Do you want to start a laser cutting business but you want to go niche? If YES, here are 24 best laser cutting related business ideas & opportunities. In this modern age, laser technology and equipment have initiated a number of business opportunities for willing entrepreneurs worldwide.
Laser engraving and cutting machines have helped many business owners fulfill their career dreams. It’s a laser tool that can engrave on or cut through a wide range of non-metals by combining the user’s design and laser technology.
Laser engraved products are always needed in people’s lives for things like furniture, decoration, shoes, advertising boards, wedding invitations, industrial manufacturing and so on. So, if you are standing at a crossroads where you are planning to start up your own business and fortunately you also have some knowledge on laser, then you can consider starting a laser cutting business.
Have it in mind that many investors prefer a business field that does not require huge investment which is beyond their financial capacity, but can be profitable in the near future. Laser cutting and engraving business can be your best choice from this perspective.
Listed and explained below are the various laser cutting business ideas you can start and run comfortably. Be sure to go through them and make more research so as not to make huge mistakes that will hinder your business success.
Best Laser Cutting Business ideas
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Make and sell Cards
In this competitive business age, business owners are looking to become creative by giving out high-end business cards made from metal, wood, plastic or mat board. Couples also may 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.
Have it in mind 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.
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Theme Toy Boxes
Producing theme toy boxes is a lucrative home based business venture, and best of all is that the business can be started with less than a $1,000 initial investment.
Note that the key to successfully produce and sell the toy boxes is to make sure that the designs are original, the material used in the construction of the toy boxes is unique, and the finished product is colourful and depicts an elaborate children’s theme such as horses, cowboys or dinosaurs.
The toy boxes can be sold to retailers on a wholesale basis or directly to consumers via the internet, trade shows, a mall sales 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.
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Make and sell Laser Cut Clocks
It is believed that time is an illusion, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make sense of it. Although the concept of a clock is relatively simple, 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 timepieces.
These inspiring laser cutter projects will turn you into a horologist in no time. You can make and sell different types of clocks, which includes: Nursery Time clocks, Mid-Century Modern Moth Clocks, cityscapes clocks, industrial metal clocks etc.
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Wedding Book Cover
Personalize a wedding photo album or guest book—and add dimension—by designing a custom cover. This design is inspired by the softness and floral shapes of baby’s breath, but 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.
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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. However, they are still used for crafting, weddings, and making sure that the postman knows that their letter is special.
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Glass Etching
With the help of a laser etcher and cutter, you can create intricate designs on glass windowpanes, mugs, shot glasses, wine glasses and steins. Note that 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.
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Laser Tag
Indoor laser tag is gradually becoming as popular as paint ball games, and starting a laser tag recreation centre can actually place you on the path to financial independence. Note that this is a very costly business to start and operate. In this business, you will earn revenue by drop-in customers that want to play, as well as by selling monthly memberships to the centre.
You can also market laser tag games to corporate clients, schools, and clubs, and create special packages that include laser tag games, food, and beverages for corporate and social functions like birthday parties. Also note that many operators of laser tag centres also create team leagues and monthly tournaments and give away prizes to the winners.
Of course you will also want to have a concession counter on site and sell related products, such as promotional clothing and equipment to bolster sales. The initial objective when you first open is to get as many people as possible to come out and try the game and a great number of these people can return as regular customers.
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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.
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Glass Spice Jars Shop
Laser cut businesses or rather expertise is also needed on kitchen instruments. For instance, 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.
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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.
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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.
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Laptop Stand Production
Individuals are leveraging laser technology to manufacture some pretty cool things by cutting and assembling cut-out puzzle type pieces. This laser cut acrylic lap top stand is a great example of this technique. You are only limited by your imagination and, if you like puzzles, that’s a bonus.
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Laser Cut Jewellery
You can make a lot of things if you wish using laser cut technologies. 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.
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Stained glass classes
You can also start a business that focuses on teaching people how to make stained-glass items using laser technology, such as lampshades and sun catchers. 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.
Have it in mind that one of the key requirements for starting a business teaching others how to make stained-glass products is, of course, the ability to make and teach others how to make stained-glass items. Aside that, the business is very simple to start.
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Remodel and sell Album Art covers
We can all agree that old LP records are not only collectible for music, but also for the 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. Creating a retail account 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 attractive frames from brushed metal, glass, and other interesting materials. Provided you can tap into the right market to sell your music artwork, you can easily make $1,000 per month or more.
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Niche Greeting Cards
If you enjoy picking out and sending just the right card for every occasion, and if you’re a whiz at designing that perfect card yourself from non metal equipment, then niche greetings cards is the business for you.
You can help businesses create and maintain a rapport with their clientele by sending customized cards for special occasions. You can also send cards announcing clients’ special events and even embellish cards with your customers’ signatures and logos.
The advantage to this business is that you can start 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, good organizational and time-management skills. For custom corporate cards, your clients will 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.
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Make and sell Bridal Shoes
You may think laser cutting 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.
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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.
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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.
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Junkyard Furniture Creations
If you’re looking for a lucrative home based business that has minimal competition and potential to generate a six-figure income, then search no further. 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.
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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 all the 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.
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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 an antique piece of furniture 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 yourself, then refinishing and selling them for a profit can also generate additional income.
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Make and Sell Laser Cut Signs
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
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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.
The opportunity for an individual well experienced in laser equipment is enormous, especially in the United States, where businesses are looking to be competitive and individuals are choosing to customize and personalize everything. Do not dive unprepared into this business.
You will need to do your research and ensure you have the expertise to handle laser equipment and the talent to settle for any of the above business ideas.