Do you want to start an AutoCAD design business but you want to go for a unique niche? If YES, here are 30 best AutoCAD related business ideas & opportunities.
AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. It was developed and marketed by Autodesk. AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
AutoCAD is used to create computer aided designs or software applications including drafting. AutoCAD develops the application in both the 2D and 3D formats and provide the information to the application. AutoCAD provides tools to design the software used in the industry as well as other related industries.
AutoCAD is used to create blueprints for buildings, bridges, and computer chips, among other things. In fact, it is used to create and manipulate geometric shapes into specific designs. In industrial areas, the main purpose of the software is the production of component in less time and in a more effective manner.
If you are planning to start your own CAD business, you likely already have strong CAD skills and considerable experience. However, to demonstrate your professionalism to potential clients, consider obtaining certification through an organization such as the American Design Drafting Association.
To qualify for Certified Design Drafter status, for example, you must have completed post-secondary training, gained three to five years’ experience and passed the association’s examination.
Provided you have a spare room with the space for your equipment, you can run an AutoCAD business from home. If you prefer to keep your work and home life separate, you can rent a space in an office or in a small business incubation center in your area. This goes to show that this business would not cost you an arm and a leg to start.
If you are an AutoCAD professional, there are a lot of ways you can start a business with your knowledge and make good profit from it. Here are a few ways to start, and most of these business ideas would help you generate passive income.
Best Autocad Business ideas
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Become an AutoCAD specialist
An AutoCAD Specialist uses computer-aided design (CAD) software to develop technical drawings, blueprints, or other schematics.
Your job duties include translating technical documents into a drawing, evaluating technical design parameters, and working directly with architects, engineers, and other construction professionals. This career field would appeal to someone who enjoys problem solving, drawing or working with engineers.
A certificate or associate’s degree program is all that is needed to get started in a CAD design career, but you need more qualifications to become a specialist. You can set up a business where you solicit companies an offer your services to them, or you can go and work for a single company.
2. Create related AutoCAD software
AutoCAD is a computer-aided design and drafting technology that is used for design and technical documentation, which replaces manual drafting with an automated process. If you’re a designer, drafter, architect, or engineer, you’ve probably used 2D or 3D CAD programs such as AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT software.
These widely used software programs can help you draft construction documentation, explore design ideas, visualize concepts through photorealistic renderings, and simulate how a design performs in the real world. If you want to carve a niche for yourself in the industry, you can create a related AutoCAD software that can either work independently or can work in conjunction with AutoCAD.
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Start an AutoCAD tutoring class
If you are good with AutoCAD, then you can help out other students learn. You may need to start tutoring beginners who just need to learn the basics of AutoCAD before they advance, or you can choose to work with advanced students who need to learn new things in the industry.
This all depends on your level of knowledge and experience. While doing this, you need to try and think big. Do not constrain yourself to just your school, you can offer your services to other schools as well, just ensure that you are only getting the much work you can handle.
You can advertise your skills on school bulletin boards, or you can use students’ Facebook groups, or you can even create your own Facebook page just for advertising your business.
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Sell existing AutoCAD plans
Another AutoCAD business you can start is to start selling the existing AutoCAD plans you have. This business idea may not be as creative or entertaining but it can make you a bundle too in the AutoCAD business. It involves selling AutoCAD or similar drawings to people.
There are websites that are dedicated to AutoCAD drawings, so you can take your drawings and place them on these websites for sale. If you are happy with how these websites work, you can start creating AutoCAD drawings to meet the needs of these websites or that are specific to the needs of these websites.
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Sell AutoCAD blocks
This is another business idea you can start in the AutoCAD niche. Yes, there are websites that already sell AutoCAD blocks, and some others even offer them up to people for free, but if you create very unique AutoCAD blocks, people can be very willing to pay money for them.
Because you may not make a lot of money selling single blocks, it may serve you well to group these blocks together and sell them as packs. This is a great business idea because it is based on passive income. You do just a bit of work now, and you can use it to make money for years to come.
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Seek out businesses that might need people with AutoCAD skills
This can be like a real estate agent that need somebody to do house plans for them, or maybe a carpenter who is building custom kitchens and need somebody to do drawings for them. You can even seek out construction component manufacturers and offer to draw their construction components on AutoCAD. They can place the blocks on their website so as to promote them.
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Become a freelancer
Another way you can start a business as an AutoCAD expert is to seek out jobs on freelancing websites like Upwork. But you have to note that if you are just another freelancer in a sea of freelancers, the chances for you to get a job might be slim, but if you are good with your skills, you can ask for a higher pay.
Another way you can do this is for you to shoot up from the competition and emerge as one of the tops. If you can do this, then you will be able to get some high paying jobs and even interesting jobs as well. You can also land a full time job with an employer you find in one of the freelancing websites.
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Design Floor Plans for house permitting with AutoCAD
If you are quite proficient with working with AutoCAD, one business you can start efficiently is to design building floor plans.
With AutoCAD, you can produce drawings, home plans and design, custom house plans , kitchen plans, additions , building permit set, blueprints, floor plans, floor plan, etc very efficiently. You only need to seek out businesses that need your services and offer it to them.
9. CAD Drafting business
CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drafting is a fundamental component of modern engineering, fabrication and construction trades. Before the emergence of CAD technology in the latter half of the 20th century, blueprints were handcrafted in a design process that was more time-consuming and much less accurate than it is today.
It’s still possible to launch a successful CAD drafting service startup, but to penetrate the marketplace you’ll need to offer a level and scope of services that today’s builders and contractors can’t perform for themselves. If you are able to achieve this, then you can easily start a profitable business for yourself.
10. Make online video Tutorial for Youtube and Monetise your Autocad tutorial
Yet another way to make money of the AutoCAD niche is to make online video tutorials for YouTube and monetize your Autocad tutorial. Before you can start this business, ensure that you are quite knowledgeable about AutoCAD, as it would not do if you just come online to reel out the views of others.
If you are constantly giving off new ideas, people would always want to visit your YouTube site. If you are able to create engaging content, you can monetize your site so that you would get paid by running adverts on your site.
11. Join Local Real Estate agents for CAD Work
AutoCAD designers are very much needed in the area of real estate. They are needed to draw and design unique building and floor plans. As an AutoCAD specialist, you can decide to specialize in building engineering.
This is where you need the services of local real estate agents as they are the ones that would give you building plan drawing jobs, or can contact you to places you would get such jobs. You need to hone your networking skills for you to do great in this line of business.
12. Become a Landscape AutoCad Specialist
A Landscape AutoCad Specialist uses graphic communication skills to create exceptional technical illustrations, realistic design visualizations, diagrams, and other renderings to support the development of landscape projects.
A good landscape specialist should be able to prepare plans, details, sections and perspective renderings for presentations, illustrate conceptual designs with hand renderings or computer visualization, you must have knowledge of construction materials and techniques, etc. You can choose to go freelance on this business, or to attach yourself to a real estate company.
13. Become an AutoCAD Permitting Specialist
AutoCAD Permitting Specialist inspects structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.
As an AutoCAD specialist, you can offer your services to engineering firms as a permitting specialist, or you can choose to go freelance and solicit for permitting jobs for your firm.
14. Become an AutoCAD Estimator
An estimator, also known as a cost planner or cost engineer, is responsible for calculating how much it will cost a supplier to provide a client with products or building work. Some of the duties and responsibilities of an estimator include: Identifying and assessing what the client requires.
Construction cost estimators typically need a bachelor’s degree in an industry-related field, such as construction management or engineering. Note that you would work with teams that include project managers, project administrators, and designers handling building projects.
15. Become a CAD designer
Computer-aided design (CAD) is the generic term for any software that can create 2-D and 3-D technical drawings whereas AutoCAD is the name of a proprietary software of the same use created in 1982 by Autodesk, Inc. CAD software in general is used to create and manipulate geometric shapes into specific designs.
One of the Benefits of CAD is to Draw to Scale, and they also have the ability to produce very accurate designs; drawings can be created in 2D or 3D and rotated; other computer programmes can be linked to the design software, etc.
By starting a CAD business, you can provide computer-aided design or drafting services to organizations that do not have the skills or resources to handle design internally. In some cases, clients may require advanced CAD skills, or they may require a professional to handle the additional work on a large project.
You can offer your services to two types of client – organizations that only require occasional CAD support and firms that can provide you with a regular source of work.
Architectural and civil engineering practices, interior design firms, construction firms and the product development departments of large manufacturing companies are potential sources of regular work. Carpenters, small machining shops, welders, fabrication shops and independent architects and interior designers may provide you with more occasional work.
16. Become a toolset generator for AutoCad
The AutoCAD Mechanical toolset adds a library of standard-based parts and tools to help you create, modify, and document mechanical designs for manufacturing.
These tools can help you to automate mechanical engineering tasks, such as generating machine components, dimensioning, and creating bills of material. Instead of working directly wit AutoCAD, you can choose to generate tools that would help in fast-tracking Autocad jobs.
17. Start AutoCAD laser cutting business
Laser cutting is one business that has benefited from the AutoCAD niche. If you understand AutoCAD, you can prepare designs for laser cutting and you can send these designs to a laser cutting firm and they can create a product for you that you can sell.
You can sell these online on your Facebook or instagram, or on any social media site for that matter. You can equally create signs out of plastic or wood and sell them to businesses that need them or people who want to place these signs on their doors. Opportunities for business in this niche are endless.
18. Create AutoCAD online courses and sell them on Udemy
Yet another way to make money off the AutoCAD niche is to create online course on the subject and sell them on Udemy.
You should know that people are always seeking to develop themselves, and you can take advantage of this by creating study packages and posting then on Udemy for sell. If you are able to promote your courses, you would have a lot of people willing to pay you money to download them. This can serve as a very good source of passive income.
19. Become an AutoCAD blogger
Yet another business you can start in relation to AutoCAD is blogging. If you have good knowledge of the industry, you can open a blog where you can create ideas in form of write ups, and where you can share latest developments in the industry with others.
A way to make money from this niche is to monetize your blog with google. You can also post adverts on your own on your blog site to increase your revenue.
20. Become an Electrical drafter
Electrical drafters create diagrams that lay out wiring setups for buildings and other projects. These diagrams are used by professionals who repair and install electrical equipment and wiring. This job is very suited for an AutoCAD specialist who had decided to specialize in electricals.
Know that your job is very much sought after, and you can either choose to affiliate yourself with an electrical company, or you can choose to work freelance.
21. Become an Aeronautical Drafter
Aeronautical drafters work with aerospace engineers to create technical drawings used in the construction of aircraft, aircraft systems, and missiles. If you are interested in a career as an aeronautical drafter, you may choose between a 2-year or 4-year degree program. Coursework at the associate degree level commonly includes drawing, CAD systems, mathematics, and physics.
These 4-year programs commonly feature drafting, design, and CAD education, in addition to field-specific coursework in aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, aircraft design principles, and engineering materials. You can increase your advancement opportunity by acquiring the voluntary Certified Drafter (CD) credential from the American Design Drafting Association (ADDA).
22. Become a civil drafter
Civil Drafters prepare drawings and topographical and relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, pipelines, flood control projects, and water and sewerage control systems. On a daily basis, Civil Drafters produce drawings using computer-assisted drafting systems (cad) or drafting machines, or by hand using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles and other drafting devices.
They draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes. This is another suitable job for a CAD drafter.
23. Become a process drafter
Process drafters create diagrams that are used in gas and oil refineries, piping systems and chemical plants, emphasizing both the construction and layout of plans. They also perform validation checks on the drawings generated. If you are skilled in the use of AutoCAD, you can choose to become a process drafter and work with related firms.
24. Become a Mechanical drafter
Mechanical drafters make detailed drawings, specify design dimensions and construct models of mechanical devices and parts. They work with engineers, manufacturing companies and architects, preparing blueprints and advising on construction methods and materials.
In addition to drafting the design of mechanical devices, mechanical engineering technicians assist engineers with assembling parts and conducting tests. Compiling post-testing reports and analyzing data are also among the job duties performed.
Candidates considering a career as a mechanical drafter should be very selective about the program and school they choose, as the quality of education and school rankings are a factor to employers. A Mechanical Drafter will most likely earn a pay level ranging between 40,000 and 60,000 depending on the level of employment.
25. Become an architectural drafter
Architectural drafters use design skills and computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) systems to create blueprints for buildings and other structures. They examine measurements and sketches provided by engineers and architects to create detailed illustrations of the structures for use during construction. In fact, architectural drafters create blueprints used to construct buildings.
Architectural drafters require building design knowledge, design skills and proficiency using design software. This position typically requires one to have an associate’s degree, and employers may prefer candidates who have attained certification in this profession.
26. Become an electronics drafter
Electronics drafters create wiring diagrams as well as schematics, layout drawings and circuit board assembly diagrams that are used in the repair, installation and manufacture of electronic components and devices. Typically, electrical and electronics drafters work in office environments.
Employers look for electrical and electronics drafters who have completed at least 2 years of postsecondary drafting training at a technical school, community college or 4-year college or university.
Well-developed mechanical drawing and drafting skills, a solid CADD background and knowledge of drafting standards, science, engineering technology and mathematics will give electrical and electronics drafters the greatest advantage in the job market.
27. Become an Industrial Designer
Industrial designers develop the concepts for manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys. They combine art, business, and engineering to make products that people use every day.
Industrial designers consider the function, aesthetics, production costs, and usability of products when developing new product concepts. This is another business an AutoCAD specialist can start, and it can be run comfortably from a home office.
28. Become a Surveying and Mapping Technician
Yet another business someone with skills in the use of AutoCAD software can start is that of surveying and mapping. Surveying and mapping technicians collect data and make maps of the Earth’s surface. Surveying technicians visit sites to take measurements of the land.
Mapping technicians use geographic data to create maps. They both assist surveyors and cartographers and photogrammetrists, but the good thing about this business is that if you have the skills, you can offer both services.