Product design studio with prototype workshop

Start-ups, small manufacturers, medical and consumer product companies, and inventors who want a tested prototype, not just drawings.

Project fees covering design, prototyping and manufacturing support, plus separate charges for prototype builds and small test batches.

• 3D CAD modelling
• Prototyping and 3D printing
• Project management
• Working with manufacturers

• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and cover for your equipment
• Check council zoning and lease terms for workshop use
• Safety rules for tools, dust and fumes, check with your state's workplace safety regulator
• Workers compensation insurance once you hire staff
• Settle IP ownership and confidentiality in writing before sharing client designs
• Equipment and rent are fixed costs, so keep a pipeline of projects

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on equipment such as 3D printers, workshop fit-out and rent. Equipment and rent are fixed costs, so keep a steady pipeline of projects.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your client mix, project size and whether you work with a partner or employee. Fixed costs mean steady project flow matters.

Things to check: public liability and professional indemnity insurance, equipment cover, council zoning and lease terms for workshop use, workplace safety rules for tools, dust and fumes, workers compensation when hiring, and written IP and confidentiality terms.