pace. It might be time to put your 3D printer to work for you.
