If you've ever dreamed of starting your own 3D printing business, there's no better time than now to do so. In this post, we're going to walk you through what you'll need to know to start your 3D printing business before 2025.

Why Start A 3D Printing Business?

It's An Effective Way To Earn Extra Money

The obvious answer here is so you can earn a little extra money doing something that you're passionate about. But there are a few other reasons to consider as well. First, 3D printing offers you the ability to sell many products, designs, and services without being locked in to just one item.

There Are Many Business Model Options To Choose From

You could, for example, sell keychains, phone cases, toys, and miniatures all at the same time. Or, you might create your own designs and sell those alongside printed items. You could even repair and maintain printers if that's your thing.

You'll Get A Jump On The Competition

Establishing your business now gives you a head start on others who are waiting until after the new year to hang out their shingle. That means you'll have an opportunity to be successful while everyone else is still thinking about the holidays.

What Do You Need To Start A 3D Printing Business?

It's a good idea to set an initial budget of around $1000 dollars for supplies. That should cover your chosen 3D printer, filament, software, and other miscellaneous items. As for the printer, buy the best one you can afford within that budget. Quality and reliability should be your two largest concerns when considering a 3D printer purchase.

We recommend you start with the AnkerMake M5 or M5C, as both printer models are extremely reliable, while offering exceptional quality and speed. Plus, both printers are budget-friendly, and can make the most of the startup cash you've put aside.

Finally, you'll need some way to design and customize 3D-printed models. There are numerous CAD and slicer software programs available online. If you've purchased an AnkerMake M5 or M5C, use AnkerMake Studio. It's specially designed for AnkerMake printers, and it's completely free.

What Should You Know Before Starting Your 3D Printing Business?

Before you start, you'll want to determine which 3D printing products you'll be selling, and the people you'll be selling to. Ideally, you also need to find where your potential customers hang out, what they value, and what the most effective ways of reaching them are.

One of the ways you can do this is by looking at others who have established 3D printing businesses. Find out what those people are doing and see if you can emulate their success. That doesn't mean you should copy everything they do. Instead, use their research to help springboard your understanding of your market.

Other Important 3D Printing Business Considerations

If you're going to be selling products online, including digital downloads, you need to be aware of some potential issues before the pop up.

Keep Your Expectations Realistic

First, many 3D printing business start out as side gigs. That means, don't resign from your day job hoping your new 3D printing business will be immediately successful. It's better to work part-time at the outset until you establish yourself in the industry. Patience will be a virtue here, so try to keep that in mind.

Be Aware Of Potential Legal Liability

Second, you should probably consult both a tax professional and a legal professional to ensure you're operating according to your local laws. Some places require you to obtain a business license or certification, so you'll want to get those before you get started.

Develop A Business Plan Before You Start

Third, developing a business plan is an important step in building a successful business. A business plan helps ensure your 3D printing business is headed in the right direction.

Can I Really Make Money With 3D Printing?

Yes, you can! Some people have even made their 3D-printing side business into their career. But, like anything, it will depend on a little luck, your clinets, and how well you market yourself. Remember, this kind of business is a service, which means most people who get into it do so because they want to help others achieve their goals. If you can help people do that, then they'll be more likely to buy what you're offering.

How Do You Sell Your 3D Prints?

If you're selling designs, larger model repositories will often let you post your model on their site and charge a small fee to download it. You can also find clientele via social media. Your success will come down to finding out where your customers hang out, and then catering to those people in a way that helps them to solve their problems.

Where's The Best Place to Sell Your 3D Prints?

The best place to sell your 3D prints is an online marketplace. Selling 3D prints online will almost always offer more reach than selling locally. Some popular social media sites also have local marketplaces where you can find members of your community who are looking for 3D prints or services. You can also try listing your prints on sites like eBay or Etsy.

Additionally, local craft fairs and flea markets may allow you to reserve a booth where you can showcase some of your 3D-printed items.

The most important consideration here should be finding where your customers are and targeting that location. That's because the more potential customers you can get your work in front of, the more opportunities you'll have to make a sale.

Start Your 3D Printing Business Today

Today, we've covered several considerations for how to get started with your 3D printing business before the new year. We've discussed places to sell prints, marketing, and the many products and services you can offer within the realm of 3D printing. Unfortunately, this guide is just the tip of the iceberg because there's no way we can cover everything within a single blog post.

So, if you really want to pursue 3D printing as more than a hobby, then we recommend you do some additional research, and discuss your plans with established professionals in the 3D printing industry.

Happy Printing!