Are you ready to dive into the 3D printing industry? Do you want the best business idea that will be profitable for you? If YES, here are the best 3D printing business ideas you can work with.
Introduction To Best 3D Printing Business Ideas
The popularity of 3D printing results from the current stage of technology and its promising future.
Thus, there is a growing number of people adopting this trend worldwide.
3D printing can be seen in almost every aspect of our life, business, or work.
The article is worth reading if you are unfamiliar with the trend or have a vague understanding of the business.
However, before we start mentioning the 3D printing business ideas- let’s know what it’s about and the future of the business.
What is 3D Printing?
3D printing or three-dimensional printing can be referred to as additive printing, where objects are produced by adding materials.
By definition, 3D printing is a manufacturing process of creating physical objects from a digital design.
Furthermore, 3D printing uses computer-aided design to create objects through a layering manufacturing process like plastics, composites, or bio-materials.
The objects created could differ in shape, size, colour, and rigidity.
With that said, do you think the 3D printing business is worth the time and energy?
There is one way to find out; keep reading.
Future Relevance Of 3D Printing Businesses
Without a doubt, the 3D printing industry is very profitable.
According to research, this industry’s global market size was valued at $15.10 billion in 2021.
With the continuous demand, the value is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.8% from 2022 to 2030.
Furthermore, as of 2021, the unit of printers shipped was 2.2 million.
Meanwhile, the units are expected to reach 21.5 million by 2030.
With this, the industry has a continuous demand across the globe.
Research also indicates that the 3D printing business has been applied in almost every business area.
Be it medical, engineering, art, real estate, etc.
In addition, the industry’s revenue is expected to reach $76.16 billion in 2030.
Judging by the figures, the 3D printing business looks promising and may be a worthy investment.
Best 3D Printing Business Ideas
1. Start a Children’s Toys Printing Business
One of the best 3D printing business ideas is printing 3D toys for children.
This is a very profitable and lucrative business idea.
Also, it is a business that has continuous demand.
Although, it has lots of competition.
But with hard work and creativity, you can get your share in the market.
Your ideal customers for this business will be families with young children.
Furthermore, there are some children’s toys that are best-selling in the market. They include;
- Mini monster trucks
- Surprise eggs toys
- Rubber band gliders
- Collapsing swords
- Flexi animals, and so on.
To begin with, you’ll need to decide what age range you want to print 3D toys for.
You’ll also need to buy a 3D printer.
The type of 3D printer you buy would go a long way to determine your output and, ultimately, your profits in this business.
In addition, you can choose to start this business from home to save costs.
Finally, you’d need to understand how 3D printing technology works and the different kinds of 3D printing materials to be able to do a good job and run a profitable business.
2. Start A Character Figurine 3D Printing
Character figurine 3D printing is also one of the best 3D printing business ideas.
It is quite profitable, and there’s a huge demand in the market for this product.
Your target customers for this business would include children and adults.
Furthermore, you can choose different characters to produce.
Here are some character figurines that might inspire you;
- Ray gun and space modulator
- Yogi bear
- Daffy duck
- Fred Flintstone
- Rick Sanchez
- Sasuke
- SpongeBob SquarePants
- Brian Griffin, and so on.
You can decide to print any figurines you want to print.
They could be Disney characters, Anime characters, comics characters, or video game characters.
3. Start A Home Decor 3D Printing Business
Another 3D printing business idea is printing 3D home decor.
If you like houseware, this could be the right idea for you.
The market for this business is huge, making it a very profitable business idea to consider.
You could niche down by printing any of the following home decor equipment: vases, lamps, planters, photo frames, drinkware, placemats, or complex designs with unique textures.
Once you create your designs, you could sell them in a physical store or online platforms like Etsy, Amazon, etc.
4. Start A 3D Fashion Designing
If you possess great fashion design skills and experience, you should consider this idea.
Also, if you are tech-savvy, this could be the right way to enhance your fashion business.
With the high demand for 3D design and 3D printing, this business will continue to grow.
You can print your unique designs on different fashion times like dresses, shoes, jewelery, and so on.
Also, if you don’t have the capital to start a fashion design company, you can start your mini fashion company with this idea.
To get started, purchase a suitable 3D printer.
Next, purchase the necessary materials.
Get a space in a good location, or you can start from your home.
You can create an online presence on social media platforms to promote your designs.
Finally, you can also sell on online platforms like Esty, Shopify, Amazon, etc.
5. Print Customized Glasses Frames
Businesses like Warby Parker and EyeBuyDirect are the most popular and booming businesses producing glasses frames.
Everyone loves to wear stylish sunglasses or eyeglasses.
These glasses come in handy either in functions or fashion settings.
Although this business is quite profitable, you will encounter high rivalry in the business.
Therefore, you’ll have to be creative and create unique glass frames to stand out from the competition.
If this feels like something you could do, develop a business plan, get the necessary funding, equipment and materials and set up your business.
More so, having an online presence via a website or social media page would also help you reach a wider customer base.
Ultimately, you can list your products on online selling platforms like Etsy, Amazon, Shopify, and so on.
6. Start A 3D Promotion Products
This is also one of the best 3D printing business ideas due to it high demand and profitability.
Many companies require the service of 3D printers to add their logo design to their products to help them promote their business to existing and potential customers.
In scenarios where they need this service urgently, reaching out to bigger 3D printing firms may cause delays.
In this case, local printers like you will likely bag deals like this and maximize the profits therein.
So, if you can do 3D printing on different objects or products, you can target companies that want to promote their business.
And if you are good at what you do, you can get more contracts from different companies.
7. Start A Pill Production Printing Business – Best 3D Printing Business Ideas
The production of 3D-printed pills dates back to 2015.
This system was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, this business cannot be operated by just anyone.
If you’re interested, you must learn how to produce medical drugs.
Therefore, if you’re a pharmacist, you should consider this idea.
Furthermore, as the name implies, the materials used are unlike other 3D printing businesses, like plastics or aluminium.
The materials used are easily dissolved, unlike the traditional pills.
Also, the pills can be digested.
8. Start A Medical Implant Printing Business
If you’re in the medical field, you should consider this idea.
This is also one of the best 3D printing business ideas.
As technology advances everyday, so is the medical industry.
One of the benefits of 3D printing is producing customized objects or products.
Furthermore, with the use of 3D printing, every implant can be printed perfectly and customized for any patient that will be using it.
Here are some examples of 3D printing medical implants.
- 3D anatomical models for surgical planning
- Prosthetic limb
- Bone replacement
- Skull reconstruction
- Human corneas
- Heart valves, and so on.
Overall, the materials used in this business type differ from other 3D printing businesses.
9. Print Rare Spare Parts
Finally, printing rare spare parts is one of the best 3D printing business ideas.
It is also a very profitable business idea.
People with rare cars or older car models require these services.
Finding replacement parts to this types of cars can be challenging.
However, with 3D manufacture rare spare parts within minutes.
So, if you have the required skill, you can set up this business in a good location and offer this services to customers.
How To Start A 3D Printing Business
Before you start a 3D printing business, there are some important steps you need to take.
First You Need to Ask, Is It The Right Business For You?
Firstly, you should decide if the 3D printing business is right for you.
3D printing business has its upsides and downsides.
This is why you need to consider both sides to know if it’s right for you.
Some of the benefits of 3D printing include the following;
It requires low startup capital.
You can get your customers from anywhere around the world.
Also, customers tend to return because they are happy with your products.
The downsides are:
3D printers are likely to be outdated due to evolving technology.
Also, 3D printers are not usually cheap.
There is also massive competition in the 3D printing industry.
So, weigh the pros and cons carefully and decide if you want to still go ahead with this business.
Identify Your Niche
After being certain about your decision to start this business, it is also important to identify your focus area or niche.
When deciding on the best idea to start, you should research the market needs.
Look for what is missing in the 3D printing market.
Furthermore, identify your targeted audience and choose where to start your business.
Create A Business Plan And Register Your Business
You should create a business plan that will outline the operation process of your 3D printing business.
Also, decide on the best name suitable for your business and register it.
Finally, obtain the necessary documents and licenses.
Purchase Equipment And Materials
You should purchase every piece of equipment and materials that will be used in the 3D printing business.
Some of the equipment includes;
- BuildTak
- Air-tight containers
- Desiccant
- Print-removal tools
- Hobby knives and blades
- Needle-nose pliers
- Flashlight
- Caliper
- Leaf gauges
- Scotch-Brite pads
- Cyanoacrylate glue (super glue)
- 3D printers
- Computers for 3D printing
Market Your 3D printed products
Finally, you should market your products to reach wider customers.
You can create a website and list your opening hours with online directories on it.
This will help your potential customers to reach you through search engines like Google, Bing, etc.
Also, you can create social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and so on.
In addition, you can list your products on online selling platforms like Etsy, Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and so on.
Conclusion On Best 3D Printing Business Ideas
These are the 9 most profitable and best 3D printing business ideas.
We hope you find one that suits your interests out of the options listed above.
Remember, no business becomes an overnight success.
It takes hard work, consistency, making smart decisions, strategizing, and dedication to run a successful business.
So, keep this in mind as you prepare to start your business.
Most importantly, set smart goals for your business and always measure your business performance.
These are some of the secrets to improving and staying relevant in business.
Good luck in your entrepreneurial pursuits.
