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How to Make Money with a Laser Engraver: 3 Easy Steps

After writing this article how to make money with a Laser Engraver, I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from readers who have implemented some of these practices.  If you are ready to start making money with your laser engraver then we recommend you continue reading below.  If you haven’t purchased we recommend you check out some of our buying guides below.

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Laser engravers are tools that allow the user to, as the name suggests, engrave an object using the power of a concentrated laser. It is popular amongst DIY arts and crafts enthusiasts, and also has some more industrial applications, like engraving license plates.

Where to Start

Before you can start making money with your laser engraver, you will need to understand how to use it. This is not a tricky task, but it is vital if you want to produce laser engraved products that clients will want to buy.

Start by doing some basic practicing to improve your skills. The most common material to laser engrave on is wood, and is also the least expensive. You can engrave on pretty much any piece of wood, provided it is wide enough and smooth enough for the pattern to be visible.

Create some small DIY projects that are practical, such as making labels or decorations. By doing this, you can learn what you like and what you don’t like and will be able to estimate what customers will want to buy.

Some of the most commonly bought laser engraved products are DIY projects like the ones mentioned above. Getting good at creating these products will give you a great starting point to build your business.

As you continue to practice, you will gain the ability to create more intricate and complex designs. You’ll also be able to come up with unique designs that are not available anywhere else, which can help boost your sales.

You should also avoid starting with anything that is lower than 25 watts, as you receive more control at this power level. Also, try to avoid engraving objects that are smaller than 12” x 24” for the sake of your convenience.

How to Make Money with a Laser Engraver

Offering Services and What to Sell

There are a number of ways that you can offer laser engraving services. The great thing about living in an age of social media is that you essentially have access to free marketing. You are able to create posts on your social media platforms advertising your products or services.

People will be able to see these posts and may even share them with other people, increasing your networking free of charge. Try to develop a unique service or range of products that people will be interested in buying, and work on marketing that.

This may sound easier said than done, but you’d be surprised as to how many people appreciate unique, homemade crafts. One of the most popular laser engraving products is jewelry, decorations, and phone cases.

The novelty of simply owning a product that was laser engraved by hand is enough to convince people to buy your products, so don’t think that you need to create something completely brand new and revolutionary to have a chance at a laser engraving business.

With that being said, coming up with a unique concept can help boost your sales greatly. People are attracted to things that they have never seen before, so try your best to create something truly unique.

If you are having trouble with formulating new ideas, rather try to add a unique flair to something that is already popular. This could come in the form of adding a unique design to things like phone cases or matter boards.

Knowing how much to charge for laser engraving is an important step of the process.  It is important that you have an efficient profit margin plan in place before starting. We generally recommend using a simple formula that includes labor and material costs.

Hourly rate X Labor hours + Cost of Materials = Price

For Example:

20.00/hr X 2 Hrs + $15.00 materials = $55.00

Ultimately depends how much you want to charge per hour

What To Make With A Laser Engraver

The possibilities for laser engraved creations are truly endless. It may sound difficult to create new and unique products, but once you have the hang of the basics, the ideas will bring themselves to you with minimal effort.

Here is a list of great things to make with you laser engraver.

  • Personalized Cutting Boards
  • Custom Wood Signs
  • Wedding Cake Toppers
  • Christmas Ornaments

Acrylic is a great material to laser engrave on because it has the smoothness of silk without being terribly expensive. Engraving logos and phrases on acrylic look great and is easy to do.

You could also consider making coasters with custom designs from materials like wood or various metals. A great way to maximize your sales is to take commissions or requests, and allow your customers to choose their designs, or create a new one.

This allows for a level of novelty and uniqueness that is sure to bring back more customers.

Conclusion

Laser engraving is quite an unexplored market and can be very lucrative for entrepreneurs that know how to make money. This is especially true for those living in areas that have frequent craft markets, or who have access to their own online store. Even if you are not looking to turn laser engraving into a business, it can still be a great way to make a little extra money every now and then!

About Maker Industry

Joshua Garcia, Founder

Hi, I'm Joshua. I created Maker Industry to share my passion for maker tools and help others learn about 3D printing, CNC systems, laser cutting and more. Learn More