Starting a laser engraving business today is a great storefront or work from home business opportunity. You can start with very little investment. Today’s laser systems or laser machines are easy to learn and use. It doesn’t take long to learn, so you can usually get your business up and running in no time. You can work full or part time and still build a valuable and profitable business.
You can create a wide variety of items, including engraving pens, wine bottles, laptops, luggage tags, personalized nameplates, and many other items or merchandise. You can engrave on acrylic, wood, rubber, stone, leather, cloth, glass, and many other types of materials. You can create laser engraved trophies, keepsakes, plaques, pens, pencils, desk sets, toys, games, lockers, key chains, and much more. You can specialize in a particular item or engrave a wide variety.
Many people operate their lasers from their homes with phenomenal success. There is usually very little competition and you can specialize in a particular item or choose from a wide variety to engrave.
Starting a small laser engraving business will cost around $10,000 if you buy a system or can rent it. You will need a laser system, a computer, and graphic software.
If you buy a laser machine or system it can cost around $10,000 for an 18″ x 12″ work area and uses around 25 watts of laser power. You can also lease or lease-to-own a system for around $240 a month if you have good credit.
You will need a computer with a Windows 2000, XP, or Vista operating system. All versions from 2000 or XP, whether home or professional, etc., are compatible for use with an Epilog Laser. You probably already have this.
You will need graphics software. Epilog systems are designed to run on most Windows-based graphics software, including CorelDRAW, AutoCAD, and Adobe. The Epilog system type has a printer driver. This will allow you to print images from any of these programs.
You can start your business without leaving your current job. You can record part time or on weekends and gradually build your business. Over time, you can turn it into a full-time job. There is so little competition that getting clients should be easy.
Once you decide you’d love to own your own business, you’ll need to lease or purchase the perfect system that works best for you. You need to know what the largest piece or item you will be working with, what materials you will use, how many items you will make at a time, and what your budget will be.
Get a demo of the laser engraving and cutting systems so you can decide the table size and tube power you’ll need to create the projects you think you’ll work with. So you can find the best engraving and cutting system for you.
Creating an engraving is easy. The laser works like a printer, so it’s a very easy system to use; you simply set the page size to the size of the part you’re working with, then import your image and place it on the page where you want it engraved. Then simply add your text or any other changes you need to make and print it to the laser. That’s all.
Getting clients is easy when you focus on marketing. You can contact schools, corporations, large and small businesses. You can engrave items for customer gifts. You may even find a great job that will pay for your laser engraving system.
