How to start a 3D printing business
Stefan on 28 July 2022
There is a massive market for 3D printing services, such as game or movie props, models, prototyping, and useful gadgets. Even the medical industry is looking into the 3D printing market for more cost and resource-efficient options.
You can follow the steps listed below to start your own 3D printing business.
Step 1: Register your business
Registering your company at the CIPC department is essential as you will receive a company registration number from the department which is used to prove that you are a registered and legitimate business.
Step 2: COID registration
Next, you need to complete a COID registration to make sure that your employees are covered for any injuries they might get whilst working with your 3D printers.
Get a COID letter of good standing
Step 3: Business plan
Create a business plan to state what type of 3D printing services your business will offer. Some customers/companies will request your business plan to make sure you can print their prototypes or products.
Read more: How to create a business plan
Step 4: CSD registration
We recommend registering your business at the Central Supplier Database (CSD) to make sure you don’t miss any Government tenders that require 3D prototyping. Contractors will also need your CSD registration number to confirm your company’s compliance details.
Here are a few tips from a 3D printing expert
- Blender is free software used to create prototypes. Blender also offers free 3D creation training.
- Ultimaker Cura is one of the best slicing programs available and it’s totally free.
- You can use Thingiverse to download models for free, but be careful as some models are copyrighted.
Read more: Is An Online Store Better Than An Actual Shop?
Once you have completed all of the steps you can start your 3D printing empire and start taking orders.
