Are you looking for ways to make money with your laser engraver? If so, you’re in luck! There are a number of ways you can turn your laser engraver into a money-making machine. In this blog post, we’ll discuss five different ways to make money with a laser engraver. We’ll also provide tips on how to get started. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
It’s no secret that laser engravers are expensive. If you’re an avid crafter like me, you’ve probably weighed the pros and cons of purchasing one, or maybe you’ve made the decision to buy one!
Either way, it’s a big investment. Most people who buy a laser engraver do so with the idea that they will make money with it – not just use it as a hobby machine (such as with the Cricut). The good news is – there are a lot of ways to make money with a Glowforge or other laser engraver. . Your laser engraving business could even become your main source of income if you get a good profit margin!
When I first got my Glowforge and started to write blog posts about it, I had friends, family members, and neighbors reach out wondering if I could engrave their products with it. They would ask about tumblers, Apple Watch bands, cutting boards, wooden spoons, ornaments – you name it, they wanted to know if we could engrave it. Turns out, there is a huge market for these types of personalized products.
This seems to be the story for many, which often is the catalyst for starting to charge for laser engraving services. Many start out charging very little, especially for family and friends, as they get to practice.
But as you get better and more people start to hear about your services, you can really start to bring in a decent amount of revenue from this little side hustle – though it might not seem so little after a while! It also got me thinking about how many different ways there are to make money with a laser cutter, so I wanted to share some of those with you today.
Maybe it can get your creative juices flowing, and who knows – you could have a full-blown small business in no time! Here are a few ways to make money with a laser engraver.
These articles may be helpful as well:
- 101+ Glowforge Projects to Make (and Sell)(2022)
- How to Make Money With Your Glowforge: The Complete Guide(2021)
Rent Out Your Laser Engraver
I have a Glowforge, and I don’t let just anyone use it. But if someone I trust wants to use it for their projects and they know what they’re doing, I would have no problem renting it out for short periods of time.
You could do this with a friend, family member, or even someone from your crafting community. If you have the space to store it and don’t mind loaning it out, you could make a few extra bucks renting out your laser engraver! It’s a good idea to vet your renters, though – a damaged machine could ruin your business plan. You should make sure to have a contract in place to protect yourself as well.
Affiliate Marketing
This is another way I make money with my laser engraver! If you read the top of this post, you’ll see my disclaimer that this post contains affiliate links. That means if someone purchases a Glowforge or product using my link, I’ll get a small portion of the profit from that sale.
It doesn’t cost anything for the reader, but it helps me be able to share more helpful content about Glowforge and how I use it!
You could always create a blog surrounding your crafting endeavors, then include affiliate links in your posts to make a little extra money. There are tons of places you can become an affiliate for – from Amazon and Joanns to more niche companies.
Sell Custom Products
This is probably the most common way people make money with their laser engravers. You can find endless inspiration for products to sell online – just hop on Pinterest and do a search for “laser engraved gifts” or “custom wooden signs” and see what comes up!
We have actually done A LOT of the hard work for you with this post that has over 100 Glowforge Projects to Make and Sell!
Once you have an idea of what you want to make, start practicing on some scrap wood (Dollar Tree wood is great for practicing) or material so that you perfect your technique.
Then, set up an Etsy marketplace, online shop, trade shows, and social media pages, or sell them at local craft fairs and flea markets. Setting up an online store doesn’t take long, so if you have a popular product, it would be a great idea to put it online and sell to potential customers.
If you price your products correctly, you’ll be raking in the dough in no time!
Here are a few ideas of what you can make with your laser engraving machine:
- Wedding Gifts: Wooden cutting boards, coasters, charcuterie boards, engraved ring box, etc.
- Home Décor: Wall hangings, signs, door hangers, etc.
- Gifts for New Parents: Baby milestone cards, name signs
- Custom Gifts: Apple Watch bands, jewelry, coasters, picture frames, tumblers, personalized leather wallet
- Holiday Décor: Ornaments, frames, wreaths
- Celebrations: Cake toppers, custom gifts, charcuterie boards
- Local Community: Barcode labels, QR codes, stainless steel, etc.
Work With Brands to Create Products
If you have a following on social media or run a blog, you could reach out to brands and see if they’d be interested in working with you to create custom products using your laser engraver. This is a great way to make money with your laser engraver because not only do you get paid for your time and effort, but you also usually get the materials needed to create the product as well! Win-win!
Even if you don’t have a large following, you can reach out to local brands and offer laser engraving services for their company swag. Companies love to give out keychains, pens, coasters, tumblers, and other similar items, and creating a partnership with them can help you make some extra income while helping a local business! If you play your cards right, your corporate clients could even turn into full-time job.
Offer Laser Engraving Services
This is what many people do and how they get started making money with their laser engraver. They offer laser cutting and laser marking services to people in my community and have even done some long-distance jobs too!
If you don’t want to sell products and would rather just do the engraving, this could be a great option for you. You can advertise your services online or through word-of-mouth. Once you get a few clients, you’ll be busy in no time!
These are just a few examples of ways that people use their laser engravers to generate income. With a little creativity and effort, the sky’s the limit when it comes to making money with a laser engraver! So what are you waiting for?
Get out there and start generating some income with your machine! Small businesses can be hard, but your laser business will be booming in no time with the high demand.
Laser engravers are such versatile machines, and there are endless possibilities for what you can do with them. You can use them for personal use or create a lucrative business!
No matter what, laser engraving technology will always be in high demand. And who doesn’t want to be their own boss? With a few simple materials, your laser engraver business can be up and running in no time.
I hope this has given you some ideas of how you can make money with your laser engraver. If you have any questions or want to share your own ideas, feel free to leave a comment below! Good luck and happy crafting!
More Articles You May Enjoy:
- 10+ Must-Have Glowforge Accessories
- 9 Apps To Save and Make Money With Your Smartphone
- Glowforge Materials: What to Cut & Where to Buy Them
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