How to Make Money with a 3D Printer: 7 Ways To Earn $100+/mo
Last Updated on March 7, 2024 by John Cirelly
3D printing is such a fun and creative hobby, but did you know you could make decent money with it? Here are seven ways how to make money with a 3D printer to help you earn $100 per month and beyond.
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How To Make Money 3D Printing In 2024
1. Sell 3D Prints on Etsy
Selling 3D prints on Etsy is an excellent creative side hustle to turn your creative passion into profit, especially if you’re savvy about tapping into passionate fan bases. Currently, fandoms like Runescape and Fallout are all the rage, and catering to these groups with unique 3D-printed items and figurines can really set your shop apart.
A great tool to leverage is EtsyHunt, which allows you to peek into how much competitors are selling and what items are hot. This insight can guide you in selecting the most lucrative niches to design for, ensuring your efforts are both enjoyable and financially rewarding.
Getting Started
To kick things off, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the interests and trends within your chosen niche. Spend some time on forums, social media groups, and other community hubs to understand what fans are looking for.
Then, refine your 3D modeling skills to create designs that resonate with these interests. Setting up your Etsy shop is straightforward; just ensure your product listings are clear, enticing, and highlight the unique appeal of your 3D prints to your target audience.
What You’ll Earn
Earnings can vary widely based on the niche, the complexity of the designs, and how well they meet the market demand. However, sellers in popular niches have been known to make anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a month. Your profit will depend on how well you can carve out a niche for yourself and how effectively you market your Etsy shop.
2. Offer Customized 3D Prints
Offering customized 3D prints can significantly boost your revenue, as personalization adds a premium to your products. For instance, custom tabletop miniatures, product prototypes, and personalized nameplates are in high demand.
By incorporating an option for customization, you can cater directly to your customer’s unique needs and desires, creating a more personal connection and enhancing the value of your product. This approach not only increases customer satisfaction but also allows you to charge more for the added service.
Getting Started
Begin by showcasing examples of customizable products in your portfolio, highlighting the range of customizations you can offer. Make it clear in your Etsy listings that customization is available, and consider offering a base price with an additional charge for the customization work.
Communication is key; ensure you have a clear process for customers to submit their customization requests, and maintain open lines of communication to refine the design according to their specifications.
What You’ll Earn
The additional charge for custom work varies depending on the complexity and time required for each project. For basic customization, you might add a 20% to 30% upcharge, while more intricate or time-consuming customizations could double the base price of the item.
This means if you normally sell a standard 3D printed item for $20, a customized version could fetch $24 to $40 or more, significantly increasing your earnings potential.
3. Make 3D Parts For Local Businesses
Creating 3D parts for local businesses presents a unique and lucrative opportunity to utilize your 3D printing skills. A friend of mine tapped into this market by producing a small, but essential part for a local business, which needed to be replaced every few months.
This not only provided him with a steady stream of extra income but also saved the business time and money by offering a quicker, local solution for their needs. It’s a win-win: businesses get cost-effective, custom parts on-demand, and you get to enjoy the financial and professional satisfaction of solving real-world problems.
Getting Started
To dive into this, start by identifying local businesses that might benefit from your 3D printing services. Think about companies that use machinery, gadgets, or equipment that might require custom parts.
Reach out to them with a proposal, highlighting how you can offer cost-effective, tailored solutions. Offer to produce a sample part to demonstrate the quality and potential savings they could enjoy by working with you.
What You’ll Earn
From my friend’s experience, you can earn an extra few hundred dollars per project, depending on the complexity and frequency of the parts needed. In his case, he made an additional $500 by providing a part that was in regular demand.
This figure can vary widely but highlights the potential for significant side income from just one business client. The more clients you serve, the more this number can grow, making it a potentially very profitable side hustle.
4. Sell Your Digital 3D Design Files
Selling your digital 3D design files opens up a passive income stream that allows you to profit from your creativity without the ongoing costs of materials and shipping. This approach is especially appealing because it leverages the work you’ve already done, making your designs available for others to print on their own 3D printers.
Platforms like Patreon offer a convenient way to distribute your files, where fans of your work can support you on a subscription basis, receiving access to your designs as part of their membership perks.
Getting Started
First, build a portfolio of your designs that showcases the breadth and quality of your work. Then, set up a Patreon page, clearly explaining the benefits subscribers will receive, such as exclusive access to your designs or the ability to request custom designs.
It’s crucial to keep your subscribers engaged by regularly releasing new designs and updates about your work, encouraging ongoing support.
What You’ll Earn
The income from selling digital files can vary greatly depending on your audience size, the demand for your designs, and how you’ve structured your Patreon tiers.
Some creators earn a few hundred dollars a month, while others can make several thousand. Your earnings will grow as you expand your subscriber base and continually engage with your community, offering them value that keeps them subscribed.
5. Sell a Course on How To Master 3D Printing
Launching a course on mastering 3D printing presents an excellent opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise with a growing community interested in this technology.
Through comprehensive lessons, you can guide beginners from the basics to advanced techniques, helping them avoid common pitfalls and enhance their skills. This not only establishes you as an authority in the field but also provides a steady income stream as your course gains popularity.
Getting Started
To start, outline the key skills and knowledge areas that are essential for mastering 3D printing. Consider including modules on designing for 3D printing, selecting materials, troubleshooting common issues, and optimizing print quality.
Platforms like Udemy or Teachable are great for hosting your course, offering tools to manage content, interact with students, and process payments. Promote your course through social media, forums, and other online communities to attract students.
What You’ll Earn
The potential earnings from selling a course can vary widely based on the price point, the number of students, and the marketing efforts you put in. Pricing can range from $50 to $300 or more, depending on the depth and breadth of the content.
With a well-marketed course and a few hundred students, it’s possible to earn several thousand dollars or more. Additionally, as your course remains available online, it can continue to generate income over time with minimal updates.
6. Start a 3D Printing YouTube Channel
Starting a 3D Printing YouTube channel is a great way to share your passion and expertise with a wide audience. This platform allows you to create content ranging from tutorials and reviews to showcasing your own 3D printing projects.
Not only does this help in building a community of like-minded individuals, but it also serves as a promotional tool for other ventures you might have, such as digital downloads or a course on 3D printing. Plus, being an Amazon affiliate for 3D printers and related products can add another revenue stream through commission on sales generated from your recommendations.
Getting Started
Kick off your channel by planning content that addresses both beginners and more experienced enthusiasts in the 3D printing community. This might include how-to guides, tips for successful prints, printer reviews, and insights into your creative process.
Ensure your videos are high-quality and engaging, encouraging viewers to subscribe and share. Utilize SEO strategies by including relevant keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags to help your content get discovered.
What You’ll Earn
Earnings from a YouTube channel come from various sources, including ad revenue, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and sales of your own products or services promoted through your channel. Initially, income might be modest, but as your subscriber base grows, so does your earning potential.
Successful channels can make anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month. The key is consistency, quality content, and engagement with your audience to grow your channel’s reach and revenue over time.
7. Start a 3D Printing Newsletter
Launching a 3D Printing Newsletter is an effective strategy to deepen your connection with your audience while also capitalizing on the newsletter side hustle trend. This platform allows you to share insights, tips, and the latest news in the 3D printing world directly with your subscribers’ inboxes.
It’s an excellent way to keep your audience engaged, promote your products or services, and establish yourself as a go-to resource in the 3D printing community.
Getting Started
Begin by choosing a reliable email marketing platform that supports your goals, offering easy design tools and analytics to track your newsletter’s performance. Next, create compelling content that resonates with your audience, such as tutorials, industry news, and reviews of the latest 3D printing technology.
Offer exclusive content to your subscribers to encourage sign-ups, such as free 3D printing designs or discounts on your courses or digital products. Promote your newsletter across your social media channels, website, and YouTube channel to grow your subscriber base.
What You’ll Earn
The income from a newsletter comes through various channels, including advertising, sponsored content, and promoting your own products or services. While starting earnings might be modest, as your subscriber list grows, so does the potential for higher revenue.
For instance, newsletters with a few thousand subscribers can earn several hundred dollars per issue through sponsorships and ads. The key to maximizing earnings is to consistently deliver value to your subscribers, encouraging them to stay engaged and supportive of your work.
How Profitable is 3D Printing?
3D printing can be a highly profitable venture, especially as you refine your niche and build a customer base.
The key to maximizing profitability lies in identifying and catering to specific markets, offering customized solutions, and leveraging digital products to create passive income streams.
For example, selling customized 3D prints or digital design files can yield significant returns with the right strategy. The initial investment in equipment and materials can be recouped over time as you scale your operations and diversify your income sources.
Is 3D Printing a Good Side Hustle?
Absolutely, 3D printing is an excellent side hustle for those passionate about design and technology.
It offers the flexibility to start small and scale up, the potential for both active and passive income, and the opportunity to tap into various markets, from personalized consumer products to bespoke parts for local businesses.
The success of a 3D printing side hustle depends on your ability to market your products, continuously improve your skills, and stay abreast of industry trends.
Can I Legally Sell 3D Prints?
Yes, you can legally sell 3D prints, but there are important considerations to keep in mind.
First, ensure that the designs you’re selling are either original, licensed for commercial use, or in the public domain. Selling prints of copyrighted designs without permission can lead to legal issues.
Additionally, when creating parts or products for businesses, it’s wise to have clear agreements in place regarding the use and distribution of your work to avoid any potential disputes.
