30+ 3D Printing Business Ideas for 2021 (+Guide)
3D Printing Hobby to Profit
Owning a 3D printer already gives you a headstart to transition from being a hobbyist to a business owner or service provider.
By now, you may already know that the quickest ways to produce a product from scratch is through 3D printing. The advantages of a 3D printer are countless. It provides budget-friendly production cost, flexibility to create your own design and consistency in design iteration of products.
This additive manufacturing technology also promises cheap operation and maintenance cost, which is a pleasure to hear if you’re starting with zero cash.
Is 3D printing a profitable business?
The short answer is YES. Even though 3D printing is a young industry, especially in the manufacturing sector, it has proven to be a successful and profitable business.
In 2020, with a lot of businesses that were crippled during the COVID-19 pandemic, 3D printing businesses have stood firm. 3D printing has created doors of opportunities for creators, hobbyists and designers to create PPE, entertaining stuff, educational toys and tools.
This means, you can definitely get a slice of the “3D printing for profit” pie in 2021. You just need some startup ideas to launch your small business and start profiting. So let’s get the ball rolling for you!
PS. If you want to maximize your 3D printing profit, you need a filament supplier that can provide you with high quality and consistent filament at a low cost. Monofilament is a 3D printer filament manufacturer in Massachusetts, the home of the best 3D printing technologies. We provide wholesale filaments, OEM and private labeling services.
What kind of business can you start with a 3D printer?
1. Subcontracting
Subcontracting is the quickest way to earn money with your 3D printer. You can offer 3D printing services for others. In this type of business model, you wouldn’t need to design your own parts. You’ll just take 3D models/STL from your client and you will 3D print it for them.
The best way to maximize your profit with this type of 3D printing business is to get niche clients such as artists, jewelers, fashionista and architectural modeling companies.
One of its key benefits for you is that it offers the simple and low-cost operation, without ever needing to develop your own designs. Plus, you need not go on the painstaking process of trial and error and the high cost of marketing.
3D Printing Business Model for Subcontracting
The process goes like this:
- A client will give you the 3D model for prototyping.
- You will give him a 3D printing quotation for his file.
- Once the client accepts, you will 3D print the model.
- You will send the client the prototype/product by post.
- Ka-ching! Get your profit.
Cost of Running Subcontracting 3D Printing Business
- 3D Printer for business – $300 to $30,000 depending on the type of printer
- 3D Printer Filament – $15 to $70 per spool depending on your supplier and material
- Rental space cost
- Marketing cost
Pros
- Simple to do
Safe way to earn money without spending much - Small investment capital
- Low cost of operation, depending on your skill in fixing and updating your 3D printers
- Fast return on investment
Cons
- Establishing yourself as a reliable subcontractor
- Heavy marketing to get clients
- Experience with 3D printing different materials
Existing Subcontracting Businesses
Have a look at these existing 3D printing services companies and get inspiration on how they do it:
Want to maximize your subcontracting 3D printing service? Let a professional 3D printer filament manufacturer supply you with low cost PLA and ABS for your business. Request quote here.
2. Spare Part 3D Printing Service
There’s also a market for 3D printing services offering spare part printing. These components may either be faced out by the manufacturer or they are no longer produced by the company. With this, you can help these individuals by 3D printing the part that they need.
Again, in this type of business model you don’t need a lot of cash or intricate ideas to start running a business. However, 3D modeling may be required, especially if your customer cannot find the spare part or tool part 3D printable file from sites offering tool files, like Traceparts.
Business Model for Spare Part 3D Printing Service
This works through the following process:
- Client gives you a ready-made file of the spare part they want reproduced.
- You give them a quotation.
- Once both parties agree on pricing, you 3D print the part according to the material and level of accuracy they need.
- Send the client the finished part through post.
- Ka-ching! Get your profit.
Depending on the scope of services you offer, the client may send you the actual broken piece for you to replicate. In this case, you would need to 3D model the part from scratch and charge the customer a higher rate for the time you spent on replicating the part.
Alternatively, you can ask your client to search for the 3D model of the spare part they need in websites such as MyMiniFactory, Traceparts, Thingiverse or SpareParts3D. Once they give you the file, you can 3D print this for them for a cost.
Costs to Consider
- 3D Printer for business – $300 to $30,000 depending on the type of printer
- 3D Printer Filament – $15 to $70 per spool depending on your supplier and material
- Rental space cost
- Marketing cost
Pros
- Simple business model
- You don’t need to make your own designs
Cons
- May need extra technical skills such as CAD modeling through Solidworks or Fusion360.
- Must achieve some level of accuracy
- You must achieve some level of reliability over the market
Existing 3D Printing Spare Parts Services
3. 3D Modeling + Prototyping Services
Why is it great for a small business?
This particular business idea may apply mostly to the OEM losing its original design measurements, where you can offer to reverse engineer its part to recreate the product.
This involves setting up a 3D engineering design and prototyping services. It may also go further to mass producing the product in hundreds or thousands, depending on your agreement with the client.
In this case, you need to translate your client’s 2D CAD drawings or ideas into a working 3D model before 3D printing it. This means you will be taking responsibility over the design accuracy of your projects, instead of your client.
This business model is somewhat more complicated than the ones mentioned above, but it brings extra profit. In order to get clients, you need to establish reliability and credibility over the market.
The cost of 3D printing the parts is almost the same as the other business types above, but you need to add the cost of the CAD software and CAD labor. You might also want to add 3D scanning to your services.
Business Model for 3D Prototyping Services
The process may be something like this:
- Either the customer gives you a 2D drawing or a physical component which you need to translate into its CAD form.
- You give a quotation for creating its digital twin and the cost of 3D printing it.
- Once the customer agrees, you start working.
- If the customer provides a 2D drawing, you need to 3D model the part.
- If it’s a physical object, you need to reverse engineer it and produce a 3D model. In this case, you might need some special equipment such as measuring tools or 3D scanning devices to recreate it.
- Create the STL and 3D print the object.
- You need to test and validate the resulting product before sending it to the customer.
- Get your profit.
Here’s how to convert a 2D drawing to a 3D model:
Setup Costs
- 3D Printer for business – $300 to $30,000 depending on the type of printer
- 3D Printer Filament – $15 to $70 per spool depending on your supplier and material
- CAD software – $1,100 to $5,000
- 3D scanner – $2,000
- Your rate for 3D modelling the components
- Your business space cost, if applicable
- Marketing costs
CAD Software Options and Costs
- Fusion 360 – $25 a month
- Sketchup – $412
- Rhino 3D – $1166
- Solidworks – $4683
- Geometric Design – $2111
Pros
- Higher profits, especially if you land on big clients who wants to maintain a permanent business relation
Cons
- You need to make sure to follow patent laws and copyright to avoid facing charges.
- You need to have a higher degree of precision and accuracy with your engineering drawings and finished product.
Examples
4. Conceptualizing New Products
Perhaps you have creative ideas of your own and want to manufacture it inhouse and sell in the market. If you’re into product design and engineering, creating your own products with 3D printing will be the best business option for you.
In this case, you need to brainstorm product ideas that would sell. Then you have to utilize your CAD skill and 3D modeling skill to digitalize the product. Afterwhich, test it using your 3D printer. You may need to undergo a few iterations before perfecting the dimensions and specifications of your product.
Aside from product development, you also need to market your own product. You may need to learn Facebook marketing or make a simple website to sell your products.
From there, target your specific audience through effective SEO or Search Engine Optimization. You can even sell your products on Amazon, Etsy or other e-commerce platforms. You can also showcase your products at trade shows, fairs or networking events.
Setup Costs
- You will have to conceptualize your own product from scratch.
- Draw the product on a sketch and make 2D and 3D models.
- Create the STL and 3D print the object.
- Test and validate the resulting product.
- Market and sell your product on your own website or platforms such as Etsy, Amazon, etc.
- Get your profit.
3D Printing Business Ideas: What Can I Make with a 3D Printer to Sell?
In this portion, we give you the hottest products you can make with a 3D printer and sell. If you can find the STL files of these products in Thingiverse or other platforms, please check the licenses first before 3D printing and selling them.
The products we showcase below are just for your inspiration and ideas.
3D Printed Fitness Equipment & Gears
3D Printed Home Improvement Products
1. 3D Printed Sports PPE
These products are one of the hottest selling products in the marketplace today, especially since it’s the pandemic. People still want to do sports but with extra safety precautions from contracting the deadly disease.
As you can see in the Google Trends graph below, the trend for the keyword “sports PPE” has significantly risen in 2020.
3D Printed Sports Face Mask
2. 3D Printed Face Shield
3. 3D Printed Fitness Equipment & Gears
And 3D printed fitness gears and accessories are currently low in design innovation and supply right now. This means you can pitch up some unique fitness gear designs and 3D print them for profit.
You can then market these products to those looking for a healthier way of staying fit at home.
Some of the existing 3D printed fitness gears and equipment we’ve found are the ones below. Note that these are for your ideas and inspiration only and you can definitely create your own products.
Standard to Olympic Conversion Weights
Star-Shaped Nut for Gripping Weights
Jump Rope
3. 3D Printed Home Improvement Products
Nowadays, there is a high demand for home improvement products as more people stay at home or work from home. People are finding ways to improve this and that corner of the house to make it a livable and work-friendly environment.
As seen on the graph below, the search for “home improvement” has risen from 2019 onwards. This means you can market and sell 3D printed home improvement items and have a high chance of making profitable returns.
Headphone stand
This 3D printed shower head controls the turbulence and pressure of the water, creating pressurized, rainfall shower streams similar to commercially-made 2.5 gpm high pressure shower heads.
4. 3D Printed Home Tools & Accessories
Some of the inspirations you can draw from the following designs and makers:
Sanding Tool
5. 3D Printed Toys
One of the most suitable business ideas that never gets old are children’s toys. You can design and 3D print toys for children or adults such as board games, tabletop games, chess pieces and many more. The key to this type of business is to be creative to be able to sell your products.
Especially during this time, toys, puzzles have been in pretty high demand due to the lockdown and prolonged days indoors.
This cute and fun 3D printed jet plane and egg is created by agepbiz and posted in Thingiverse. The jet fighter plane and egg can be 3D printed without support structures with the egg having a hinge.
This is a Halloween Pumpkin transforming into a Spider, a fun and interactive toy for kids or an engaging decoration during Halloween. This particular item is designed by Megawillbot and is made from ABS filament. The creator claims its awesome and durable material quality and has a competitive cost.
6. 3D Printed Plant Accessories
Many have also turned their attention in gardening, landscaping and planting in 2020, which makes it a profitable business idea this year. You can design your own version of self-watering planters and plant pots in Ebay, Etsy or Amazon.
Related: Here are some more Gardening Tools and Accessories ideas from All3dp.
How do I start a 3D printing business?
If you want to start a 3D printing business or any type of business, you need to research and gather enough knowledge about the services and products you want to offer.
Are the products you want to create seem to be profitable? As we already know that the 3D printing industry leads an upper trend, you must know what products and services you can uniquely offer to capture your client’s attention.
Next is to try out different 3D printing materials so you can establish techniques in optimizing 3D prints.
Other steps in starting a 3D printing business will involve the following:
- Budget Planning
- Planning suitable materials for each type of product
- Market Research
- Tax Registration
- Permits and Licenses
- Marketing and Web Presence
Start Your Business Now!
We hope you were able to gather some ideas on how you can start your 3D printing business. Check out these other useful guides that you may find useful:
