Laser cutting is a versatile business idea that can be taken in a number of different directions. While it’s historically been used in large-scale industrial applications, it’s recently gained popularity for smaller applications as the selection of tools and services widens. Entrepreneurs may use their lasers to either create their own objects or to engrave existing objects for either professional or personal use.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
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Start a laser cutting business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Laser Cutting Business
- Form your Laser Cutting Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Laser Cutting Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Laser Cutting Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Laser Cutting Business
- Get Laser Cutting Business Insurance
- Define your Laser Cutting Business Brand
- Create your Laser Cutting Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your laser cutting business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Laser Cutting Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a laser cutting business?
Laser cutters can get started with a laser system, computer, and accompanying software. You don’t necessarily need a formal space to work — especially if you already have a garage or studio that you’re currently using. The prices will vary based on the quality and the scope of each item, but can potentially be as low as $10,000 to get started. (If working with employees, owners will also need to budget for commercial insurance.)
What are the ongoing expenses for a laser cutting business?
Once people have all the equipment they need, the ongoing expenses tend to be on the low side. The machinery will need regular maintenance and updates, but should last for many years to come. Owners should also account for standard marketing fees plus staff salaries and ongoing insurance payments (if hiring employees.)
Who is the target market?
The target market can be anyone who enjoys quality products or artistic expression in either a professional or personal capacity. Because a laser cutter can be used to make anything from trophies to wedding invitations, laser cutters can decide their demographics based on the materials, prices, and time commitment it takes to make each object.
How does a laser cutting business make money?
Laser cutting businesses will typically set their prices to give themselves a healthy profit margin. For example, if a custom necklace cost $50 in raw materials to make and an hour to produce, the owner may charge $125 for the finished product.
How much can you charge customers?
Laser cutters may find they can charge their customers quite a lot for relatively simple pieces. Before getting started, make sure to check the going rates for similar items in your area. If you’re creating something different from anything else on the market, base your price on the hourly rate you wish to make and then adjust based on the response you receive.
How much profit can a laser cutting business make?
In the first few months, profits may be limited as owners struggle to find the right audience. However, there’s little doubt that people are willing to pay for these services. Owners can charge up to $200 for a set of just 12 laser-engraved invitations. Organizations especially (e.g., government services, businesses, etc.) may offer tens of thousands of dollars for only a few weeks worth of work.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Owners should explore as many business opportunities as possible to enhance their skills and make themselves more marketable. So if an owner starts off making fun and fashionable pieces, they can also consider branching out into engraving company logos on their machinery or providing signage for other small businesses in the area.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your laser cutting 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.
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 laser cutting 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.
Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?
Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a laser cutting business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Certificate of Occupancy
A laser cutting business is generally run out of a workshop. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a laser cutting business.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
- If you plan to purchase or build a location:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your laser cutting business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Laser Cutting Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Laser Cutting Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a laser cutting business
Besides in-person networking, laser cutters should become active online by creating a professional website. Because laser cutters may have wildly different demographics, they’ll need to change their advertising according to where their customers happen to be.
How to keep customers coming back
Customers want to see long-lasting, quality items (even potentially throwaway items like invitations.) Orders need to be delivered on-time and in full. You’ll also need some type of communication strategy to keep customers in the loop should something go wrong.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
Owners should have the technical skills to work with the laser cutter, but they’ll also need to be creative. Even if you’re making relatively straightforward objects, it helps to have the element of imagination when it comes to improving upon or customizing your selection.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a laser cutting business?
Most of the day will usually be spent designing, cutting, and engraving. Owners may also need to manage staff, decide on an advertising strategy, or perform general administrative tasks.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful laser cutting business?
This business is excellent for someone who has prior experience with laser cutting, either from professional or personal experience. Many hobbyists will experiment with making different household objects (e.g., dollhouses, Christmas decorations, etc.) before realizing there’s a real demand for their services. You’ll also need a certain amount of customer service skills to handle potential conflicts over your services.
What is the growth potential for a laser cutting business?
Laser cutters have a high growth potential because they’re versatile enough to work within a variety of industries. They can also work with different materials to fit a wide range of customer requests. A laser cutter makes it easier to personalize or brand items without pricing the majority of people out of the market. This perk plus the quality and the longevity of laser-cut objects have been the driving forces behind the rise in the popularity of laser cutting.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a laser cutting business?
Laser cutting businesses are still somewhat new, so owners will be facing a new frontier when it comes to finding their audience and discovering why certain products sell. Artistic owners should start on websites like Etsy to learn more about what’s in demand.
This isn’t to say that owners can’t create their own demand based on the quality and innovation of their items, only that it helps to have a baseline before moving forward. Those who enter this business may not need a formal background in sales, but they should also be prepared to highlight what makes their business different from traditional methods.
Owners who want to add more functionality to their customers’ lives may want to contact local schools and businesses to learn more about their needs. Developing relationships with different decision-makers allows owners to see how they can cater their skills to fit their potential client’s needs. This can lead to the signing of different contracts to provide a constant supply of items. For example, a school may choose you to create the trophies for their sports teams, or a business may want you to engrave their name on a new product they’re debuting to the public.
Finally, if you’re buying a new laser or using your current laser to try something new, make sure that your original laser dealer can answer your questions. They should be able to tell you more about how to adapt your laser to each new task.
How and when to build a team
Unless you’re starting with a substantial amount of orders, it may make more sense to operate alone until the demand reaches a tipping point. If you don’t feel as though you’ll be efficient at administrative tasks, you can consider hiring a part-time secretary to provide general organization and customer service to clients.