3D Printing for Profit is a bi-weekly Blog and Content Series dedicated to helping you start and grow a profitable 3D printing business.
Join my network and stay in the discussion by Subscribing
In this series, I will share with you my experiences and lessons learned in:
- Finding the Right 3D Printer and Software
- Securing Trusted Materials Suppliers
- Business Models that Work for YOU
- Value Pricing Models
- Creating a 3D Printing Brand
- Process Workflows to Save Time and Money
- Ways To Drive 3D Printing Profit
- And More
Who Am I?
Hey! My name is John and I’ve started this bi-monthly with one goal, to help you start, grow, and generate more profit in your 3D Printing business. Throughout this series you will learn how I quit my job to go full-time in growing and operating a profitable million-dollar 3D printing company and helping you to do the same!
In 2019, a few friends asked me to join, rebrand, and operate a 3D printing business that focused on designing and 3D printing parts and products. I was given the opportunity to work on developing the internal processes and responsibility of growing sales.
I’ve worked with a wide range of customers while trying to find our company’s niche, from independent hobbyists and inventors to engineers in multibillion-dollar companies, I continue to learn about industry problems they face and ways that we can solve them using Additive Manufacturing and Design for AM.
Aside from 3D printing, I love to get involved with the community through volunteering and being a part of organizations that aim at helping the ecosystem thrive.
Our 3D Printing Traction
My small 3D printing shop quickly grew, literally out of the basement, to a 50-printer farm in a 7,700 square foot facility in Buffalo, NY.
The strategies in this series have helped me and my business:
- Generate over a $1 million dollars in revenue
- Add (and fire) employees to help strengthen the company
- Profit over $300,000
- Work with 200+ companies and inventors
- 3D Print 40,000+ paid parts
In 2022, I acquired the company from my partners and rebranded it as GMETRIC, Inc. with a roadmap to 20x our business through growing the service bureau and expanding into other sectors of the 3D printing industry.
It isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, however. There were a lot of sleepless nights and difficult times that come with starting any business, but the lessons learned are life-changing and ultimately strengthened the business and my character. But quitting gets you nowhere and I love making money in 3D printing far too much!
Why? There is something incredible about the ability to solve a real-world manufacturer’s dilemma with innovative technology, as well as seeing something go from idea to design to production in a short period of time.
So, let’s hop into topic one…
Why The 3D Printing Side Hustle is PERFECT
It Works Around Your Schedule
3D printing offers many opportunities for you to have a profitable side hustle, that works around your schedule.
Given the time it takes for a 3D printer to print a “build tray”, there are two strategies I’ve used to best utilize my time for timing out prints.
SMALL BUILDS – Less than 8 hours
Start these prints with your morning coffee. For smaller models you are printing, I recommend filling the build tray up with enough parts to have it finish in 8 hours. This way your prints are finished by the end of your work day.
LARGE BUILDS – 12 hours or more
I recommend keeping builds to 24 hours max if possible. By starting your builds in the evening, you allow your printers to work for you! Note to check on them right before you go to sleep and right before you start your day to ensure they are running smoothly.
Whether you are working a day job or sleeping, your 3D printer is making money for you!
Minimal Investment
EQUIPMENT
With the increase in desktop 3D printers being released, prices have dropped significantly on desktop 3D printers that are perfect for your business. You can find reliable 3D printers with good build volumes for a few hundred dollars. There also aren’t too many upfront costs and consumables needed to get started with your 3D printing business.
ASSOCIATED EXPENSES
Raw Materials like filament or resin, are typically inexpensive and consumables like bed adhesive and binder clips are easily found on sites like Amazon. Cura is a free slicing software that has an easy-to-learn and understandable user interface that is perfect for beginner-level 3D printing.
I will be sharing a post on my strategy for finding the right 3D printer and slicer that allows you to operate and scale up your business easily.
Business Model Options
3D printing and CAD design open the door to options for what type of business you would like to start and grow.
DIRECT TO CONSUMER PRODUCTS
If you are the inventor type that likes to find problems and create products to solve them, you could manufacture those products and sell through e-commerce. Consumers like two types of products. Functional products that solve big problems, and chachkie products that draw on emotions and impulse vs a need. When creating products for consumers, running ads on Facebook and Instagram are highly effective with some creative graphics. Both of these can net you a great side hustle income so always be looking for that right product.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
- Shopify
- Etsy
- Facebook Ads
- Instgram Ads
- Google Ads
- Fiverr
- Canva
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS PRODUCTS
Similarly to DTC products, business products can be functional or fun depending on the type of business you are selling to. If you have experience, knowledge, or connections in a certain industry explore it for opportunities to create products that can make their lives easier or more enjoyable. It is easier to connect with your business customers via Linkedin, Cold Calling, and Emails. These transactions are more relationship driven and should be sold directly vs an e-commerce site.
SERVICE BASED
Aside from products, you can also be a custom job shop that allows people to submit 3D models to you so you can 3D print them on your customer’s behalf. It is a lot easier to start as a custom job shop and market it through advertising and to your network, and you can make the price work in your favor. A custom job shop does face increasing competition and takes long-term relationships to generate high consistent sales.
Both product and job shop business models can be extremely profitable but have their own caveats.
3D Printing Resources Available
The 3D printing community is excellent! One of my favorite things about being a part of the 3D printing community is how open-sourced it is. It seems everyone is open and excited to share their findings, hacks, and knowledge with each other. From searching problems with your printer, to settings to print a specific material, to firmware discussions and hardware upgrades the information is easy to find and accessible.
Some great resources I’ve utilized include:
Some YouTube channels I recommend you follow for Tips, Updates, and How To’s:
Conclusion: The Opportunity is HUGE in 3D Printing for Profit
3D Printing at your home or office is a great opportunity for a profitable side hustle.
It may seem like a big task if you are new to 3D printing, but there are lots of resources to help make the learning curve easier and to get you started with the basics of 3D printing.
I plan to share my wins, losses, and experiences with you in how I quit my job to work full time in my 3D printing business, generating over a million dollars in sales with HUGE margins.
Why do you want to make money 3D printing? Share with me in the comments section and let’s work together to make it happen!
3D for profit 
Leave a comment