Laser cutting workshop for local businesses
Run a small unit with a larger laser, cutting parts and signage for local trade, design and manufacturing clients.
- A$90k-350k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A rented workshop with a larger CO2 or fibre laser cutter, producing parts, signage, displays, prototypes and batch work from client files, in wood, acrylic and sometimes metal.
Your first three steps
- Visit local sign makers, makerspaces and designers to see what work needs outsourcing
- Price up machine options (new, used or financed), extraction, compressor and workshop rent with a simple cash flow forecast
- Register an ABN, arrange insurance and offer trial jobs to a few trade customers
Who pays
Sign makers, architects and designers, cabinet makers, shopfitters, product start-ups and local manufacturers.
How it makes money
Charge by machine time plus material, with setup fees for small jobs and discounts for repeat or batch work. Design file clean-up can be billed separately.
Skills that help
- Operating and maintaining laser equipment
- CAD or vector design file handling
- Quoting and job scheduling
Watch out for
- Check zoning and council approval for an industrial or workshop unit, including fume extraction
- Larger lasers need proper guarding, extraction and fire protection, so check workplace health and safety rules in your state
- Budget for the machine, extraction and filtration, chiller or compressor, installation, workshop fit-out, rent bond and starting stock; a larger machine, especially a fibre laser for metal, can push costs towards the top of the range
- Public liability and product liability insurance, plus cover for expensive equipment
- Metal cutting with fibre lasers needs more power and cost, so check demand before committing
- Machine downtime and repairs can interrupt income
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: laser cutting workshop for businesses
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a laser cutting workshop in Australia?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $90,000 to $350,000, depending on the machine, extraction and filtration, chiller or compressor, installation, fit-out, rent bond and starting stock. A larger machine, especially a fibre laser for metal, can push costs towards the top.
How much can a trade laser cutting workshop earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your client base, machine capacity and the materials you cut. Hours are estimated from about 30 per week. Machine downtime and repairs can interrupt income.
What rules should I check before opening a laser cutting workshop?
Check zoning and council approval for a workshop unit, including fume extraction, and your state's workplace health and safety rules for guarding, extraction and fire protection. Also check public liability and product liability insurance, plus cover for expensive equipment.
Other ways to run this business
Similar making and manufacturing ideas
Local steel yard for fabricators and builders
Stock common steel sections and plate in a small yard and sell cut lengths to local fabricators, farms and builders.
- A$130k-350k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small-batch craft distillery
Make gin, vodka or whisky in your own small distillery and sell through a cellar door, bottle shops and online.
- A$80k-350k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small roof truss workshop
Make timber roof trusses to order for local builders, joiners and roofers from a rented industrial unit.
- A$120k-300k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Water jet cutting workshop for local manufacturers
Run a water jet table from a small industrial unit, cutting metal, stone and composite parts for local businesses.
- A$100k-300k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Hand-blown drinking glasses studio
Run a small workshop making hand-blown glasses and tableware for hospitality venues, shops and wholesalers.
- A$80k-250k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Precision tool and die workshop
Make custom moulds, dies and jigs for local manufacturers from a small rented industrial unit.
- A$80k-250k
- Full-time
- Own premises