Are you hesitant about starting a 3D printing business? Look no further.
3D printing is a technology that’s recently become popular due to its efficiency. It allows small businesses and individuals to reproduce products without having to use large machinery.
While the idea of starting a 3D printing business sounds great, many business owners don’t go about doing so the proper way. With time and patience, you can start a business that will quickly grow and you won’t waste money while doing so.
Read on to learn how to start a 3D printing business.
What is 3D Printing?
3D printing is the process of printing shapes from a model on a computer. With a program like AutoCAD, you can create models of various things that you’d like to make. For example, you can print out toys, containers, and small tools.
Many 3D printing business choose a niche to work in. You can choose to make your own products or you can make them for other companies. It’s common to see other companies outsource 3D printing work because it saves them on manufacturing costs.
Most of the work involved in 3D printing comes from making the models on a computer. Printing is automated whereas the design process requires manual labor.
Gather Materials and Licensing
When you decide to start a 3D printing business, you’ll need to get a business license to ensure that you can legally operate. Without a license, you’ll run the risk of being hit with hefty fines.
You will also need to start acquiring the materials that you’ll use to run your business. Things like computers, printers, and software are all necessary for 3D printing. There are plenty of options to choose from, so you should decide what you need based on what products you’ll make.
If you’re looking to 3D print small objects, you can opt for something like a handheld 3D scanner. These scanners allow you to scan small objects that you can then make copies of from your printer.
Think about the scale of the objects that you want to make and the volume you’d like to produce. Keep in mind that if you offer several printing services, you’re more likely to receive more clients. However, larger printers can end up costing you more money when starting.
Hire the Right Employees
While materials and licensing are important for a business, you need to ensure that you hire employees that understand how to 3D print. Many people understand how to work computers, but few know how to use the software for 3D printing.
As your business grows, you’ll start making products that require more effort to design on the computer. This means that you’ll need someone artistic enough to produce high-quality products.
When you start hiring employees, ask them for examples of work that they’ve done. Depending on what positions you’d like to hire, you can ask for a variety of things such as their artwork, marketing experience, etc.
Create a Website
One of the most important things to do when starting a 3D printing business is to build a website. In the world of business, a website acts as a platform for you to operate. Without one, you’ll have trouble trying to grow your business.
A website will provide clients with the means of contacting you and learning more about your products. Clients can order products, see your contact information, and do more all from a website.
If you’d like to build trust with clients and give yourself credibility, you can make a blog on your website. This will allow you to write about 3D printing topics and provide clients with more information about what the service is like.
By providing this information to clients, they’ll be more likely to invest in your product because they’ll be assured that you know what you’re doing. This also gives you a way to update clients whenever you release a new product or offer another service.
Use Social Media
Social media is essential to succeeding as a 3D printing business because, like a website, it gives you a platform to interact with clients. There are over 3.2 billion daily active users on social media platforms, giving you a large audience to reach out to.
The key to dominating social media is posting content that people enjoy seeing. When you post enjoyable content, users will share your posts and you’ll see a rise in followers.
Every social media post acts as an advertisement because the name of your 3D printing business will be next to them. This is essentially free advertising providing that you post engaging content.
Advertise Efficiently
Aside from using your posts as advertisements, you can invest in paid advertisements that allow you to target demographics. Should you have a certain age group that you’d like to target, you can choose that age group when you advertise on the internet.
Most social media platforms have advertising options for those that would like to advertise on their websites. If you wanted to advertise on Facebook, you could choose a demographic and Facebook will only show the ad to those that fit your settings.
You can also use the likes of Google Ads to advertise on a plethora of websites. This service lets you put ads on the websites of those that have opted-in. Using Google’s algorithm, your ads will be placed where Google thinks that it will get the most engagement.
Start a 3D Printing Business Today
Starting a 3D printing business doesn’t have to be difficult, but it is for many people because they don’t prepare. By getting a business license and gathering the materials you need, you’ll be ready to start your business.
Ensure that you hire customers that know about the business or have experience in a field that would allow them to easily transition. You’ll need to look at everyone’s credentials before hiring them, even if they give a good first impression.
When you start trying to grow, use social media to advertise your business and connect with customers. You can also make a website for a place that clients can go to when they’d like to use your service.
Feel free to browse our articles to get more advice about starting up a business.