How to Start a 3D Printing Design Business

Starting a 3D printing design business can be an exciting and rewarding business venture for entrepreneurs who are passionate about creativity, innovation, and using cutting-edge technology to bring their unique designs to life.

Having said that, you should keep in mind that launching a successful 3D printing design business requires careful planning, a wide range of skills, and can sometimes involve significant investment.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through all the essential steps you’ll need to take to start your own 3D printing design business, from budgeting your startup costs and developing a business plan to investing in the right equipment and obtaining the necessary licenses and permits.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the process with hands-on support.

Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)

Industry Overview

In 2023, the 3D printing industry in the US was valued at $20.37 billion, and is expected to further grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.5% until 2030. This expansion is fueled by advances in 3D printing technologies and an increasing demand in industries like healthcare, automotive, and aerospace.

In addition to its clear commercial appeal, these technological innovations have made 3D printing particularly attractive for small-batch production and custom designs as they lower the barrier of entry to the necessary manufacturing processes and allow small businesses to reduce costs.

However, there are still a number of challenges that these smaller manufacturers face, the most prevalent being the wealth of technical knowledge needed to be able to effectively adopt 3D printing technologies.

Despite this, we believe that the 3D printing industry represents a significant opportunity for small business owners.

Startup Costs

If you’re considering whether a 3D printing design business is right for you, the first thing you’ll need to know is whether it’s a) affordable, and b) worth the investment. I mean, how much can you actually make running your own 3D printing design business?

Well, it depends. The initial investment for a 3D printing design business varies widely based on factors such as the equipment and software you choose and the scale at which you plan to produce designs:

• 3D Printer and Equipment Choice: When starting out your business, the cost of purchasing your own 3D printer is one of the largest expenses you’ll likely face. There’s a wide range of options, with entry-level printers starting from as low as $500 and high-end commercial models reaching up to $6,000 or more. On top of the printer, a number of other pieces of equipment will also add to this cost, such as the filament you choose, post-processing tools, storage for materials, and quality control devices.
• Software and Design Tools: If you decide to do the product design for your business as well, you’ll need to invest in a professional design software to be able to create models. Some of the most popular software options (e.g., AutoCAD or SolidWorks) can be very costly, with licensing fees that range from several hundred to several thousand dollars annually. However, there are also a number of reliable free alternatives available to you (e.g., Blender), which are more than capable for more basic work or that grant you temporary access to their premium tools.
• Shipping Costs: In order to be able to send products to customers, you’ll need to invest in some basic shipping supplies when starting out — though this likely won’t represent as big of a portion of your startup costs as the two mentioned above. Overall, you’ll typically only need to spend around $100 to $200 dollars on essential shipping supplies such as boxes, filler material (e.g., bubble wrap or packing peanuts), and tape. However, this can increase if you decide to add more specialist equipment like a thermal label printer for more efficient label printing.

In terms of ongoing costs, one of the best aspects about operating a 3D printing business is that it’s relatively low-maintenance once you get it up and running, especially if you do so from home.

The primary recurring expenses include hosting your website (if you decide to create one), which generally costs less than $100 per year as well as the cost of re-stocking materials when you receive orders if you operate your own 3D printer.

Earning Potential

The earning potential of your 3D printing design business will vary greatly based on the type of products and services you offer, the materials used in your products, and how effectively you can market your designs.

For example, while you may be able to charge between $15 and $75 for home decor items, larger, more intricate figurines and pieces of terrain for tabletop war games could sell for $200 or more.

While estimating exact profit figures can be challenging, 3D artists working for corporations typically earn around $53,000 per year on average. However, as an independent business owner, your actual profits could far exceed this depending on your ability to offer the right designs, appeal to niche markets, and execute effective marketing strategies.

Ultimately, maximizing your potential profits will often come down to how much you can increase your business’s visibility. To do this, consider writing guest blogs on websites that cater to your target audience, or offer to print items that fulfill a need in your community (e.g., prosthetics), to gain publicity and build relationships.

One of the major advantages of running a 3D printing business is how easily it can be scaled as your sales grow. Unlike many other businesses that require large initial investments, a 3D printing business allows you to start small and expand as your revenue increases, giving you the flexibility to grow at your own pace.

For example, if you start receiving more orders than one printer can handle, you can simply reinvest your profits in another one. Alternatively, if you find yourself shipping too many orders a day, spending an extra $200 to $300 on a thermal label printer can greatly streamline this process.

10 Steps to Starting a 3D Printing Design Business

In order to start a 3D printing design business, you’ll need to complete the following steps:

1. Planning Your 3D Printing Design Business
2. Registering Your Business
3. Setting Up Your Taxes
4. Opening a Business Bank Account and Credit Card
5. Securing Funding (If Applicable)
6. Invest In Equipment and Software 
7. Deciding Which Designs To Sell
8. Finding a Sales Outlet
9. Getting all Applicable Licenses and Permits
10. Obtaining Business Insurance

We’ve broken each one of these down in more detail below.

Still exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

Step 1: Plan Your 3D Printing Design Business

Before diving into your 3D printing design business, you’ll need to spend some time conducting thorough market research.

This can involve analyzing the local market to understand the demand for your specific designs and models, identifying potential competitors, and assessing the target demographic.

This will help you evaluate the financial viability of your project — including projected revenues and expenses — as well as determine the best location for your business.

Finding a Suitable Name

Choosing the right business name is both important and challenging.

Your name will need to be eye-catching, memorable, and (at least somewhat) related to your industry.

If you don’t already have a name in mind and need help, you can visit our How to Name a Business guide or use our 3D Printing Design Business Name Generator tool.

If you do have a name in mind, we recommend researching the following to confirm it’s available:

• Your state’s business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms

You will also need to make sure that your business’s name is available as a domain — this is your website’s URL address.

Note: If you’re planning to operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name — known as a “Doing Business As” (DBA) name. Keep in mind that this is not recommended for a 3D printing design business.

Develop a Business Plan

Before getting started with your business, it’s important that you devise a business plan — focusing in particular on the types of services you want to provide and how you intend to approach this.

In general, there are two main types of services of a 3D printing design business can offer:

• Product design using CAD software
• 3D printing services

If you can’t afford the upfront investment necessary to purchase your own 3D printer, offering product design engineering services using CAD software is a great option as it requires very little capital to get started.

This involves creating the designs for various different types of objects and figurines that customers can then purchase from you in order to print using their own 3D printer. While CAD software is typically very expensive, there are a number of great free alternatives (e.g., Autodesk Fusion360 and FreeCAD) that you can take advantage of to get around this cost.

Of course, you’ll need to know how to use this software in order to market these services — if you possess the knowledge and experience necessary to make use of it, try signing yourself up for Fiverr and listing yourself on Yelp locally in order to offer CAD work.

However, if you’re not able to use CAD software, there are plenty of designers who sell the rights to use their work on a subscription basis. After signing up for the license plans of various different designers (which typically cost around $10 or more), you’ll have access to hundreds of models that you can list or sell.

If you want to also offer 3D printing services but can’t cover the upfront cost, we recommend working with a prototype lab such as Shapeways, Photolabs, or Phathom. This allows you to offer product development without the risk of investing in these machines yourself by outsourcing these services to a third party.

This approach will save you time in the long run, and allows you to have your products fabricated by an expert who is better equipped to offer higher-quality products. However, it’s worth being aware that this will naturally eat into your revenue slightly.

Step 2: Register Your Business

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your 3D printing design business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation.

While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs — especially when it comes to 3D printing design businesses (with potential liabilities and debt).

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

Step 3: Set Up Your Taxes

The next step you’ll need to take is to register your business for taxes. To this, you’ll need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which you can think of as your business’s Social Security Number.

If you form your LLC through a specialized LLC formation service, this will likely be already handled for you in exchange for a small additional fee.

Even so, it’s important to make sure that you fully understand your business’s tax obligations; since these can depend on your location, it’s a bit difficult to accurately break down exactly which taxes you’ll be subject to.

Nevertheless, most businesses will typically be subject to income tax, sales tax, and employment taxes at the federal level. 3D printing design businesses in particular will also likely be faced with excise taxes depending on the specific products they offer. You should also keep an eye out for any local city or county taxes that your business is liable to pay.

Due to the complex nature of business taxes, we always advise our readers to seek the help of a professional accountant or business attorney for this step.

Step 4: Open a Business Bank Account and Credit Card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential when operating as a business owner; this is because when your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) can be at risk in the event your business is sued.

In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil and is a result of the fact that not having a separate business bank account can be interpreted by some courts as evidence that you are not treating your business as a separate financial entity.

As a result, you could lose your limited liability protections even if you’ve registered a separate business such as an LLC or C Corp.

There are also a variety of practical and economic benefits to this step, such as a larger access to business loans and a more legitimate look.

Getting a business credit card can also be a great idea as it can help you build your company’s credit history from the start.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Step 5: Secure Funding (If Applicable)

Due to how capital-intensive 3D printing design businesses can be, it’s common for entrepreneurs to rely on some form of financing when first starting out. Despite this, it’s important to remember that loans should never be taken lightly and can quickly lead to financial strain if monthly payments exceed early revenue.

To avoid this, it might be worth publishing your CAD designs and waiting to see if there’s sufficient demand for them to justify a loan to cover the cost of a 3D printer — this way, any debt you take on should only be linked to work that will directly lead to you making revenue.

Remember that the extent to which this step will be necessary for your 3D printing design business will be entirely dependent on your individual financial situation.

Step 6: Invest in Equipment and Software

After legally forming your business and sorting out its taxes, you’ll be ready to begin purchasing all the necessary equipment and/or software that you’ll likely need in order to offer 3D printing design services.

Compared to many other business ventures, one of the advantages of starting a 3D printing business is that you won’t require very much to get started.

With that being said, there are certain essential items that you’ll need to obtain, including:

• 3D Printer: It’s important to invest in a quality printer, regardless of whether you go for an entry-level model ($500+) or a commercial-grade one (up to $6,000 or more). There are generally two main types of printers depending on your niche:
  • FDM printers — Good for creating functional parts or prototypes
  • SLA printers — Ideal for high-detail models such as jewelry or small figurines
• Filament or Resin: In order to be able to print your designs, you’ll need a material such as PLA, ABS, PETG, to feed into the 3D printer. Be sure to invest in basic colors that you’ll get a lot of use out of, as well as avoid more expensive variants (e.g., carbon fiber PLA) when you’re just starting out.
• Post-Processing Tools: You’ll need certain tools in order to finish off your products, such as sanding tools, a resin curing station (if using resin-based printers), and paint and detailing tools.
• Workstation: It’s recommended that you obtain a sturdy workbench or table for your 3D printer and other equipment — making sure to pair this with an effective ventilation system if you’ll be working with resin or any other materials that emit fumes during printing.
• Shipping Supplies: You’ll need certain supplies in order to be able to send off orders to customers, such as cardboard boxes, filler material (to protect the items), and tape (to seal the boxes).

While it’s better to avoid more expensive variants of filament when you’re just starting out, such as carbon fiber PLA, glitters, or rainbow — remember that you can scale into this stuff over time, we just recommend keeping it simple while your business is getting off the ground.

Step 7: Decide Which Designs to Sell

Whether you’ll be printing in-house or outsourcing this to a third party service, it’s essential to remember that not all the designs you can think of will be profitable, meaning you can’t just sell any old thing.

Ultimately, if a design is too complex or costly to produce in relation to its market value it just won’t be viable, regardless of how cool it looks or how much you personally like it.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to carefully consider the following factors before deciding whether or not to sell a particular design:

• Is there significant market demand for this design?
• How long will it take to produce each model?
• How much will it cost to print this design?

Exploring marketplaces like Etsy or Fiverr can give you a solid insight into what’s already selling well, though you shouldn’t just copy successful designs — instead, use them as inspiration to come up with your own innovative ideas and stand out.

Alternatively, you can come up with a number of niche and personalized designs by using a bit of creativity and any trending topics that you’ve found through social media platforms or search engines. This approach is particularly effective as you’ll face less and less competition the more niche your design is.

Finally, filter out these in-demand designs to find those that can be produced quickly and cheaply — it won’t matter if there’s all the demand in the world for a design if your output will be severely limited by production time or cost.

Step 8: Find a Sales Outlet

Of course, it will be difficult to make any profit without a means by which to sell your 3D printed products or services. While there are a number of great options around, Etsy is the clear choice for most small businesses that are just starting out in this niche.

It has very low startup costs, and you’ll only be charged when you make a sale. The only thing to be aware of with this platform is that it’s a bit of a numbers game — so be sure to launch your shop with enough listings to set your business up for success (around 20 listings is a good starting point).

While we recommend using Etsy, there are a number of other avenues available to you as well, including:

• Amazon Handmade: For 3D printing businesses that specialize in custom or handcrafted items, Amazon Handmade is an excellent option that allows you to tap into Amazon’s massive customer base, though fees are typically higher than platforms like Etsy.
• Social Media Stores: After creating your own website, you can make use of platforms like Facebook and Instagram to set up direct-to-consumer sales using their storefront features. This option is great because it allows you to easily reach and engage with a large audience at a low cost, while seamlessly integrating your storefront directly through your social media profiles.
• Local Markets and Events: While electronic avenues are vital, it’s important you don’t overlook offline opportunities such as local craft fairs, maker events, and trade shows. Particularly for smaller businesses and those just starting out, these events are excellent for building relationships, getting immediate feedback from customers, and promoting your brand within your community.

Once your business has been established and you’re making consistent sales, we highly recommend working with a supplier that can provide you with everything you need to ship your products out professionally.

Step 9: Secure All Necessary Permits and Licenses

One of the final steps you’ll need to take before you can officially launch your 3D printing business is to obtain the various different licenses and permits that are often required by law.

Sales Tax Permit

A Seller’s Permit, which may also be referred to as a Sales Tax Permit, is a crucial requirement for any 3D printing design business.

Without this permit you won’t be able to legally sell physical products and collect sales tax from your customers, which you must be able to do in order to remit to your state’s tax authority.

Home Occupation Permit

If you are operating the business from your home, many cities and counties will require you to obtain a home occupation permit.

This essentially just ensures that your home-based business complies with local regulations (e.g., restrictions on signage, the number of employees, or customer visits), in order to ensure that the residential character of your neighborhood is maintained.

A good way to confirm whether your business is compliant with all applicable regulations is to get in contact with the local authorities in the area you plan to operate.

Reseller’s Permit

A reseller’s permit — which is sometimes also referred to as a sales tax exemption certificate — is a state-issued document that allows a business to purchase goods or materials intended for resale without paying sales tax at the time of purchase.

While not legally required, this permit is particularly useful for businesses like 3D printing design companies that need to buy raw materials (e.g., filaments or resins), to be able to create products they will eventually sell on to customers.

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

In addition to securing the necessary permits and licenses, you will need to obtain the right business insurance.

Note

Even if you form an LLC, purchasing business insurance is still a good idea. This is because an LLC structure protects your personal assets, not your business’s.

While specific coverage needs may vary based on factors such as location, size, and unique risks, there are several key types of insurance that most 3D printing design businesses should consider.

We’ve briefly outlined these below.

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance is a foundational coverage that’s essential for 3D printing design businesses because it protects against claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury that may be caused during client visits, product deliveries, or other business operations.

An example of this might be if a customer suffers an injury during a visit to your offices — in this situation, general liability insurance would protect your business from the cost of any potential legal claims.

The average cost for general liability insurance according to recent data is between $30 and $60 per month, though costs can vary based on your business’s specific needs and risks.

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance is essential for safeguarding your 3D printing design business’s physical assets, such as its printers, computers, design software, inventory, and office equipment.

The median cost for business property insurance will generally fall somewhere between $35 and $50 per month for a 3D printing design business.

Having said that, rates can vary significantly based on factors such as your business’s location, risk profile, and the value of the property in question.

Product Liability Insurance

Since your business involves selling physical products, product liability insurance is critical. This insurance policy protects your business against any potential claims of injury or damage caused by defects in the products you design and sell.

While the price you end up paying for it will ultimately depend on your unique situation, you should be surprised if you’re expected to pay between $50 and $100 per month for this coverage.

Errors and Omissions Insurance

If you offer design services, professional liability insurance protects you from claims related to mistakes, negligence, or failure to deliver the promised product or service.

This could be essential if a client claims a design error led to a financial loss or an unsuccessful project.

The monthly premium usually ranges from $40 to $80, depending on the scope of design work you do and the contracts you manage.

Ready to Get Started?

How to Start a 3D Printing Design Business FAQs

Who is the target market?

This is one business where your preferred clients may vary greatly depending on your area and if you choose to specialize in printing certain things.

One group that may become your favorite is hobbyists — from collectors wanting to replace parts for their model trains to gamers wanting you to print objects for their roleplaying campaign, hobbyists are that rare group that has very niche interests and the disposable income to accommodate those interests.

How much can you charge customers?

The price for your items will vary greatly according to their size, complexity, and the materials used. For instance, in the tabletop gaming niche, you might charge four dollars for a small item like a miniature shopping cart.

Conversely, you might charge upwards of two hundred dollars for large, complex terrain to be used in a tabletop war game. If you are printing through Shapeways, then they will help determine the price of the item using those same factors. The more niche your item, the more you can effectively charge, as customers have nowhere else to obtain that item.

How much profit can a 3D Printing Design Business make?

The exact amount of profit you can make is difficult to determine. While one research company estimates that 3D artists make an average of $53,000 a year, this only describes those who do such work for corporations rather than themselves.

Regardless, your actual profit is like that of any other specialty shop: if you find the right combination of diverse products, niche markets, and relevant advertising, the sky’s the limit on your profit.

How can you make your business more profitable?

All of the ways to make your business more profitable will ultimately come down to making it more visible. Try to write guest blogs for websites that your audience reads in order to get noticed, or offer to print things your community may need (such as prosthetics) in order to build good relationships and gain publicity.