30 Best Laser Engraving Business ideas You Can Start Today

Do you want to start a laser engraving business but you lack ideas? If YES, here are 30 best profitable laser engraving business ideas & opportunities.

Laser engraving is a profitable way to start a business in a growing industry that takes only a small investment. Laser systems are so easy to use that you’ll be able to start using one in no time, and they are so affordable, they usually pay for themselves in a short amount of time.

Even if you decide to open a storefront business or work from home, you’ll find laser engraving a lucrative new way to start a good business. With pricing starting below $8,000 (US price only), you can get up and run your business in no time.

All you need is the laser, your own computer, and your favourite graphic software package (CorelDraw, Illustrator, and Photoshop). The laser works like a printer – you set up your image and it can “print” it to your material in a few minutes. Whenever you can add value to a product by creating custom engraving, your profits can skyrocket.

There are owners in this business that have paid for their machines with their first engraving jobs. With machines ranging from $7,995 to around $66,500, and with the same amazing engraving quality from each and every system, you’ll find out why people all over the world are discovering the profit potential of this business.

Best Laser Engraving Business ideas

1. Engrave and sell Cards

Due to the growing need for innovation and to outclass competitors, business owners are always want to become creative by giving out high-end business cards made from metal, wood, plastic or mat board.

Married folks can also leverage non-traditional materials for clever wedding announcements and invitations, so it may be worth your effort to market your business in wedding and party-planning magazines. Note that it is common for customers to seek a custom design and typography style, so it is good to have knowledge and experience in graphic design.

2. Tombstones

Engraving a tombstone is easier with a laser cutter. If you own a funeral home, you can buy a laser cutter to create the tombstones in-house. Alternatively, you can start an independent business that engraves granite or marble for memorial purposes.

3. Theme Toy Boxes

This is a profitable home based business venture, and best of all the business can be started with less than a $1,000 initial investment.

What you need to successfully produce and sell the toy boxes is to make sure that the designs are notary and unique, the material used in the design and the finished product should be colourful and depicts an elaborate children’s theme such as horses, cowboys or dinosaurs.

You can sell these toy boxes to retailers on a wholesale basis or directly to consumers via the internet, trade shows, a mall kiosk or mail order. As an additional source of revenue and as a marketing tool, also consider making wooden toys and including one wooden toy with each toy box as a surprise bonus gift.

4. Decorative Wood designer

Various types of wood such pine, mahogany, oak, pine, maple, and other hardwoods can be laser cut with intricate designs. The precision of a laser cutter is quite like no other, and can even rival that of handmade wood engravings.

5. Junkyard Furniture Creations

Building a business that manufactures and sells junkyard furniture is a very interesting business you should consider extensively. Note that the key to its success is to create funky, yet functional furniture from discarded items typically found at a wrecking yard or junkyard.

The most popular junkyard furniture items are generally couches and chairs that have been partially assembled from antique auto parts, such as a couch fashioned out of a ’57 Chevy front end.

Have it in mind that starting this type of business does have its prerequisites—creative and artistic ability, a well-equipped workshop, and design and construction skills. However, for the innovative entrepreneur who possesses these abilities, a fun, interesting and potentially profitable business venture is waiting.

6. Mirror Art Production

Mirror art is simply small pieces of mirror in varying colours and shapes that have been put together to create a picture, landscape or even abstract design. Sometimes, a trip to your local glass shop will result in the entire mirror you will need for this new venture, and usually at no cost.

This is because most glass shops dispose of mirror cut-off pieces that are too small to sell, but these same pieces of mirror are perfectly sized to create mirror art.

The equipment needed to create the art is not that expensive and includes a few hand tools, laser cut printer and a glass grinder. Also, patterns are available to make the mirror art or you can create your own. Once completed, the art can be sold via flea market booths, online or by renting a sales kiosk in malls.

7. Antique Furniture Refurbishing

The time has never been better than now to start an antique furniture refinishing and repair business, as consumer demand has skyrocketed for antiques in a good state of repair.

Once again, an antique furniture refinishing business can easily be operated right from a home based workshop. Note that finding customers for the service can be as easy as attending antique auctions and sales and handing out business cards to people who have just purchased antique pieces that requires repairs or refinishing.

Also, the service can be marketed by establishing alliances with antique retailers who can either use your service or act as a referral for your service to their customers. Buy antiques in poor condition then refinishing and selling them for a profit can also generate additional income.

8. Unique Clock Designer

Although the concept of a clock is relatively simple, but telling time doesn’t need to be boring. You can comfortably combine creativity with some skills and you too can build one-of-a-kind DIY timepiece.

These inspiring laser engraving projects will turn you into a horologist in no time. You can make and sell different types of clocks, which include: Nursery Time clocks, Mid-Century Modern Moth Clock, cityscapes clocks, industrial metal clocks etc.

9. Wedding Book Cover

Personalize a wedding photo album or guest book—and add dimension—by designing a custom cover. You could create anything that’s special to the couple from a city skyline of where they live to a monogram of their initials joining together.

10. Niche Greeting Cards

You can help businesses create and maintain a rapport with their clientele by sending laser etched cards for special occasions. You can also send cards announcing clients’ special events and even embellish cards with your customers’ signatures and logos.

The advantages to this business are that you can start it part time, it’s fun and creative, and it’s a warm, fuzzy, feel-good business—even though you don’t see the recipients of your cards, you know they’re enjoying them. For this business, you’ll need a sense of fun, creativity and good organizational and time-management skills. For custom corporate cards, your clients will, of course, be other businesses.

You can target just about any type, but your best bet will be those who need to stay firmly established in their customers’ minds, like doctors, dentists, insurance agents, real estate brokers, apartment managers, car salespeople, hair stylists and shopkeepers. And don’t forget those corporate types with customers, vendors and suppliers all over the country.

11. Make and sell Bridal Shoes

You may think laser engraving is limited to wedding decorations. Not always! You can leverage this technology to make bridal shoes and put a twist on the traditional sling back with a custom ankle wrap. Today’s couples don’t want cookie cutter ceremonies or receptions.

They want decorations that are tailored to their unique personalities and tastes. There is much opportunity for makers to sell their laser cutter projects in this space.

12. Custom Designed Clothes

If you’ve always wanted to design clothes, now’s your chance. With a laser engraver, you can create unique and intricate designs on several textiles and fabrics such as cotton, leather, denim, and others.

13. Acrylic Wax Seal Matrix Production

This can be made from laser engraved acrylic, also known as a matrix. Agreeably, no one really uses wax seals for their postage anymore, and haven’t since the modern postal service was put into place. Acrylic is a durable, transparent material that can be made into different products.

If you want to have a business that caters to all sorts of items, acrylic is an ideal base material. From acrylic, you can create things like clocks, coasters, signage, containers, decorative items, jewellery, toys, key chains, and many more.

14. Glass Etching

With a laser engraver, you can create intricate designs on glass window panes, mugs, shot glasses, wine glasses and steins. You can also use the machine to create custom solid glass or crystal cubes that have a three-dimensional image inside them.

A glass-etching business can target law enforcement and security businesses that may use your services to etch identifying marks or codes onto glass for security purposes.

15. Photo and Models Engraving

You can start a business that engraves impressive memories on wood or marble to remember beautiful times spent with loved ones; from architectural model to toys, laser processed photos and models are more environmentally friendly;

16. Engrave and Sell Welcome Mats

Since laser engravers can transfer designs on all sorts of fabric and textiles, you can also try engraving witty messages or cute images on welcome mats. If you’ve always wanted to have a welcome mat that says your favourite movie quote, you have your chance now.

17. Make and sell Laser Cut Coasters

Coasters have utilitarian value, but when you make them visually interesting with some high design they’re even more appealing—whether you’re selling them for a profit or using them as a promotional tool for your brand. Consider this option extensively as good laser cutter projects will have your prospective clients thirsty and eager for more.

18. Custom Metal Cups

Reusable cups are the trend now, so why not cash in on it? If you have a laser cutter machine, you can offer custom-made metal cups with names or unique designs on them.

19. Glass Spice Jar Shop

You can also start a laser business that caters for kitchen instruments. For example, you can start and a run a shop that makes and sells laser engraved glass spice jars. These jars are proof that anything in your everyday life can be laser etched or engraved or cut. If it needs a label, etch it. If it needs personalization, engrave it.

20. Cut-outs

You can also target those who make handmade items for a living or as a hobby. Carpenters, interior decorators and crafters sometimes need custom stencils, which you can cut out of a thin material with a laser etcher. Alternately, use your business to create custom puzzles for individuals using special images, which may be popular as gifts during the holidays.

21. Custom Leather Shoes

Do you want a business that is a little more high-end? Authentic leather is an expensive material to create various products from. A laser cutter can help you produce unique designs for belts, bags, wallets, shoes, jackets, and more.

22. Create and Sell Laser Cut Art

Laser cutting isn’t only for practical products such as clocks to tell the time or coasters to protect surfaces from scratches. It’s also an ideal manufacturing technique for creating one-of-a-kind artwork that’s not found in any standard store.

Using laser cutting equipment, you can create wonderful arts that will wow people and entice them to patronise your shop. You can make sculptures, wood arts, mosaics, paper artefacts and so on.

23. Laptop Stand Production

Individuals are leveraging laser technology to manufacture some pretty cool things by cutting and assembling cut-out puzzle type pieces. You are only limited by your imagination and, if you like puzzles, that’s a bonus.

24. Laser Cut Jewellery Shop

You can make a lot of things if you wish using laser cut technology. From earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings, there are so many great design ideas that can fetch you substantial income if you plan and do it well. Individuals all over the united states are beginning to understand the vast opportunities presented by the use of laser technologies. You can consider making and selling wood jewellery, acrylic jewellery and so forth together.

25. Stained glass classes

A business that focuses on teaching people how to make stained-glass items using laser technology, such as lampshades and sun catchers, is a terrific low-investment business opportunity to initiate. Note that the business and instruction classes can be started from home, or the classes can be provided for students and operated in conjunction with a community institution, such as a college, recreation centre, or community centre.

One of the key requirements for starting this business is, of course, the ability to make and teach others how to make stained-glass items. Asides that, the business is very simple to start.

26. Remodel and sell Album Art covers

We can all agree that old LP records are not only collectible for the music, but also for the often very elaborate album covers. Once designed with laser cut equipment and framed, album covers become wonderful pieces of art and are highly sought after home and office decorations.

Note that the perfect place to market your music art is to CD music shops. Agreeably, this is a great retail distribution point as the match and fit is ideal. Creating a retail accounts is as simple as booking appointments with music shop managers and presenting finished and framed samples of your music artwork.

At first you may even want to locate the artwork in the retail stores on a consignment basis. This can be your way of reassuring retailers that this is a no-risk situation. Additional methods to market the product include sales to interior designers, flea markets, mall kiosks, and direct sales to businesses like clothing stores, restaurants and offices.

Whichever marketing method you chose, there will be very little resistance to sales of the art, as there is virtually no competition in this business. The best source for the album covers are garage sales, flea markets, and used record stores (covers must be in good condition). You can make highly attractive frames from brushed metal, glass, and other interesting materials.

27. Christmas Ornaments

You can also start a business that manufactures Christmas ornaments using laser cut equipment. This business can provide you with a fabulous part-time seasonal income just when you need it the most ‘Christmas time’.

Note that Christmas ornaments such as tree decorations and door wreaths are very simple and inexpensive to make, and can be sold in various ways including to retailers on a wholesale basis or directly to consumers at a sales kiosk in a mall or at craft shows.

Indeed, this business is ideally operated from home and the overheads are virtually non-existent. While manufacturing and selling Christmas decorations on a part-time, seasonal basis may not make you rich; it can potentially generate an extra income of $5,000 to $10,000 per year.

28. Make and Sell Laser Cut Bookmarks

Whether you’re voraciously reading New York Times Bestsellers, keeping tabs on the latest business trends or perusing the pages of the classics, there’s one thing every bibliophile needs: A bookmark that’s just as amazing as the books being read.

Although most of the custom bookmarks on the market are made from wood or leather, that doesn’t mean other materials couldn’t be used. The market for this idea is enormous but be sure to research your location and opportunities before diving into this business.

29. Signage making

Whether welcoming invitations, stark warnings of impending danger or shining neon beacons of comfort and relaxation, signs guide our world.

There are many ways to attract eyeballs from a distance, and you can start a business that helps businesses or individuals create signs and instructions. The market for this business is enormous as every business needs signs to pass instruction or direct clients

30. Custom Fireplace Mantels

Note that one of the hottest home improvements right now is upgrading or installing new gas fireplaces. Most newly installed fireplaces have on thing in common: they require a mantel to suit the fireplace. Building and installing custom fireplace mantels is a great business to start for a person who has expertise in construction, or more specifically, cabinetmaking.

Aside getting laser equipment for this innovative venture, this sort of business can easily be started for less than $1,000 and be operated right from a truck or van.

In terms of marketing the mantels, there is an endless supply of potential customers who can provide you with work, including homebuilders, interior designers, renovation companies, gas fireplace retailers, architects, and utility companies.